Worth a try: thank your dog for barking

This big floof is my self-appointed protector. This probably sounds insane. Let me explain. I can’t count the number of times in my life that I’ve witnessed this exchange, or have been part of it: Dog: bark Human: [silence or mildly irritated noise] Dog: Bark! Human: Shush. Dog: Bark Bark!! Human: Quiet! Dog: BARK BARK BARK!!! Human: SHUT UP DAMMIT!!! Then I was faffing about on r/greatpyrenees and a commenter recommended thanking the dog for barking. The logic being that some breeds like Great Pyrenees are bred for guarding livestock, and in that scenario barking is as much to put their fellow herding dogs, their flock or herd, and their shepherds or cowpokes on notice, as it is to warn off any potential intruders. When these dogs bark, sometimes it’s just to let their humans know that something is up, and what they are seeking is acknowledgement, that the humans are now alert to the issue (which might be anything from an armed burglar to a leaf blowing past in a suspicious manner).…