Dog barking is among life's biggest aggravations, on par with rush-hour traffic and summer mosquito season. Nighttime barking behavior can fray relations with your neighbors and leave everyone edgy and sleep-deprived. Extreme cases of incessant barking may reach the point of police involvement and result in heavy court fines or even the loss of your loud best friend. Luckily, with the right tactics & equipment, most dog barking problems can be solved quickly, easily, and humanely.
Dogs bark for a variety of reasons: some of this behavior is out of frustration, some out of loneliness, and some perhaps to alert Fluffy down the avenue about squirrels. Confined, outdoor areas often lead to frustration-fed noise; when your dog can see things but can't reach them, he'll often voice his dissatisfaction. This type of barking can be remedied by erecting a screen that obstructs his view of the street, or by bringing your dog inside while you're away. Excited noisy behavior can also be reduced through socialization training.
Lonely dogs sometimes bark from separation anxiety, a condition often suffered by younger dogs that can't bear to be without their fawning owners, even during a trip to the grocery. The first step is to give your anxious barking dog the attention he deserves: make sure he's well fed and watered, has a comfortable spot, and exercises at least half an hour daily.
If comforts and distracting toys don't seem to alleviate the noise, then Spot probably suffers from a high degree of separation anxiety. He can't handle being without you (perhaps because he's spoiled when you are), and his barking must be firmly and constantly discouraged. Anti-dog barking collars shouldn't be used until the dog is somewhat comfortable being alone; otherwise, the correction is more likely to increase his fear than be associated negatively with his barking. Talk to your vet about your anxious dog's barking, or get help from a professional trainer.
Methods of reducing the behavior will depend on whether the barking dog is yours or a neighbor's. If your dog barks, a dog bark collar can effectively dissuade him from voicing his every concern, even while you're away from home. Some people swear by water gun blasts into the snout of a barking dog, but this method depends upon your being home, having a water gun holster, and not minding slippery floors. A better solution is an anti-barking collar, available in various citrus spray and electric shock models. These stop the behavior when you're out, and can be customized to your pet's size and resistance to correction.
If the noise stems from an oblivious neighbor's yard, try an outdoor version of the new anti-barking technologies. These little wonders work when pointed into the domain of the barking dog, and emit harmless but annoying ultrasonic blasts of sound every time a bark is registered. You won't hear it, your neighbor won't hear it, but the dog is sure to subside within a few days.