Chocolate Lab Barking

Question
Hi.
We have a chocolate lab puppy (about nine months old, male, recently fixed, and comes from a champion line. His father was a Westminster show dog).
He  has just started to sort of sit in front of us and starts barking. It is not at all aggressive and it is not for food or to "go out".
He does get a ton of attention with constant play and dialogue. We try to ignore it but he just keeps going.
We are just confused by this behavior and what could it mean.
To get him to stop, we have to put him in his crate. We don't want to do this all the time, but it seems that only this shuts him up.

Thanks for the help.

Answer
You have to remember conformation competitions are about how the dog looks having little to do with behavior.  It sounds like solicitation attention.  No matter how much attention some dogs get, it is not enough.  If at all possible give him some more attention.  You could get involved in things such as obedience competition, agility, fly ball, free form dancing, etc.  

What does he do all day?  If you have to leave him alone all day, try a doggy day care.  He will enjoy it much more and perhaps want less attention in the evening.