In many cases dogs bark because they have nothing else of interest to do, a lack of attention can sometimes cause the barking. A lot of the time we give in to our dogs in order to make them behave, this only teaches them that barking will get them what they want which encourages more bad behavior. It's important to learn and understand the most effective dog training techniques so that you can effectively deal with this type of behavior.
One of the first things that your dog needs to learn is that barking in order to attract attention will not be tolerated. Some dogs lack so much attention that they start to anger their owners as a way to get attention - its not positive attention but its better than nothing. This belief needs to be changed and you'll need to train your dog that this is not what you want. To do this most effectively you'll need to practice reinforcing your commands with an action.
If you tell him to be "Quiet" and reinforce it by using a spray of water, this action is known as negative reinforcement, where the dog learns to associate the words with an action. So if you do this he will come to expect that that word will be followed by an action he doesn't like or no more barking. Later on he will learn to keep quiet on his own; when that happens you can praise him to let him know the quiet action was acceptable.
If you notice that your dogs barking is accompanied with growling and an aggressive look, using negative reinforcement is probably not a great idea. In this case you may want to get your dog checked out with your vet.
If your dog barks often when you leave the house, a simple thing you can do is to make sure he has everything he needs to feel comfortable. Make sure food and water are available and that he has a comfortable place to sleep. Keep him away from windows as this may excite him and cause more barking.
Another thing you should watch out for is excessive praising of your dog. If you praise your dog too much, he will learn that regardless of what he does, he will end up being praised. When you teach your dog a new trick, or when you dog obeys your command, just give him a quick pat. Don't over praise him. Doing this will encourage more good behavior from your dog.
When you are not at home, make sure your dog has something to do and everything he needs. Start using negative reinforcement and then back this up with positive reinforcement. Always remember that praise should only be given to your dog when it really deserves it.
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