Dogs bark at everything — and nothing. Some dogs are so prone to barking that they bark to hear themselves bark. (Kind of like some people who can yak for hours.) But excessive barking is more than a mere nuisance. In many municipalities, you can be hauled into court for having a dog that barks excessively. If your rottweiler is barking and keeping the neighbors up at night, or if he's barking outside during the day, why are you leaving him outside? He's better off indoors in his own crate than out disturbing the neighbors.

If your rottie is inside and is still barking and whining, you can use a squirt bottle filled with water or pennies in a pop can to discourage him from whining while you're home. When your rottie carries on in his crate, toss a pop can with some pennies in it at the top of the crate so that it makes a loud noise but doesn't hurt him. (Make sure the pop can has been crinkled so the coins don't fall out of the can into your dog's crate.) You can also use a squirt bottle filled with water and give him a quick spray when he whines. Don't yell or even tell him no. If you can give the correction without letting him see you, so much the better.

But what about when you're away? In these cases, a citronella bark collar might work. This bark collar uses a fragrant citronella spray that activates when the dog barks. Dogs dislike the spray and will avoid barking so that they don't get sprayed.