Because you are excited and attentive, your dog is happy to growl-talk back to you again. Rewarded with a treat or affection, or both, he'll quickly learn a doggie-modified version of talking. It can happen so fast that you won't realize you've trained him.

Why does my puppy talks back?

A: Like kids, puppies do talk back and get sassy sometimes. Your vet is right that it may be an indication of future dominant behavior. ... It works because it talks to the puppy in a language he can understand -- dog language! When your puppy sassed his mother, she didn't waste any time reasoning with him.

Why does my dog yell back at me?

Most dogs understand only a few words. They pay more attention to the tone and pitch of your voice. Yelling at your dog is more likely to confuse her and cause her to react in a hyper or aggressive way because she's trying to match your behavior. ... The dog thinks you are barking, too, and will likely only bark louder.