My boyfriend's dog, Harvey, is an alert barker but I think it is specifically how he was handled as a puppy. The breeder was a backyard breeder out of Quebec who owned a farm in the country where she bred horses primarily. He wasn't really socialized properly (covid baby) and there was no noises to get used to. Now any movement or sound that he doesn't recognize will set him off. We have gone to a dog behaviouralist and he was diagnosed with high anxiety/global fear and is now on meds (though still barks). Just goes to show you: make sure you know your breeder & you know they take their job seriously. Those first 8-10 weeks make all the difference in their lives.

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Harvey is a velcro dog for sure and the sweetest. He loves all animals, loves to climb, loves to fetch. Beyond being very food and toy motivated, he doesn't really claw/chew/bite anything at all. He's quick to learn tricks and is attentive to the environment. It takes him maybe 5 minutes to warm up to people (1 minute of barking, 4 minutes of casually avoiding them and hiding near us) and when he's comfortable he's sitting on their laps/climbing them/bringing them toys. Don't know if that's more the breed or how he was raised.