I don't encourage any growling or barking if someone comes over while I am around --- unfortunatly Visa is a bit shy, so she likes to growl and bark at strangers that come onto the property. I put her in a downstay and she stops right away. She is improving so much and becoming alot more social. The only time I want her to growl and bark is if nobody is home with her or if I'm in trouble. And if I was in trouble (say, someone was attacking me) she would definatly protect me.