Murphy parses the rules

So last night, Murphy gets wrapped around the axle because there is a deer in the back yard. That buck is back and it's learned that Murphy, noisy as he may be behind the glass doors, cannot get out to do anything about it. So Murphy is barking as the deer and the deer, although keeping an eye on Murphy to make sure that he doesn't learn how to open the door, basically ignores him and eat the corn that I put out for it.

This makes Murphy angry, so he comes into my office and begins barking at me, expecting me to get up and do something about that horrible deer. Well I put the corn out for the deer, and the last thing I want right this second is a German Shepherd standing next to my chair and barking at me using his "outdoor voice" as if he's in charge or something. So I do what I always do to calm Murphy down when he gets in one of these moods--I command him to lie down. This has always restored order in the past, as he lies down next to me, and after he's quiet and still for a minute or two, he gets a biscuit. Well this time, he lies down next to me, but continues to look at me and bark, albeit a bit toned down in volume, from the prone position. And what can I do? I told him to lay down and he did. I've just never had him lay down and continue to talk back at me from his down position before. And admittedly, I have to laugh because it is funny. He went from standing next to me and defiantly barking at me to obediently lying next to me while still defiantly barking and grumbling. And he kept it up until I finally gently grabbed his muzzle to shush him,. He got his biscuit a minute later after he finally chilled out and the deer finished off the corn undisturbed. Silly dog...still new tricks after all this time here. And I can't be mad as I only told him to lie down, not lie down and be quiet. LOL @ Murphy, canine lawyer.