Ajraffa
New Owner
Today is day 5 of Olli living with us, day 2 of us actually being at work.
Let me describe our routine before I get down to the barking.
Olli sleeps in a kennel in our room. I get up at 5 am, and carry her kennel into the living room where I have a wire pen set up, lined with plastic with puppy pads on top. I let her out of the kennel and into there, where I wait until she pees/poops so I can click and treat her for going on the puppy pad.
I bring her breakfast and sit with her while she eats. Then at 5:20 my boyfriend gets up and comes out. He sits with her for a bit, then I leave.
The original plan was for her to stay in the pen while he showered and got ready , but she is not handling it like we'd hoped.
She has started barking shrilly and whining the moment she gets put in the pen. Even if someone is sitting with her, or in the kitchen (across from her pen) or even just standing there looking at her, she's crying. She's starting to cry when she's OUT of the pen, and in the living room while I'm in the bathroom or getting a drink of water.
I'm trying to teach her Shush. I put my finger to my lips, and if she quiets down she gets a click and treat. I know you are supposed to ignore her but we live in an apartment building and 5 am is early for tiny dog barking.
Since Jeff (my boyfriend) can't just let her bark, I told him to kennel her and put her back in our bedroom since it is the farthest away from neighbor's walls.
I've heard of spraying them with water, throwing a can of coins nearby so it startles them out of barking. I can't exactly redirect her attention to a toy because she's supposed to be eating and pottying before we leave.
Any advice would be appreciated. I know she's adjusting to her 'new pack' but I want to make sure I am training right.
Let me describe our routine before I get down to the barking.
Olli sleeps in a kennel in our room. I get up at 5 am, and carry her kennel into the living room where I have a wire pen set up, lined with plastic with puppy pads on top. I let her out of the kennel and into there, where I wait until she pees/poops so I can click and treat her for going on the puppy pad.
I bring her breakfast and sit with her while she eats. Then at 5:20 my boyfriend gets up and comes out. He sits with her for a bit, then I leave.
The original plan was for her to stay in the pen while he showered and got ready , but she is not handling it like we'd hoped.
She has started barking shrilly and whining the moment she gets put in the pen. Even if someone is sitting with her, or in the kitchen (across from her pen) or even just standing there looking at her, she's crying. She's starting to cry when she's OUT of the pen, and in the living room while I'm in the bathroom or getting a drink of water.
I'm trying to teach her Shush. I put my finger to my lips, and if she quiets down she gets a click and treat. I know you are supposed to ignore her but we live in an apartment building and 5 am is early for tiny dog barking.
Since Jeff (my boyfriend) can't just let her bark, I told him to kennel her and put her back in our bedroom since it is the farthest away from neighbor's walls.
I've heard of spraying them with water, throwing a can of coins nearby so it startles them out of barking. I can't exactly redirect her attention to a toy because she's supposed to be eating and pottying before we leave.
Any advice would be appreciated. I know she's adjusting to her 'new pack' but I want to make sure I am training right.