Hi to you and Jamie! What have you tried so far? For example, for some puppies it's as simple as leaving for 30 seconds a few times, then slowly building up to longer absences (just casually puttering in and out and about—no dramatic exits or returns).
The key, always, is to never reappear when puppy's barking. Poodles are so smart. If barking works even one time, they'll keep trying what works. So if that's what's happened with Jamie, you'll have to wait until even a small break in the barking and then reward him by reappearing. Do that enough times and he should catch on: Silence brings my humans back!
Keep in mind, too, that barking is very rewarding for bored puppies (a fun jolt of adrenaline!) and a method of self-soothing for anxious puppies. You'll want to help Jamie by giving him some good alternatives. Teaching him to loooove gnawing on stuffed kongs or other safe chews is a good one. Making sure he's been adequately exercised (both mentally and physically) is another.
Peggy also enjoys having the TV on for company. She'll sometimes watch it, which is pretty cute. But it also helps muffle outdoor noises that might trigger alert barking. I also like that the white noise effect desensitizes her to sound in general. When Peggy's ears are in charge, she tends to be very barky. Engaging the senses of smell and taste encourages a much more mellow mindset.
The key, always, is to never reappear when puppy's barking. Poodles are so smart. If barking works even one time, they'll keep trying what works. So if that's what's happened with Jamie, you'll have to wait until even a small break in the barking and then reward him by reappearing. Do that enough times and he should catch on: Silence brings my humans back!
Keep in mind, too, that barking is very rewarding for bored puppies (a fun jolt of adrenaline!) and a method of self-soothing for anxious puppies. You'll want to help Jamie by giving him some good alternatives. Teaching him to loooove gnawing on stuffed kongs or other safe chews is a good one. Making sure he's been adequately exercised (both mentally and physically) is another.
Peggy also enjoys having the TV on for company. She'll sometimes watch it, which is pretty cute. But it also helps muffle outdoor noises that might trigger alert barking. I also like that the white noise effect desensitizes her to sound in general. When Peggy's ears are in charge, she tends to be very barky. Engaging the senses of smell and taste encourages a much more mellow mindset.
