I used to use physical activity to take the piss & vinegar out of my boy when he got mouthy. I'd just look him in the eye, "You want to go cut wood?" At first he thought he would prove his point. After a hard day of lugging, loading, splitting and stacking a few face cords of firewood it turned out he was too tired to fight and argue, even the next day. To this day he HATES that chainsaw! I think he purposely switched gas on me once and I burned it up. I just went out and bought another - he wasn't happy. Fresh air and some activity tends to release some of the pent up angst and frustration. Once spring rolls around and we all start our pruning and plot prep and we get a little dirt under our fingernails things will settle down. We'll be chasing tom's and hunt'n shrooms.