I know my dog is barking at nothing important. It's just a wallaby at the bird bath. It's after midnight and I'm tired, but I never correct my dogs for alert barking. Ever. I acknowledge them and let them know they are heard, and then together we settle. I never want my dogs to feel like they cannot express themselves and I want them to know that they can ask for direction from me, be it a cue to take action, to be calm or to hand the issue over for me to handle on their behalf. Plus lately there have been times when it wasn't just a wallaby, so I'd rather know either way. Living this way with my dogs I've never had issues with nuisance barking. Its just communication after all .... How do you respond to your dog? Do you have a conversation, or just ask them to shush?