[SWHouston]

I encourage my guys to bark.

But I have 2 mature Yorkies (been with me since puppies) that "guide" a newcomer as to what and when. They're praised highly when alarming at the right thing, and not so much, when it's not important.

Ickey (my new Yorkie Pup) is chiming in respectably, and Navi (Chihuahua Rescue) even has joined in on occasion. She's not exactly clear at this time, just what to bark at. It's kinda funny, my Yorkies are all rather robust animals, and hearing Navi's rather mild bark, always makes me laugh.