Is your dog driving you barking mad? 

It’s natural for dogs to bark but it can be a nuisance to neighbours when you leave the house. Dogs bark for all sorts of reasons such as frustration, excitement, fear or when they want some attention or feel threatened. Whatever the reason, he won’t understand why he’s being punished for acting naturally. Instead, try and find out exactly why your dog is barking so you can deal with it, and reward him when he’s quiet. And however frustrating it might be, avoid shouting at your dog – he’ll simply think you’re joining in and bark louder.

Separation anxiety is one of the commonest causes of dogs barking in the home during your absence. Your dog may also show other signs of distress, such as panting, pacing and destructive behaviour. You'll need to spend time working on increasing your dog's ability to cope without you. Try putting him in an adjoining room and use a door gate so he can still see you. Later you can start closing the door for a few seconds/minutes at a time, building the timespan he is left for until he becomes de-sensitised to your absence. You could also change the way in which you leave the house. Act as if you're preparing to leave but don't actually go out. In time this could actually help to reduce your dog's anxiety tendencies and build reassurance.

Increasing the amount and quality of exercise you give your dog may mean he'll be happy to take a nap while you're out rather than bark. Remember to leave your dog with some activity toys and when returning home don’t make a fuss of greeting him until he has quietened down. 

Some dogs will bark at people or other dogs walking past the house, which they regard as defending their territory. Drawing curtains when you're not around and using a simple "Hush" command when you are should help. If your dog tends to bark at passers-by through the garden gate or fence, create a screen of some kind or confine him to a more secluded area.

Alarm barking alerting you to a stranger calling at the door isn't necessarily something you want to discourage but you should be able to control the duration by teaching the "Hush" command. Check with a behavioural trainer for advice if you’re not sure what methods to use.