I adopted an extremly friendly 4 yr old lab. (Smokey) The employees at the the shelter mentioned that his previous owner took him everywhere, and treated him like a family member.(His owner passed away) He shows no signs of aggression and even took to our cat right from the start. He's a very lovable dog.
I could tell right away that smokey was allowed to do whatever he wanted in his previous home. I had to teach him right away to stay off off furniture and how to walk on a leash. Smokey was house trained but, was never taught basic commands. (Sit, Stay, Come) I'm still working on that.
Now the problem. Whenever i let him out in the yard, he begins to bark non stop. He NEVER EVER barks at any other time for any reason. In fact, i never
heard him make a sound for the first three weeks of ownership. I even started to think that he was not able to bark.
Suddenly one day he started barking in the back yard nonstop. I've read many suggestions on how to correct this. But they all include doing something to make him bark, or catching him in the act.
My dog stops barking immediately after he see's me appear, and begins wag his tail happily and rejoice long before i get a chance to get close enough to use any of the recommended methods of correction such as using a spray bottle, or shaking a can. He only barks when he's outside and, i'm not with him. He is not at all aggressive, and there is nothing that i can do that will make him bark in my presence.
I would also like to mention that i have owned, and trained other dogs in the past. I'am familiar with the alpha dog position. He is not allowed on ANY Furniture, He always see's me eat first, I always make him sit before he eats,
and things of this nature. But i don't know what to do here. I can't get close enough to correct him while he's barking, and there's nothing i can do to make him bark as long as he can see me.
