Post by SusanD on Oct 16, 2007 18:17:30 GMT -5
Hi
I'm new here - and I need HELP!
I'll try to be as brief as possible.
We brought home a 12 week purebred Maltese on 3 days ago. She was always with her littermates, running free in the breeder's house. She is 99.9% housebroken but that could be due to the fact that we are following the crate training method of crate, out to pee/poop immediately after, free play/fun while 'safe', then crate for nap etc. She goes to the door & understands the "pee" command when outside... so absolutely no complaints there. Geesh, that's not even what I'm writing for help about! Forget all that. lol
Okay, so we opted to have her sleep in her crate. She likes her crate. We never force her into it nor use it for punishment. We let her go in freely, have toys, blankies, etc so she likes her crate. We brought a blankie from the breeder so she has the "smell of home" to readjust.
All should be well, right?
No.
She does not like to be left alone and in the crate. (Or alone anywhere for that matter.) She's very 'clingy'. She doesn't even like to be in the crate with the door closed even when I'm in the same room.
First night. Barking for 5 min, sleep for 11-3. Barking - out to pee 3 a.m., then barking from 3:00 until 7:00 am!!!
Second night. Longer barking. More aggressive.
Third night. Settled in immediately. Slept 11-3. Barking. Out to pee. On & off barking 3-7am.
We have had a Maltese before - from the same breeder... which was a beloved family member for 17 years. We do "think" we know what to do in most cases.
Usually a loud noise or clap, followed by "shush" would surprise puppy & stop the barking. Then positive reinforcement.
This does not work with Bella. It seems any sound I make is a reinforcement for her - and makes her bark more aggressively!
There is no interaction I can do, short of taking her from the crate, which I refuse to do - to quiet her.
I have opted to let her bark & realize she gets no reaction.
I don't think this is working!
I know moving the crate from the kitchen to the bedroom "might" help but we did that the first night. It reduced the barking but she still barked every time she heard me move around. And I decided I'd prefer her sleeping downstairs in the long run.
She is extremely 'clingy'. Even if I leave a room, she has to follow me. She has to see me all the time. She's an angel as long as she is near me at all times. I don't want to foster this dependance.
Is she just missing her littermates that much? She does wander around the perimeter of the back yard fence wimpering looking for her playmates. Will this wear off? Do I ignore her barking pleas or by ignoring it am I fostering a negative habit that will be harder to break?
Okay... so what to do???
Help, please.
(Hah, for a first post, I'm making you work hard with lots of reading, huh?)
Thanks for any suggestions.
(ASAP would be great! We all want to get some sleep!)
I'm new here - and I need HELP!
I'll try to be as brief as possible.
We brought home a 12 week purebred Maltese on 3 days ago. She was always with her littermates, running free in the breeder's house. She is 99.9% housebroken but that could be due to the fact that we are following the crate training method of crate, out to pee/poop immediately after, free play/fun while 'safe', then crate for nap etc. She goes to the door & understands the "pee" command when outside... so absolutely no complaints there. Geesh, that's not even what I'm writing for help about! Forget all that. lol
Okay, so we opted to have her sleep in her crate. She likes her crate. We never force her into it nor use it for punishment. We let her go in freely, have toys, blankies, etc so she likes her crate. We brought a blankie from the breeder so she has the "smell of home" to readjust.
All should be well, right?
No.
She does not like to be left alone and in the crate. (Or alone anywhere for that matter.) She's very 'clingy'. She doesn't even like to be in the crate with the door closed even when I'm in the same room.
First night. Barking for 5 min, sleep for 11-3. Barking - out to pee 3 a.m., then barking from 3:00 until 7:00 am!!!
Second night. Longer barking. More aggressive.
Third night. Settled in immediately. Slept 11-3. Barking. Out to pee. On & off barking 3-7am.
We have had a Maltese before - from the same breeder... which was a beloved family member for 17 years. We do "think" we know what to do in most cases.
Usually a loud noise or clap, followed by "shush" would surprise puppy & stop the barking. Then positive reinforcement.
This does not work with Bella. It seems any sound I make is a reinforcement for her - and makes her bark more aggressively!
There is no interaction I can do, short of taking her from the crate, which I refuse to do - to quiet her.
I have opted to let her bark & realize she gets no reaction.
I don't think this is working!
I know moving the crate from the kitchen to the bedroom "might" help but we did that the first night. It reduced the barking but she still barked every time she heard me move around. And I decided I'd prefer her sleeping downstairs in the long run.
She is extremely 'clingy'. Even if I leave a room, she has to follow me. She has to see me all the time. She's an angel as long as she is near me at all times. I don't want to foster this dependance.
Is she just missing her littermates that much? She does wander around the perimeter of the back yard fence wimpering looking for her playmates. Will this wear off? Do I ignore her barking pleas or by ignoring it am I fostering a negative habit that will be harder to break?
Okay... so what to do???
Help, please.
(Hah, for a first post, I'm making you work hard with lots of reading, huh?)
Thanks for any suggestions.
(ASAP would be great! We all want to get some sleep!)