Q: Also called "attention-seeking barking," request barking is a common problem for dog owners. The first step to breaking a dog's request barking is to stop giving your dog what she wants whenever she barks. This will, of course, take some time to train out of your dog, especially if she has been "rewarded" for her barking over many years.  Try to distinguish between barking that stems from needing to use the bathroom (which is a valid need to vocalize) and barking over every minor desire, such as wanting to come on the couch or be given more attention.  Do not give in to your dog's barking, no matter how much she barks. Any concession to a dog's request barking will undo whatever progress you may have been making. Attention-seeking or request barking may be the only way your dog knows how to behave. Even after you've discontinued your reinforcement of that behavior, it will most likely take a while to break your dog of the habit. In the meantime, it's best to ignore - rather than punish - this attention-seeking behavior.  In a dog's mind, even yelling at her to stop is considered attention. If you lose your patience and yell at your dog, she will probably bark for even longer next time, because she will have been conditioned to expect any kind of response (even a negative response).  If your dog is barking, do not yell at her, or pet her, or give her what she wants. Do not even look at her. The best strategy is to distract yourself, like reading a book or newspaper, until your dog calms down or tires herself out. When your dog finally does stop barking, it's important that you praise and reward her for her silence. Over time, your dog will learn that being silent and obedient will achieve greater results than acting out and barking.  Keep treats on hand for when she does stop barking. Rewards should be given as quickly as possible after the desired behavior to most effectively teach the dog.  Vocally praise your dog when she stops barking. Say, "Good dog!" and give her a treat.  As your dog learns that silence is rewarded with treats and barking is ignored, you'll need to gradually extend the period of time that your dog must be quiet before receiving a treat. For example, once she has passed the initial stages of getting a treat after the barking has stopped, you may want to prolong the required quiet time by a few seconds each day and work your way up to a minute or two before rewarding her.  For best results, vary the amount of time your dog must remain quiet before getting a treat. That way she won't come to expect a treat after a certain duration of time, and the anticipation will keep her in quiet suspense. For example, after a few weeks of training, alternate between 20 seconds of silence, a whole minute of silence, and 30 or 40 seconds of silence. One of the best ways to train an animal out of undesirable behavior is to teach her an alternative behavior. That way, instead of growing increasingly frustrated and irritated that you are not responding to her desires, your dog will eventually realize that if she wants to get her way, she'll need to engage in the other, more-desirable behavior.  Teaching replacement behaviors may be time consuming, but ultimately it is the best way to encourage desirable behavior. Instead of responding to your dog's vocal requests to play, for example, teach her to bring her favorite toy to you and set it on the floor.  You can also prevent undesirable behavior by reducing the chances of those situations arising. For example, if your dog barks for your help whenever her ball rolls underneath the couch, try putting something under the couch to block her toys from rolling under there. Don't stop at discontinuing barking for attention. Continue your training to eventually cover all aspects of request/attention-seeking barking. Eventually, your dog will learn to wait patiently whether she wants to play, eat, or receive pets.
A: Discontinue reinforcement. Ignore the barking. Reward good behavior. Find a replacement behavior. Continue the training.

Article: To deal with drama effectively, you’re going to have to remember to breathe—and deeply. When you breathe deeply, your body works to calm you down physiologically. Take several deep breaths before continuing the confrontation, and keep reminding your self to breathe slowly in the midst of the confrontation. This will help you keep a cool head as you attempt to defuse the drama. When you’re in the midst of drama, you might be tempted to use a plethora of “you” statements. Avoid saying something like, “You did this! What were you thinking? You were the one who made this mess. You’re making me very angry.” Instead say, “I feel like you contributed to this situation. I feel angry that you weren’t there when I needed you.” This means not acting impulsively on every emotion you feel in the moment. Instead, name the emotions to your self and ask yourself, “Are these feelings representative of reality?” If they aren’t, then let them go. If they are, ask yourself what they best way to convey them is, and what you hope to gain by conveying them. This way, you understand what role your emotions are playing in the drama, and whether they are likely to escalate or defuse the drama. The tone you use can defuse drama. By keeping your volume at a normal level, you are showing that you are calm even as they try to stoke the flames of the drama. Yelling is a sign that our bodies are physiologically aroused. It can also be damaging to others’ health and wellbeing. So, not only will yelling increase the drama, it hurts people and relationships. Keep your posture open. This means uncrossing your arms and relaxing the shoulders. This will help to defuse the drama as it sends subtle cues to the other person that you are calm, but assertive. It can unnerve some people who are loud and aggressive on the outside but insecure and fearful on the inside. To avoid being aggressive in your posture, don’t invade other people’s space. You’ll also want to refrain from being rigid in your stance.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Breathe. Use “I” statements rather than “you” statements. Be mindful of your own emotions. Don’t yell or raise your voice. Keep an open and assertive but not aggressive posture.

Q: Eventually, the roots of each new plant will establish and the new succulent will start to form leaves of its own. The mother leaf that you used to propagate the new plant will wither. Gently twist and wiggle the mother away from the new plant. Be careful not to damage the young roots. When the mother does wither away, it’s time to transplant each succulent into its own pot. Start with 2-inch (5-cm) pots with drainage holes in the bottom. Succulents do better in smaller pots than larger ones. Place a layer of pebbles in the bottom to allow for better drainage. Fill the pot the rest of the way with store-bought or homemade succulent mix.  The ideal medium for succulents is an equal mixture of sand, perlite, and potting soil. You'll need one pot for every new succulent plant you’ve propagated. Make a hole in the center of the soil with your finger. Place a new plant into the hole and brush the soil over the roots to cover them. It will take about a year before the new succulents reach a normal size. As they grow, you can transplant them into larger pots. Once the new plants are established and transplanted, stop the daily misting and switch to an adult succulent watering schedule. Let the soil dry out completely between watering, and only water when necessary. When you water a succulent, give it a full soaking so the soil is thoroughly wet. After transplanting the new succulents, you can move them to a warm location that gets plenty of direct sunlight. South- and east-facing windows will get the most direct sunlight, as long as there are no obstructions.
A:
Remove the mother leaf. Prepare small pots with good drainage. Transplant the new succulents. Water when the soil dries out. Provide the plants with lots of sun.