dog for sale...kidding (kind of)

Bella is driving me NUTS!  Ok, let me start by saying, I absolutely love that dog.  Adopting her was one of the best decisions we ever made, but there are days I want to scream!  The problem is her barking.  (and it's such a LOUD bark!)  It's recently been worse, in my opinion.  She pretty much only barks when Jeff isn't home.  It's like she wants to let me know there's something going on outside.  Listen, Bella, I appreciate the warning, but I got it....on the first bark!  How do you (nicely) make your dog stop barking, especially when she's barking for no apparent reason?  Give it your best shot, because this dog is about to make me even more crazy than I already am!