[Jackie]

Hi. We have a 13 month GSD and we live in a small community. So we can hear a lot of dogs barking. Right from the beginning I didn’t wants us to be a part of that. I sat out on front steps of my house which has a very busy street with people and cars. I sat with Ripley and when people with dogs or without would go by I would say sssh no barking. Just watch ok. It took a little bit but she caught on pretty quick. I gave her lots of treats every time she was quiet. In the back yard with playing she will bark the odd time but with playing I felt it could get out of hand. So I just stop. make her sit say shhh no barking give her a treat say good girl. Then start to play again. If she barks I stop make her sit say ssh no barking say good girl and repeat Repeat repeat She is super good with it now. I don’t mind the odd barking but I don’t want to send mixed messages. If there are crows in my yard I say CROW and she can run and bark at them to chase them away then she’s using her voice sometimes but not with playing. Maybe that’s not great advice but worked for us. Good luck