Stop Barking

Question
I have a golden lab that I adopted from a shelter in October of 2007.  Dog is Male, going on to about two years old and is neutered.  My problem is a very bad barking habit.  Barks when I talk to my husband, barks when I sit at the computer, grabs my arm with his teeth if I try to pet him when he barks, barks when its time to eat and just barks in general about everything.  Is there something I can do to train him not to bark?  I have never had a dog bark like this (I have had golden retrievers) and was wondering if its just common in this particular breed?

Answer
They are very needy, but usually not great barkers.  It also looks like you have a leadership issue. The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts. Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/ For more on being top dog, see http://www.dogbreedinfo.com./topdogrules.htm

I am fighting much the same thing with our 10 month old Lab.  I have had to resort to the squirt bottle which I hate.  When he barks, give him a squirt right in the face.  Avoid ever giving him what he wants when he barks.