Barking for attention- help!

[poiuytrewq]

My little Labrador has recently started barking when he wants attention is isn't getting his own way.
He was late coming to us- we had him at 5 months and he's now 8.5 months. Obviously he had no injections etc so couldn't go out at first and always being clean was in the house.
Now however....this morning he's been wallowing at the yard in a foot of mud so has to stay out in the utility room or his crate in the kitchen until he dries off. All he does though is sit and bark over and over.
He's not out there alone as my terrier also needs to dry but he knows the score and sits in his bed happily!
How can I stop this before it drives us and the neighbours mental!

 

[weaselwords]

I don't know, so watch this with interest, as I have one who woofs until he gets to come in or I go out to him. He can see me through the French Windows, but still yaps until I give in.

 

[Morag4]

For me the key is ignore the behaviour, don't reward the demanding, ignore till he stops. If that isn't an option as it can take a while and will possibly get worse before it gets better, i appreeciate neighbours can get testy, then try giving him a cong or treat ball to occupy him as soon as he comes in, till he is dry and able to join you, not as a reward but as a distraction.

 

[poiuytrewq]

That's an idea. He has toys and I've given chews but he's a lab and the average treat lasts a few seconds! A kong is a far better idea.
I've said to ignore it but my partner is 1- easily irritated and 2- worries about bothering the people next door.
Much of the time he's at work so I'll stick with it a while!

 

[CorvusCorax]

Throw a blanket over it. As mentioned, make it a positive thing, IE here is the place where I get a frozen Kong or a bone etc, not the place where I am shut away and isolated from my people.

WW yours is harder as you will always reinforce the barking by fetching him in, but the advice is similar. Shut the curtains and when you take him out, feed him a handful of food or give him part of his dinner or a Kong or a bone so it is a positive association rather than isolation.

 

[weaselwords]

Thanks CC. I fear you will despair of me, as my dogs are faaaaar more stubborn than I and so I always crack and give in. I think his previous owner trained him to "ask" to come back in. This is pretty much the only thing he does that annoys me, so I will have to live with it.