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Oh Johanna, so your little boy isn't the good big brother I thought he was. It is not unusual for new mums to forget the bad behaviour of their previous puppies. You may have had something like this happen before with Killian- well at least his overzealous behaviour.
Remember Charlie is young. He will still have his moment controlling his bowels. No, they do not get angry and jealous. He didn't poo on the floor because he was upset with you leaving him- Dogs do not have human emotions, the live for the moment. If they have an itch they scratch, if they see a rabbit they chase it.

Just as you did when he was 6 weeks old, Charlie needs to have the chance to pee and poo after he wakes, after he eats and after he plays. Yes, it is good to take him out before you go to work but you need to watch him and see that he has done his business. Often, and I do this, you will let him out and call him back in without knowing if he has gone for sure. Being young but older he would have been upset that he dirtied his "clean" space. -You needed to have come in and fussed at the floor (not him) or kept your mouth shut. Then, after the floor was nice and clean you needed to say how happy you are (to the floor), something like "There! that's better!, never mind -next time will try harder!" The tone of your voice will tell Charlie everything he wants to know. You will keep his trust in you, and that you are still a proud mum. He will remember that moment.

Dogs left inside for long periods need special attention. Yes, they need to have had their food, their potty time and some work. The work can be a short period of 15 minutes. As they get older, it will not be so imperative. Charlie is at an age where he needs the activity so he feels he has a "job" in his pack. After all he is part of the family- not a door mat eh? During all of those hours you are gone to do your job Charlie will continue to do work and think about his work. He will watch out the windows and see if he needs to keep strangers away or announce to the neighborhood that he is there-not much else to do. You can help him fill up his time by doing a bit of obedience work just before you leave. A walk with a handful of treats is great. Have him do "doggy push ups", heel properly, figure 8's, hide him behind the tree and come, fetching. Just 10-15 minutes will keep him happy while he daydreams those hours away.
Practice going out. Charlie is a real candidate for separation anxiety, if he hasn't got it already. Have your things ready to go out, say your briefcase in the garage long before you actually leave. Do not jingle your keys in front of him. Do not have the same pattern of events eg. Breakfast, shower, makeup, good clothes on, feed Charlie, then out the door.. Mix it up.. Charlie is not silly- This means the most important person in his life is leaving him, so confuse the issue with a different pattern of events. AND do it at different times of the day, they have an eerie way of being able to tell the time.
Have things for him to chew. Same goes for you as with back yard dogs. Big dogs can take as long as 3 years to stop chewing on things (like a puppy does). Make sure he has a dentabone, large leather chewies or the large femur bones. Confine him to one or two rooms- Close off the rest of the house if you can by simply closing doors. Baby gates are good too. GET EVERYTHING YOU CAN off the floor that you don't want to be destroyed.
Just before you leave, throw a handful of dried beef or chicken treats (little bits) onto the floor, let them go everywhere possible. He will take a bit of time looking and finding the bits- a good activity. Gulliver loves popcorn, so I do this with popcorn.

Leave a radio on for him to listen to, I like to do this. People noise is good. Talk back radio mixed with music. Some recommend classical music but I don't worry. They say relaxing music, but who knows. I wouldn't like to be stuck inside all day with classical music.


When you finally are ready to go out the door, remembering that you already have your handbag, keys and briefcase in the car so he hasn't been warned you are gone, walk out without saying goodbye. Saying goodbye sets you up for trouble. All that work preparing him to be alone will be erased. Just walk out as if you are going out to check the mailbox. Just go.
Practicing this ahead of time is really good. Drive around the block and come back. Walk in the door, do not say anything to your dog for 5 minutes (this is important) and then do what you wish to do. In other words, if you need to work with you dog then do it. Wait for the five minutes though. This will tell Charlie he is not dominant over anything or anybody else in the house.

Finally, I think that Jodi and Jeri touched on an important issue. Charlie is a dog. Too many people have a very close attachment to their dogs and want to have them close like children. They want to dress them, feed them special foods, have them on their beds and so on. This makes the dog confused and you will have issues with the dog's dominancy. Do not let Charlie on your bed. Keep him lower to you. You may have found him getting confused when you kneel down and have your eyes at his level. Stay above him or leaning over him. Keep children above him on a chair when they pat him. Having a hot meal is ok but serve it without making it 'special'. Have him sit and wait for it staying in one spot until the dish is well and truly on the floor. Then let him go to the dish. If he does not comply then take the dish away and place it on the counter until he sits again (and waits patiently). Other things I recommend to do is to always make him sit for the door, YOU go through the door first and then ask him to go through. Do not let him lie on the floor in your path. Ask him to move and have him sit stay out of your way. Do not let him lean on you in any manner. Just step back and let him fall over. Then have him sit properly. Do not let him sit on your feet (or foot). Until I knew this is another way they show they wanted dominancy over you I thought it was a way to be "close" and special- it is not and must not be tolerated. When handling him be sure to always include standing over him and touching him from his head, over his back and to the top of his back end. This too is a way of showing him (quietly) that you are dominant to him. Finally, eat before him, the dominant person in the pack always eat first. Don't worry, you don't have to eat a full meal, just so he sees you eat something.
Ok, don't get too worried, that big lump is going to be the best sweetie in the world soon, have fun! Kathy