My dog barked non-stop at my friend

[lillyrosesmom]

Hi:
Last night I had a friend over for dinner and we watched a DVD. My dog, who has met her before several times (though not at my home) barked NON-STOP at my friend for the entire visit.  I gave my dog some pet rescue remedy drops, tried to correct her to no avail.  We sat on the floor with her and my friend was able to feed her treats while praising so she got close to her then would run away. My friend even laid on the floor so she would be lower than my dog.  My dog relaxed a little towards the end of the 2.5 hour visit with the distraction of toys and almost fell asleep but then each time, she'd bolt awake, look at my friend and begin the barking. I've never seen her act like this towards a guest in my home. She will bark on and off at certain people but then stop after awhile. I'd like to break her of doing this. We could not figure out why she didn't like my friend in the house other than that my friend has a dog and maybe she smelled the dog. It was extremely annoying and embarrassing to say the least and very loud!  Towards the end of the night, I was making her sit and spraying bitter apple on the insider of her lip to correct her for barking but not sure if it was good to do.  

Other info  She is a 2 year old yellow lab who we've had since she was 6 weeks old, she goes to doggy daycare and socializes, has been to numerous dog classes (now she has fear aggression issues in classes or when meeting new people).  She just had her yearly check-up and vaccines and all checked out okay.

Thanks for any advice or recommendations.  

[lillyrosesmom]

Thanks to everyone for their advice, I will try these things with her.  I have seen the removing the dog from the room until it can be quiet and behave on one of the dog shows.  I think I also need to start taking her on walks where there are other dogs (we are definitely not ready for a dog park with her behaviors) to desensitize her to other people and dogs walking past us.  

[seeana]

This is very odd for a Lab It seems something must have happened to bring this about  a trigger so to speak.
Think.......... has she been without you  when being in contact with other people as it seems something has happened to her and she is trying to tell you.Animals have a sixth sense....they can tell in an instance if someone does not like them or they have been abused to trigger this response.

If non of that has happened walk her through a busy thoroughfares so she gets used to crowds
and all of the very good advice so far.
Oh if you cant stop it...... as soon as she starts starts up even one bark or yip put her out side away from everything or another room.... she will hate that, missing out should really bring her into line quick sharp, being ignored is the worse thing for dogs as  some love to be the centre of attention which at the moment she is.It can be a dominance thing as well.

[ginger899]

I always find that with any dog I meet that sets up barking, what I do is instinctive. I clap my hands loudly once. I say loud enough, but not yelling...."HEY!" very short and sharp. Sometimes I will touch them on the nose (by this I MEAN a touch, I do NOT mean a physical chastisement.) That touch seems to bring them into direct contact with me and captures their attention in a sharp focus.
They always stop immediately. Then I do that every single time if they start again. I say no other thing to them except "Good" in a very happy gentle voice, and stroke their heads when they stop. They always lower their heads then and accept the affection, and usually don't start barking again maybe until some time has passed and they have forgotten.
The thing is, my whole demeanour is "I shall certainly not stand for this. Nothing else has my attention right now except your behaviour. And you will change that right now."

[lillyrosesmom]

Thanks for the advice. I put her in her crate for a time-out several times and she still barked and would not lie down.  If we have people over, it is usually people in a large group or my neighbors who she is familiar with, never just one person that she's never met (she barks like this with anyone from the cable company or electric company etc. if they come into the house).   We'll have to try your suggestion to start with the treats and praise at the door.  My dog was just way over the top at the door, it was so insane.  Incidentally, she has to bark at anyone walking past the window outside as well.   Thanks!

[Missy8809]

Have you had other people in your home before with her there? My dog used to do that also....I was bringing a person into 'her house' ya know?  She (a basset/black lab mix) wasn't comfortable with a stranger being in her house..she didn't want them there, and she was going to make it known. I know some people are against it, but my dogs (i have a lab/sheperd mix, and husky) started doing this, and we bought kennels...If they misbehave, they have a 'time out' kind of for about a half hour...They don't bark when someone is in the house, and sitting down, but they bark letting me know someone is here.

Maybe having your friend give her treats and love at the door before she comes in. Make sure the dog gets the attention before she comes into the dogs home...Like maybe if your friend brought a little pocket full of treats and gave her praise and love and treats, then came in and kept giving the dog attention.

That would be my best suggestion. Good luck!