Is there a trick to getting my dog to bark? Until last week he barely barked, and we want him to be a guard dog as well as a companion.

If the dog is a youngster, then be patient and give him time. Some dogs don't discover their bark until they're several months old, so there may be plenty of time yet for him to learn — and for you to wish he hadn't! Oftentimes, a trigger to a bark is something like a knock on the door or the doorbell. Try sitting next to a wall or door in the house, have a treat concealed in one hand, with the other concealed behind your back. Use the hidden hand to knock on the door. Most dogs will bark at this, in which case praise him and give the treat. If he doesn't bark, but merely cocks his head, praise this instead, the idea being to gradually build up to him barking.