Barking - intercom, knocking, people coming in

Chakani

Obviously we don't know you or your dog, or the situation beyond what you've posted here, but from what you've written, the thing that worked before was you being assertive, ie the time you shouted and meant it. I'm not suggesting shouting is the way to solve the behaviour, but you surprised her with the shout, which interrupted her train of thought, and she obviously decided that you meant it, as she's not done it since (it also backs up what you say about her being clever - not always a good thing, as my comment about the collie shows ^^). So perhaps you are right, maybe you do need to be tougher with her, at least mentally.

I'd be inclined to warn the neighbours that you are going to do some training with the intercom, and get a friend to press the buzzer. As she starts yelling, do whatever you feel will stop her in her tracks, be that a cup of water, a shout, a compressed air can. And mean it. Stand up tall, be assertive, give her the look. When she stops for that split second and goes "huh?", if you can time it right, quick praise for being quiet and immediately distract her with another command, such as "sit". Praise and treat if that's your thing. Bring the friend in to make a fuss of her, but only when she's sitting quietly. If she yells, friend goes straight back out with no eye contact to her. BORING. Then, do it again. And again, until she is sitting quietly and waiting for the visitor to come in.

That's how I'd approach it, anyway. It worked for the two dogs I've had barking issues with. One was nervous, one was just happy-mental and very excitable. The nervous one needed to know that humans were in charge, and the mental one just needed to calm herself down, because nothing fun was going to happen until she did.