The Gracie Challenge - Update

Things are going very well with Gracie. She hasn't barked at anything since the neighbor took their toddler toy inside last week. She doesn't bark unless she's afraid of something or thinks there is danger lurking. So, apparently, our neighborhood has been free of any threats from plastic bags, balloons, or odd toys!

If she does bark at something, which she was doing over the weekend when she thought a stuffed animal on the bed was out to get her, I acknowledged her barking, calming told her to "hush" and treated her for her calm, hushed behavior - all the while getting her to keep her focus on me. It worked well. We'll see how it works when there's a real threat in the yard; toddler toys beware!