Your dog learns from every interaction. Over time those interactions shape the habits that your dog develops and practices routinely.  

If your dog barks at you to gain attention, or to tell you that he is hungry and you respond accordingly by petting him, talking to him, or getting up and making him a meal – you are training him to bark. 

In the reverse, if each time your dog barks, you completely ignore the behavior – like you didn’t even hear it – instead waiting for your dog to finally sit down – you are teaching him to sit to get what he wants.  With each failed attempt at using his bark to get a response from you, the bark will fade from his behavior repetoire (at least in terms of demanding things!) and sitting will be his new way of telling you he wants something.

This is like teaching the difference between saying, "Hey, give me dinner. I want it now," and "I would love some dinner, please."

Woofs!

Colleen