Need help with Charlie!

[4Dogs]

Help! Sweet Charlie has decided to come out of his shell - and oh boy! After a great weekend.... the little guy has decided to start to bark INCESSANTLY! Currently he is obsessed with Piper and is following her around like a shadow. When Piper lies down - he humps her. It doesn't bother her and she ignores him. When it does bother her or he gets insane she reprimands him and he stops. When she ignores him - which she is doing more and more - he BARKS NONSTOP and will not focus on anything else. We've walked him for over an hour until his tongue was dragging on the street - we've crated him with a towel over - but no luck. He is not responding to any correction. I'm about to try a spray bottle and/or can of coins with him. BUT I'm desperate for suggestions!

My problem is that my husband is an independent consultant and has an office in the house. This week he is working from home and has a huge deadline to meet. This has been going on since 5:00am this morning and he is getting nothing done. In the short term I can just go out all week and take Charlie with me but I'll need a long term fix to start working on.

Help! He also has serious separation anxiety issues.

[Amber_lv]

i would try the coins in a can trick anything to get his attention so you can stop him also a sqirt bottle might do the trick as well . Good luck!

[Gingergirlsmom]

Ginger responds to the coins in the can trick so well, I don't even have to shake the can, just pick it up.

Oh Charlie, Charlie, Charlie, be good to your new mommy. I guess it's no surprise you have separation anxiety, everyone keeps leaving you. Maybe in time you'll see you are there to stay. But please stop driving your new mommy crazy with barking!

Good luck Charlie's mommy. I think you're the greatest, and I'm sorry he's giving you such a rough time. How are things today???

[TLC]

COINS IN THE CAN. I did it 2x b/c Roxy was driving me insane with the barking while I was making their food. They don't even come in the kitchen when I make their food now, they wait in the TV room (which is at the other end of the house) until I call them to "EAT" and then they come running!

[Gingergirlsmom]

Yes, but I think the trick with coins in a can is to only use it for one behavior issue (in this case barking) and not to overuse it. In our case I use it only when she's going nuts yelling (barking) at the huge dogs on the other side of the fence. Now, when she starts to head over to that part of the fence, she looks at me, if I'm anywhere NEAR the can, she turns around and finds something else to do.

A friend has a bichon, and it worked so well on his barking, she started using it too much, now he doesn't even notice.

How's Charlie today????

[4Dogs]

Originally Posted by Gingergirlsmom

Yes, but I think the trick with coins in a can is to only use it for one behavior issue (in this case barking) and not to overuse it. In our case I use it only when she's going nuts yelling (barking) at the huge dogs on the other side of the fence. Now, when she starts to head over to that part of the fence, she looks at me, if I'm anywhere NEAR the can, she turns around and finds something else to do.

A friend has a bichon, and it worked so well on his barking, she started using it too much, now he doesn't even notice.

How's Charlie today????

Agree 100%

At the moment we are using the spray bottle for the psycho barking. I'm saving the coins/can for any other possible issue that appears. So far - things are improving! Can't say they are great but they are improving!

I took the time to type up the steps so that everyone in the house uses the same procedure when Charlie begins to go into his trance. I've figured out (no duh!) that it is easier to get him to stop before he gets obsessed. So far we are following the steps below:

1.

[4Dogs]

Originally Posted by Gingergirlsmom

Yes, but I think the trick with coins in a can is to only use it for one behavior issue (in this case barking) and not to overuse it. In our case I use it only when she's going nuts yelling (barking) at the huge dogs on the other side of the fence. Now, when she starts to head over to that part of the fence, she looks at me, if I'm anywhere NEAR the can, she turns around and finds something else to do.

A friend has a bichon, and it worked so well on his barking, she started using it too much, now he doesn't even notice.

How's Charlie today????

Agree 100%

At the moment we are using the spray bottle for the psycho barking. I'm saving the coins/can for any other possible issue that appears. So far - things are improving! Can't say they are great but they are improving!

I took the time to type up the steps so that everyone in the house uses the same procedure when Charlie begins to go into his trance. I've figured out (no duh!) that it is easier to get him to stop before he gets obsessed. So far we are following the steps below:

1. "Shhing" him - if he keeps going:
2. "Enough!" command.. if he keeps going:
3. Spray him with the water and say "Enough Charlie!"
4. Remove him and crate him with a towel over and then pray!

Two days ago we had to crate him at least 4-5 times - yesterday we only had to do it 1 time. So far today - not at all but that's a whole other story!

Charlie is a talker so part of the problem is training the kids/hubby to distinguish between Charlie starting to freak and Charlie letting you know something. Overtime this will be easier but when he is freaking more than talking it is difficult!

I have him so excercised the last couple of days I lost 5 pounds! I'm happy about that!

[FirstYorkie]

Originally Posted by 4Dogs

I've figured out (no duh!) that it is easier to get him to stop before he gets obsessed. So far we are following the steps below:
1. "Shhing" him - if he keeps going:
2. "Enough!" command.. if he keeps going:
3. Spray him with the water and say "Enough Charlie!"
4. Remove him and crate him with a towel over and then pray!

I like your steps. The only thing that I would suggest adding (& maybe you already are) is to really positively reinforce any quiet behavior, especially when it's on command. Even if it's only a couple of seconds: "GOOD, Charlie! GOOD quiet!". Still quiet? "GOOD boy! Here's your treat!". Make your level of praise match the tremendous effort it takes for him to be quiet.

I also think there is alot of wisdom in your comment about quieting him before he gets too wound up. I think barking is a self-reinforcing behavior in many (possibly most) dogs. I would work really hard right now to interrupt any barking.

[4Dogs]

Originally Posted by FirstYorkie

I like your steps. The only thing that I would suggest adding (& maybe you already are) is to really positively reinforce any quiet behavior, especially when it's on command. Even if it's only a couple of seconds: "GOOD, Charlie! GOOD quiet!". Still quiet? "GOOD boy! Here's your treat!". Make your level of praise match the tremendous effort it takes for him to be quiet.

I also think there is alot of wisdom in your comment about quieting him before he gets too wound up. I think barking is a self-reinforcing behavior in many (possibly most) dogs. I would work really hard right now to interrupt any barking.

100% Agreement! Actually as I am sitting at the computer he is tucked in at my feet resting. This makes it really easy to reinforce this good behaviour with treats and gentle pats. He responds very nicely to positive reinforcement and learns quickly - which is why I was completely at a loss for his lack of response once he got going! My daughter worked with him for less than a day on his new name and because everytime she said his name and he looked at her - he got a treat -he knew his name!

Thanks for all the help!

[yorkieusa]

It sounds like he will be fine. I hope so. He'll be so much happier, too, if he learns to remain calm. Good Charlie!

[RLC12345678]

I'm SOOOO glad that you posted an update on Charlie today! I was actually about to PM you and ask you how he was doing! I'm so glad that as each day passes he has gotten better. Keep up the good work, Charlie!

[Gingergirlsmom]

Wow! Sounds like you've got a great plan! You've taken on a lot with this little guy, and I'm glad to hear things are working out! Ha, ha! my girl seems to come up with a new problem behaviour about every other mjonth, just as things are going smoothly....Anyway, I'm still just so happy he's found his forever home! You rock!