About six months ago our castrated Shar Pei started crying, barking, pacing & panting all night long. He did this for almost 2 weeks! We also have a 1 year old child so the sleep deprivation was awful and tempers were frayed. All of a sudden he stopped & went back to sleeping fine... Until last week! When it started all over again! We're at our wit's end and can't understand why he's doing it. Was thinking maybe he had the scent of a ***** but didn't think that would be possible as he's castrated? I noticed it was a full moon last time he did it and also this time. Probably not a connection but maybe someone may know a weird link! We're very tired and need help soon.

Before my female dog was spayed she went into heat once, and the dogs lined up outside (I live in the country) were all neutered. So it is possible, and the timing sounds right.

There are oils like geranium that are supposed to mask the scent of a female in heat, so maybe you could put some around doors and windows where the dog sleeps. Ask around the neighbors too.

How old was he when you got him neutered?

Thanks for the replies. He was about 16 months when he was neutered and didn't have problems with him around females before that. We have had a female dog move in a couple of doors away but she's not been on heat when it's happened. She moved in about 2 months before his 1st crazy stunt. The geranium oil is a great idea and we will definitely try that, thank you joypulv.

Altered dogs stop creating testosterone, and the scent of female usually means nothing to them, as they create a scent very similar to that of a female.

Do you think there are any animals that could be lurking out doors? New cats, new neighbors? Do you live in a rural are or are your more urban? Any construction near you?

Can you try to not sure text chat, it's really hard for some of us to figure out :)

It could be linked to the neighbors dog, he could be picking up on the scent, even if it was a few days before or after her heat.

How much exercise does he get? Bored dogs come up with some crazy antics to make their days interesting.

Aurora_Bell, tell us more about the scent of heat and neutered dogs.
My dog in heat had 4 males outside our door. Only one was from nearby. They all just stood there looking very depressed. I could go look at their posteriors to 'see' that they were neutered. There's no other reason they could have been at our house - never were before, never again since.

I had my male neutered when he was about 12 months old. He went from driving my female dog crazy every time she had a bath to completely ignoring her.
Some dogs it changes... others not so much it depends really.

It is possible that there is a b*tch in season nearby. A dab of perfume under his nose should help.

If it's critters then maybe setting up a camera poitning out into the yard might help pinpoint what's getting him so worked up.

Joy, I said the sent of a female USUALLY means nothing to them as they stop producing testosterone, which is what drives them to seek out a female.

I also said it COULD be related to the female in heat down the street, if not for a sexual manner but for an instinctual manner.

Right then we'r trying the geranium oil tonight so hoping that works. We'r pretty sure it's nothing lurking in the garden as we'v took it in turns to keep watch a few times. As for the exercise it doesn't matter if he has a 2hour trek or nothing, it's still the same. It's coming up to 2 weeks now, which was when he stopped last time, so hoping he's going to sleep. Just got to try and figure out what to do for the next episode. Oh and hope this post is easier to read without the text speech creeping in. Haha

Haha thanks She3a! Much easier :D

Hope that works for you. Keep us posted. Maybe someone will come in with more ideas.

Merry Christmas!

The geranium oil doesn't seem to have made much difference but we'r going to stick with it. Fearing we'v made a new problem for ourselves though now! In desperation of needing some sleep my boyfriend has slept on the sofa to try to settle him sooner which has worked. But on coming back to bed last night, he's started again, so now we think he's getting separation anxiety from him as he's crying every time he leaves the room or house now. One nightmare after another. Any ideas for the new problem now? Thanks for all the help so far, and merry Christmas to all

Have you thought about crating him in your room at night?

We tried to crate him when he was a pup and he hated it! Every time we left him in it we came back to a blood bath because he would bite and claw at the door and cut his mouth and paws. He hated being penned in. He even gets the run of the vets, if he has to go there, as he just does not settle in the cages. I'm ringing our vets to see if they can give any advice on what to do. Not sure what they can say or if they can even help but it's worth a shot. Il keep you posted. Thanks again Aurora_Bell

No problem! Have you tried keeping him in your room with out the crate? Yes, if your vet has any other idea, please let us know! :)

We did think about it but he shores like a trooper so we'd probably get less sleep! Haha. Update again tomorrow just about to sneak off to bed while he's asleep. Fingers crossed...