We’re making progress here. His barking hasn’t let up any and we haven’t found anything that helps with that. But everything else is being worked out a bit at a time. I took the bones and toys away. Once he calmed down I started working him with a few different things. We’re making him sit before he gets any food, any toys, to go for a walk - everything. I’m also starting him on “come,” which is working quite well. This evening I started playing with his feet gently and rewarding him for it, and also have trained him to let me put my hand on his muzzle. Before he’d mouth me and wiggle out of the way, but now he just sits there patiently until I release him and give a treat. He’s a smart boy! I’m keeping a bowl of his kibble on my desk to constantly treat him when he does something good. It’s having a good affect on him.

This is all part of the NILIF training I’m doing with him. I’ve also started ignoring his butting in and bugging me, ignoring his whining (when I don’t think it’s because he needs to go out and potty), making him work for everything he gets, and initiating all play and encounters we have. I’m seeing a change in him already.

Tomorrow we have a long day, we need to stop and buy a long leader on the way so I can let him run a bit in the field. He really needs to have some more room to run.