Trying to be a good dog

Maybe what sustains owners of difficult dogs is the belief that deep down, their dog really wants to be a good dog. At least that's what I think about Zorro. He wants so badly to bark at the window, or lunge at other dogs in the park, but knows he's not supposed to. So the internal struggle continues. But I do feel he's trying.
He was sorely tested Wednesday night, when our neighbor inexplicably left her little yappy dog out in the yard until after 1 AM. Zorro wanted so badly to bark back. What made it so frustrating is that the yappy dog would bark, Zorro would stifle a bark (guided by a stern "enough" from me), and then the yappy dog would bark AGAIN. By Thursday morning, both of us were exhausted and slept in.
Denny returns today so I won't be walking him solo any more. Good walks all week, although the good weather has turned everyone into a dog walker, which means I'm always on the lookout for other dogs. He tried to herd the neighbor's leaf blower when we got home yesterday. The yappy dog thought it was great fun.
Reading Patricia McConnell's "For the Love of a Dog," which isn't as readable as "The Other End of the Leash" but still quite good. Finished the chapter last night on how to read your dog's facial expressions. Zorro mostly looks worried.