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This is a really, really good reminder to not scold or correct our dogs for alerting to things we cannot perceive. As my very wise (working SAR dog trainer) mom used to say, “Believe your dog.” Instead of scolding for an alert bark, I generally ask Joy to either “Check it out” (go to the window and have a look – or in some cases, I open the door to let her explore the yard) or I’ll ask her to “Tell me all about it” which means to put her front paws on my lap and I comfort her and scratch her neck and back while she enjoys a settling stretch.