New rescue dog barking - experts please!

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Maisie2

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It had all been going so well:) Harley gets on well with Maisie, sleeps all night without a peep, fully housetrained, taken charge of the sofa, generally a dear little chap. But for the last few days he's started to bark if anyone comes into the house and won't stop when I'm talking to them. Obviously wants all the attention, I've tried ignoring him but that doesn't seem to work. Would clicker training be the answer, and how does it work ( I should have watched all of those 'It's me or the dog' programmes:(:( I've only had him 3 weeks so don't want it to get worse. Lots of wine and cookies to anyone able to help:D
 
Have you tried removing him from the room for "time out" then letting him re enter no fuss, take is colla, lead him out and close the door wait a few minutes and for silence and allow him back in no talk or fuss upon re enter and giving him a chance to remain in the room and be silent and calm or to be removed once again for the unwanted barking behaviour and repeat as many times as needed.
Also maybe introduce a bed to the room and introduce a "on you bed" command and reward him fo going on the bed, so you effectively have somewhere to send and reward him during guest visits as a positive association, the negative one would be removing him fom the room and from you company.

Also ask your guests to also remain neutral and maybe call him and slip him a treat only when he is finally lying calm or silent.
 
Ah, the very expert I was hoping for:D:D I knew with all your experience you would have a sensible solution! Will start straight away, although I don't know about a bed in the room as he already thinks of the sofa as his daytime bed:(:( Red or white - or even rose??
 
Eak, don't use the expert phase, they will have the lynch mob out:p experienced will do me;):D
The chair will do, aslong as he etreats to it in silence:D
If he is indeed barking for you attention, which I have seen many a time, a little old woman whos shih tzu I boarded was terrible for barking whilst you where trying to have a conversation with her or indeed when she was on the phone:D, she would always repeat, "oh maxi, quiet" :D, or give up on the conversation and release the guest fom the house o end the phone conversation for a bit a peace:p:D
It works very well removing them, as they are taking your attention/company "what he seeks away", dogs are smart and it does not take them long to figure if they persist they lose what they seek "your attention" but if they remain silent (because aslong as he is) you will allow him to remain with you.
Allowing him to stay and bark is still allowing him to remain with you, to see you, to no doubt get your eye contact and no doubt when you cannot hear yourself speak a stern telling "which is attention" cos the focus is then on him once more.
The guest may also leave whilst he is still vocal, which means he got what he wanted;)
So the moment he barks remove him swiftly and close the door.
No grudge held, allow him to return and again remove him swiftly as he restarts the barking.
Would you say he is generally a "beg for attention dog", coming and nudging you or seeking out attention more than chilling on his own?
If he wants to get back on his/your;) chair and stay silent thats ok too:D

Can we have some piccies please:)
 
Hi Cayla, yes he is very much an attention seeking dog, always wanting to be nearby. He is also extremely interested in food and rubber balls. As he was a stray I don't suppose that is unusual. Took him to my daughter's today and he absolutely terrorized her poor greyhounds:( I kept telling him he was risking his holiday home, maybe it's because he feels threatened with his funny looking front legs. My vet neighbour tells me that it's too late to do anything with his legs - would cost thousands and be very stressful for him, so that's that, should have been done when he was a puppy! Sorry I have no idea on how to do photos, so just imagine a strange looking long JR with extremely bandy/bent front legs, large shoulders and a large head with a prominent forehead:eek::eek: But he has almost human sad looking eyes which follow you everywhere:):) I still think you are an expert:D:D
 
I know exactly what you mean, I took a rescue we had in (staffi) as he had one very bandey/deformed leg, the orphopedic surgeon was not keen and advised against an operation as it was a big op which would involved breaking and e setting the leg straight, he said it would mean very strict rest and pretty much a very lengthy recovey period, he said unless he was in any pain he would leave it well alone.

Try not to get into the old trap of feeling sorry for him" and lavishing him with attention on demand", try and ignore some of the demanding advances and instead give affection/attention on your terms, perferably when he is calm.
Leran him to feel comfortable in his own space and ask/teach him to perform some commands before you give him treats/attention, make him work a little even if it's just a sit/down/paw, or sitting for his dinner.
It all helps towards giving him a little more stuructue aswell as love and affection which could be feeding his insecurities and attention seeking.
It may have been worth burning a bit of energy off him before going to your daughters:D next time try walking them together before you hit her home if u did not arleady.
He sounds like he has landed on his bandey little feet:D
 
Cayla, you're spot on. I felt so sorry for the poor little dog I let him get the upper hand:( However shall now follow your advice. He met the greys the week before and was OK with them, so obviously now he feels like Bossman (not difficult with greys I think:D:D) Once again many thanks, what would this forum do without you:):):):)

EK I like your idea, multi-tasking, I could clean the kitchen floor at the same time:) Thank you.
 
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