Almost 7 year old Portuguese Water Monster (Dog). 

Absolutely incredible animal, typically very very well behaved. Not prone to barking unless other dogs are around. 

He grew up sleeping on my bed (bad move I know). Started dating a new girl and we both decided enough of this. And he now sleeps locked out of the room/floor upstairs. 

I wake up early for work, about 4:30-5:00am. 

He starts whining and then barking, usually around 3am, but fairly sporadically timed. Even instances where my girlfriend stays up until 2am with him he'll bark like an hour later. I've tested this on Saturdays I'll get up at 4am,and just to see I won't let him out or feed him until he asks, and he'll easily go until 9am, and just sleeps beside me on the couch while I lounge. 

Problem is it's a weird 3 story apartment. And he gets locked out of the 3rd Floor, so he can roam downstairs, or sleep on the landing. We have a dog bed on the landing and downstairs. But I can't just let him bark cause sound travels in this place. 

I'm thinking at this point of buying a shock collar to put on him at night, but would really prefer not to. 

Any suggestions?
user
apartment life, can't let him bark, barks seemingly because he's lonely.
assistant
Almost 7 year old Portuguese Water Monster (Dog). 

Absolutely incredible animal, typically very very well behaved. Not prone to barking unless other dogs are around. 

He grew up sleeping on my bed (bad move I know). Started dating a new girl and we both decided enough of this. And he now sleeps locked out of the room/floor upstairs. 

I wake up early for work, about 4:30-5:00am. 

He starts whining and then barking, usually around 3am, but fairly sporadically timed. Even instances where my girlfriend stays up until 2am with him he'll bark like an hour later. I've tested this on Saturdays I'll get up at 4am,and just to see I won't let him out or feed him until he asks, and he'll easily go until 9am, and just sleeps beside me on the couch while I lounge. 

Problem is it's a weird 3 story apartment. And he gets locked out of the 3rd Floor, so he can roam downstairs, or sleep on the landing. We have a dog bed on the landing and downstairs. But I can't just let him bark cause sound travels in this place. 

I'm thinking at this point of buying a shock collar to put on him at night, but would really prefer not to. 

Any suggestions?
user
Dog barking at night, needs to be locked up, but is sleeping in the same
assistant