Dogs
thrive on moving and learning. Weither it be physical or mental, it's vital to them. Barking for no reason is the most obvious sign of bordom out there, and it sounds like she's trying very valiantly to tell you that she's very,
very bored. If Chloe is five months (assuming your sigi is right) shs's just leaving the stage of being a baby and continues sleep. She's starting to need more of everthing -minus sleep, sadly- and it seems like her chosen outlet for frustration is loud, nonsense barking.
Right now she is barking because she hears something outside..who knows what...it is windy out there
When dogs hear anything outside, be it a snap, crackle, or pop, she's going to bark about it. She's at an age where she's just starting to really thing about her environment more. She's becoming a strong little protector of an entire household... aka bark at danger.
If she goes to bark at something just tell her shush and call her to you. Practice a sit or down and give her a treat. Distract her with a kong or rawhide, something she can chew on near you. If she insists on running off and barking leash her near you and provide toys or chewies. The more bored she is the more likely she is to bark at every little sound, so try to keep her mentally occupied when you can. Play a game of fetch or take her on a short walk for example.
My 'Lo was a very hyper pup. She would get (at least!) a two mile off leash walk, running back and forth and playing with the other dogs, and fetch during the day at least twice. A cockapoo is made up of two retrieving breeds. There not a shi-tzu which was bred to sit in a lap, but bred to run full out, crash into water and swim to a duck and back, about 20 times. Not a lazy dog lol.
She also directs her barking at me.... She will get in my face with it too if I am on the couch or if I am standing she will just bark around me.
If she barks *at* you then she's trying to tell you something. Normally it's just "Play with me pplleeaasee!" but it can also be "Walk Time!" or "Toy, Throw, I FETCH!". My sisters yorkie is the same way, she'll bring a toy over and stare deeply into your eyes. A small mutter then a big bark of 'Hello?!' is her way of letting you know that she really really wants to play fetch.
Since barking is her way of talking, and she's talking/barking at you, it's no more crazy or aggresive then when your kids ask for a toy or a snack. If your kids asked for a snack and you didn't hear, wouldn't your kid get louder when they asked again? If you watch her you'll probably notice signals (staring, fidgeting, pacing ect.) that she wants something, and then if she's ignored she barks.
It can also be her way of starting a game of tag. Does she wag her tail, bark, dart away if you step towards her? If so then she's learned how to get you to 'play' with her. Even negative attention (the word no for example) is attention after all. A human stepping towards you and making an attempt at swatting your direction is great fun to dodge for a young puppy.
Also, don't worry about her being 'dominant' or anything. It's a popular concept nowadays but ignore anyone who says she's trying to 'be the alpha dog'. She's not trying to be alpha when she asks her mom to play with her.
Some GREAT books for understanding dogs, training them, or just getting a better bond with Chloe are Control Unleased and Ain't Misbehavin (by a very knowledgable animal behaviorist)
http://www.amazon.com/Aint-Misbehavin-Groundbreaking-Program-Well-Behaved/dp/157954519X
Costs just $0.01 on Amazon!
