I do say in the opposite way.
In the sense of helping, deities that often seek for are Guan Yin, Ji Gong, Lord Zhang, Lord Guan and both Elder & Second Brother.

They are mostly from the heaven deities, don't they?

This is the mostly believed version of Nine Emperors in Malaysia, which supported by Ampang Nine Emperor Temple.

People believed that the Nine Emperor is nine member of the Association of Heaven and Earth 天地会, which they protected the bloodline of Ming Dynasty from the invasion of Manchurians. Since they are deemed as rebellions by the authority, any praying or worshipping activities about them is prohibited.

Thus, the people created the Nine Emperor Legends that fits their hidden identity, and worship them, to appreciate for what they had done.

The names of the chivalrous individual could not be named, nor their faces cann carved on statues, so that the praying activity can avoid being detected by the authority.   

Hence the secrecy behind the Nine Emperor.

Also, it was believed that these nine men sacrifices their life at a beach at southern china, thus the Nine Emperor Festivals is always related to waterways, i.e the Nine Emperor come and go via water ways, the Nine Emperor sit in ships, raining is good sign etc.

While it really could have been anything that caused your dog to bark, this is, in fact, the correct thing to do.

Unless you are under any sort of direct threat from spirits, just ignore them.

Might be from your family member otherwise dog will never welcome.

Ya, can be earth god also

The Earth God does typically take the form of a white-bearded old gentleman. 

Morning all:

kindly help pray for rain to resolve haze. Here is the thread in RWI. I feel pitty looking at kids coughing due to haze.

https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/3713476