Night time crazy

[Marie Dougherty]

My girl, Spirit, an Australian Shepherd,  7 months old seems to go crazy at night. From 8pm to most of the night she wants to go in and out, barks when out comes in and barks to go out again. It's keeping us and the neighbors I'm sure up. During the day she is well behaved, as well behaved as a 7 month old Australian Shepherd can be but at night there is no controlling her. She gets plenty of exercise,  I think, but it's almost like sundowner in alzheimers disease.

 

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Hello and welcome to the forums!

What you are describing seems a case of "zoomies" which takes place when pups are highly energetic as it can happen at night or after meals.  What you’re basically seeing in your 7-month-old Australian Shepherd is a fairly common mix of adolescent energy, overstimulation and learned nighttime habits, rather than anything like canine “sundowning," which takes place in elderly dogs. 

At seven months, Spirit is smack in the middle of canine adolescence — the teenage phase of doghood. Her breed (Australian Shepherd) is brilliant, high-energy, and bred for long days of work managing unpredictable movement (like livestock). When the world quiets down at night, many herding dogs create stimulation, under the form of pacing, barking, demanding to go in and out because their brains and bodies haven’t truly wound down.

Even if she’s physically tired, mental fatigue is just as important. Without it, she can appear restless and frantic in the evenings.

What likely started as normal evening restlessness may have evolved into a reinforced behavior loop.

Spirit barks → you let her out → she explores or relieves herself → barks to come in → gets attention
To her, this becomes a rewarding game of “get them to move when I bark: in herding style. The more consistent this pattern, the more persistent it becomes.

Many dogs also become more reactive during the evening. Shadows, wildlife movement, or distant sounds are all exaggerated when visibility drops. Herding breeds, with their sharp sensory systems, notice every flicker. What seems like “going crazy” may actually be hyper-alertness to evening stimuli, so what can you do to ameliorate the situation?

Think of the 7–9 p.m. window as “decompression time.”

So no high-energy play after dinner. Instead, use quiet brain work: stuffed Kongs, lick mats, snuffle boxes, or short obedience sessions that make her think but don’t amp her up. Also, you can try to give her a wind-down walk around dusk, stick to a  calm, sniffy, predictable outing.

Choose one designated “last outing” for bathroom needs, then commit: no more responding to barks after that, unless you suspect illness or distress. If she barks to go out and it’s not potty-related, ignore the barking and redirect her to a quiet activity indoors. Reinforce calmness. When she settles, reward quietly.

Make sure to create a calm environment. T

Try a bedtime signal (a phrase like “night-night” paired with a treat in her bed or crate. 

Use a white-noise machine or soft fan to mask outdoor sounds that might trigger her.

Dim the lights and lower household stimulation earlier in the evening — this helps her body clock adjust.

You mentioned she gets plenty of exercise, which is great. But for Australian Shepherds, “plenty” often means mental stimulus on top of exercise. 

Incorporate puzzle toys, scent games, short trick-training sessions, and problem-solving games during the day. A tired mind is as peaceful as a tired body.

If despite changes, her nighttime agitation continues or escalates, it’s worth scheduling a veterinary evaluation. Occasionally,  discomfort during adolescence can manifest as restlessness. If it truly seems like night-time anxiety, a behavior consult can help tailor a desensitization plan and determine if any temporary calming aids are appropriate.

With a consistent evening routine, reduced reinforcement for barking, and plenty of mental engagement earlier in the day, most young dogs grow out of this phase beautifully. And remember: you’re not alone  even the brightest Australian Shepherds need a little help learning that nighttime means rest, not round-up.

I hope this helps! 

Happy training!