Trying to do a daily morning training walk with her while there’s no dogs. She did so great! She barked at everyone we saw, but we did 1-2-3 and by the count of 2 she’s looking at me and 3 she’s quiet. It’s amazing!
We worked with the trainer for only a couple months, but she helped us so much. I can only imagine what more training could have done. Once I get a job secured we plan to hire another trainer.
Something about having someone there with us was helpful. I knew a lot of these tricks, but just didn’t have the patience to practice them over and over and it’s hard when there isn’t a stimulus. But the trainer is the stimulus (for her)
There’s a neighbor that has a dog behind a solid fence. Can’t see through it. I’m hoping we encounter it on a walk so we can sit across the street and practice. Not for a length of time that would be an annoyance. But it barked the whole time I walked the fence. So we’d be across the street hearing it and practicing.
She’s also doing much better with her arch nemesis Grace. They have played a couple of times now and while they still get jealous, a firm “lay down” while holding her harness has been enough that she isn’t flying off the couch snapping at her and they can both settle down.
Yesterday, roomie had Mel and grace sat between me and M. Once Mel was calm, roomie let her go and she snuggled up between me and grace.
Food is still an issue, but not one we’re really working on solving. Mel eats in her crate because she’ll eat their food too (so will her sister). I usually fix Mel’s food and crate her because she takes the longest to eat with her puzzle, then grace because her mom mixes it with a bunch of nutritional things, and harmony last because she’s the fastest eater. I did it backwards yesterday and Mel came over before I put graces food down, but they got mad and grace had her pinned to the floor. Ugh. I’m hoping things don’t end up escalating one day, but it seems like Mel is trying to “correct” grace (herding genes) and grace then gives warnings. Mel nips her sometimes, but I think that’s herding as well. 
But overall, the two seem to be learning how to diffuse other ways. Mel will play with harmony and grace chews on her blanket. We’ve been able actually pet grace and play with her while Mel is out. We couldn’t do that a month ago. They had to be in totally different rooms.
His name is Bramble and he’s a 5 month old Mini Australian Shepherd. He’s ridiculously chill for a puppy (even more so for an Aussie) and he’s so smart it’s actually kind of scary lmao