He's at that age...

[EGrant23]

Our Bo is now 9 months old and he has been everything we thought he would be and more. He has been nothing short of awesome for being our first lab. I thought we might have avoided this stage, but I think it's here... Over the last week, he has barked more at my wife and I than in the 7 months we have had him. It's frustrating because we sometimes can't get him to stop and have no clue why he's barking. I'm assuming he's doing it to get a rise out of us? Any ideas? Positive words to get us through this stage will work too! We have got through everything just fine so far, and this too shall pass I assume....

[Labradorks]

You say he's barked at you both more in the past week than in the 7 months you've had him. Does that mean he has barked at you in the past?

[soberbyker]

Don't holler at him when he's barking, he may bark more thinking that you're barking with him. Maybe toss a ball or something to distract him. Oh, and maybe get some ear plugs.

[Snowshoe]

Can you see any pattern at all? My dogs would give out with a WOOF of frustration when we were training and there was something they didn't understand. That's my interpretation of course but backing up to something easy and going more slowly always helped.

Otherwise nobody barked at me but around one year old they did start alert barking and I found laughing worked for that. Laughing AT them.

One thing, at 9 months his energy is overflowing and it's a good time to ramp up the off leash exercise and the formal training. How much of each does he get now?

[Tanya]

i agree, is there a pattern? time of day? is she doing the same thing prior to this?

Also agree with needing more exercise possibly (physical and mental) depending on what he is currently getting. this age is around when you ramp it up a bit (if you haven't done so when he hit 7-8 monthS)

[EGrant23]

When I say more in the last week than the 7 months, I mean 7 months total. It's generally when I get home from work and let him out of his crate. We go to the dog park almost every day and do some off leash training. If we don't leave right away, that's when he barks non stop. He knows it's our routine but there are certain days when I can't and he cannot be tolerated those days.

[EGrant23]

He gets an hour minimum off leash, 2 30 minute walks, and plenty of mental training through out the day.

[Labradorks]

When I say more in the last week than the 7 months, I mean 7 months total. It's generally when I get home from work and let him out of his crate. We go to the dog park almost every day and do some off leash training. If we don't leave right away, that's when he barks non stop. He knows it's our routine but there are certain days when I can't and he cannot be tolerated those days.

This is why I hate routine with dogs! I purposefully am never that routine-oriented with mine. Every routine-oriented dog I've ever known, especially working types of dogs, has been super irritating when things don't go as expected. If they aren't barking, they are pacing, if they aren't pacing they are whining, etc. And, it's also why I've never exercised my dogs to the max every. single. day. They come to require it. I'd shake up the routine if you can.

If my dog were barking at me, I'd wait him out by completely ignoring him then get back to getting ready to go or whatever when he's quiet only to stop and ignore him if he starts up again. Do not open the door or continue putting his collar/leash on. Do not look at him. Do not touch him. If he barks, he becomes invisible. He stops barking, you move forward with your plans.

[ChoppersDad]

One stern "Quiet" with authority and ignore him. He will soon learn barking gets him nothing. After your dog is patient, then give him what he wants.

[Labradorks]

Unless your dog is sensitive -- and I imagine he is not if he is demand barking at you in the first place -- I would not bother with the "quiet". Otherwise, the dog will bark until you say quiet, then maybe he'll learn to be quiet after that, or he'll be quiet for a minute then start up again. It'll become a part of the routine. Depending on the dog, it could almost be a plus for you to give him any attention once he starts up.