Forgive me if I talk about barking yet again.
This time, the topic is owner-directed barking. Also known as back talk, sass, and lip. When an owner says her dog is being “bold” this is usually what she means.
Two year old Black Labrador Horace has a thing about tennis balls. He loves them.
He likes them so much that when one rolls under the couch, which it seems tennis balls have a tendency to do, he will bark at the couch, and then at his owner. It doesn't take an dog language interpreter to know what Horace is saying.
If your dog barks at you to make his wishes known – loudly – do you respond by answering his request? If you do, then HE has trained YOU, and quite effectively it seems.
Stop the cycle of Bark/Demand = Dog Satisfaction + Owner Dismay!
Do NOT do what your dog wants you to do. Get up and walk away if you have to.
When your dog sees – consistently – that barking does not produce the desired effect – he will stop.
Reward him for being Quiet by tossing the ball, feeding the meal, or whatever it is your dog has politely requested.
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