My puppy starts barking at us when we are working on basic commands, could we be doing something wrong? He also makes a huge mess when he eats. Any suggestions?

Our GSD is 9 weeks old (and 16 lbs!) and has been taking to training beautifully. We purchased your DVD and I have been scouring your site for information on everything from food to obedience. We purchased your Puppy DVD and are considering the 4 hr obedience training video as well. A couple of nagging questions that I have been grappling with and hoping you can help answer... First, sometimes when we are working on basic commands (sit, stay, wait, plots, etc), he will get frustrated and start barking at us (can look like snapping at times). We use markers and I am wondering if we are doing something wrong? He can sometimes get a bit crazy so I typically put him in the crate for awhile and he settles right down and we start again. My guess is we are causing this in some way... What are your thoughts?

Second, we have transitioned our pup to a raw diet using honest kitchen and other meat sources. Of course he loves it. :) That said, when I give him a chicken leg he makes a big mess, getting it all over the kennel patio floor and his paws/legs. I have to spend 30 mins hosing off the kennel patio (and the dog) everytime he eats and even then it doesn't remove all the smell. I want to keep giving him chicken with his Embark, but am thinking of going to ground chicken/turkey at this point. I have read your suggestions for eating in the crate, but that has turned into an even larger mess (mostly because he's little and it takes him a while to get through it while he drags it along the wire walls. Any ideas on how to contain the mess? Or concerns about chicken juices sitting on a patio in 100 degree heat? Thanks for your help.

This is our second GSD and your site has been my go-to spot for all things dog---I really appreciate your pragmatic approach to raising a happy, healthy and well-behaved animal. Thanks!

-k