13 WAYS TO KEEP THE PEACE

Your dog has been barking up the wrong tree lately. In fact, it seems that every time a leaf falls, the mail carrier calls or a car stalls, his outbursts shake the walls. Barking is normal, and a little is okay. It's just that some dogs have more to say than others. When your pooch doesn't know when to call it quits, try these tips to help keep the baying at bay.

1) EXERCISE HIM OFTEN. A couple of good walks or play sessions a day can help your dog be calm. Instead of barking all day, he may sleep all day.

2) LET HIM CHEW IT OVER. Your dog will have a hard time barking if he's busy chewing on bones or doggy toys. Chewing is a real stress-reducer and occupier of time. If you're going to be gone, give your dog his very favorite chew treat just before you leave.

3) GIVE HIM SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT. If your dog often gets lonely - and vocal - when you're away, try rubbing your hands all over his chew treat before leaving. The scent will remind him of you, and he may not miss you as much.

4) MASK OUTSIDE NOISES. If your dog is super-sensitive to noises in the environment, try blacking some of that noise so he's not as inspired to bark... For example playing your radio at a normal level when you are gone.

5) CATCH UP ON YOUR CLEANING. Turning on the vacuum cleaner can also block unwanted noises - the approaching steps of the mail carrier, for example - and prevent your dog from going into a barking frenzy.

6) THANK HIM FOR HIS THOUGHTS. Sometimes just praising your pet will make him hush. The dog may be trying to tell you something, and when you acknowledge him, he may realize it's okay to turn off the barking

7) INSIST ON QUIET TIME. Sometimes a dog will keep barking even after you acknowledge his watchdog woofs. Say "QUIET!" sharply, but without yelling. If he blinks and stops barking, praise him warmly. It doesn't hurt to occasionally give your dog a treat after the noise stops. What you're doing is taking his mind off the barking and making him realize that it's so good when he stops.

8) LEAVE THE PARTY Some dogs, like people, hate talking without an audience. So if all your praises and commands fail to keep him quiet… leave. Chances are your dog wants you to hang around, so turning your back and leaving the room can make him see he's doing something wrong. To reinforce the lesson, ring a bell before leaving. Let it ring for a couple of seconds, and when you think the dog hears it, leave. Over time, your dog will learn to associate the ringing with your leaving, and he'll be more likely to keep his thoughts to himself. It also helps to praise your pooch once he stops barking.

9) TRY A HOMEMADE SHAKE. A shake can have an effect on dogs that is the canine equivalent of fingernails on a blackboard. Put some coins in an empty soda can and tape the opening shut. When your barking pooch doesn't respond to your command to be quiet, shake the can a couple of times, they don't like the sound, so they often stop what they're doing when they hear it.

10) DAMPEN HIS ENTHUSIASM. To remind your dog that you'd appreciate some quiet time, give him a firm "QUIET!" followed by a short blast with a squirt bottle. If they don't like water, they'll tend to stop. It's best to aim for the body and not the face.

11) BRING HIM INSIDE. If your dog sleeps outside and likes to exercise his vocal cords at night, you may want to bring him indoors. He'll have less to bark at.

12) TRY SHOCK THERAPY. Your veterinarian may recommend a specialized bark collar, which delivers either a high-frequency sound or a light shock whenever your dog barks. Some collars go off immediately, while others allow the dog to bark a few times before kicking in. They can be extremely effective, but you really need to work with someone who can help you get a good collar and training.

13) KNOW WHEN TO SWITCH STRATEGIES. People often don't know when to call it quits with a particular approach. They'll keep doing one thing for months even though it's just not working. If you haven't seen improvement within three to five days of using one anti-bark technique, try another one.

Okay... so your dog isn't exactly Lassie. When he barks, you know he's not telling you "Timmy's in the well!" but that doesn't mean you can't learn something by listening carefully to what he says.

There are many, many different tones of barks. You can learn "Bark-speak" just as you can learn to recognize a variety of American accents.

If your dog is whining between barks, for example, he may be telling you he's frightened or he doesn't want you to leave the house. A dog that barks for a long time, with brief pauses between identical-sounding woofs, is probably bored. An exuberant bark, however, means your pooch is probably eager to play. Eventually, you could get to know what your dog needs just by hearing him.