Wow. Once we've trained ourselves to be short and snappy with people it certainly is difficult to not jump straight into barking mode; however, it is possible to retrain ourselves. These old dogs can still learn a few new tricks! I still slip up and am either overly firm or snappy with the teenager on things that I should be lighter about but each time I am a little less firm and less snappy or the incidence of it is more brief. And I can always analyze myself during and afterwards. Look out David Caridean! This grasshopper is growing!