Quiet

Common Misconceptions

• You can't teach a dog to be quiet.
• This is a difficult command to teach.
• You need to yell at your dog to get them to be quiet.

These are all common misconceptions about the "quiet" command. The truth is, it is possible to teach a dog to be quiet, and it is not a difficult command to teach. You also don't need to yell at your dog to get them to be quiet. In fact, yelling can actually make the problem worse.

Steps to Address

Teaching Phase

• Start in a quiet environment. This is the foundation phase of training. It is important to start training the "quiet" command in a quiet environment where there are no distractions. This will help your dog to focus on the command and not on the distractions.
• Get your dog's attention. Once you have found a quiet environment, you need to get your dog's attention. You can do this by calling their name, making a noise, or waving a treat in front of their face.
• Say the cue word. Once your dog is looking at you, say the cue word in a firm voice. The cue word you choose should be something that is easy for you to say and that your dog will be able to understand.
• Mark and reward the behavior. If your dog stops barking after you say the cue word, immediately mark and reward the behavior. You can mark the behavior by saying "yes" or clicking a clicker. You can reward the behavior with a treat, praise, or a combination of both.
• Repeat the steps several times. Once your dog has stopped barking a few times in a row, you can start to repeat the steps several times. This will help them to learn the command more quickly.

Reinforcing Phase

• Once your dog is reliably stopping barking when you say the cue word in a quiet environment, you can start to add distractions. This is the intermediate phase of training. You can start by adding mild distractions, such as another person in the room or a soft noise. As your dog gets better at staying quiet with distractions, you can gradually add more distractions.
• Continue to mark and reward the behavior. It is important to continue marking and rewarding the behavior, even when there are distractions present. This will help them to learn that they can still be rewarded for being quiet, even when there are other things going on.
• Vary the amount of time you wait before rewarding. You can also start to vary the amount of time you wait before rewarding your dog. This will help to make the command more reliable.

Proofing Phase

• Once your dog is reliably stopping barking in a variety of environments with different distractions, you can start to "proof" the command. This is the advanced phase of training. This means practicing the command in different situations that may be more challenging for your dog. For example, you could try practicing the command when your dog is playing with another dog, when there are people over, or when there are loud noises outside.
• It is important to be patient and consistent during this phase. It may take some time for your dog to learn to be quiet in all situations.
• If your dog starts to bark in a situation where they have previously been quiet, you can try giving them a correction. A correction should be something that is quick and mild, such as a sharp "no" or a tap on the nose.

Maintenance Phase

• Once your dog is reliably stopping barking in all situations, it is important to continue practicing the command on a regular basis. This is the maintenance phase of training. This will help to keep the command fresh in their mind and prevent them from regressing.
• You can practice the command by simply saying the cue word and rewarding your dog for being quiet. You can also try adding distractions to the training, such as playing with your dog or having someone walk by.

Pet Parent Coaching Tips

Here are a few pet parent coaching tips for teaching your dog the "quiet" command:

• Be patient and consistent. It may take some time for your dog to learn the command.
• Use positive reinforcement. Reward your dog for being quiet immediately.
• Start in a quiet environment and gradually add distractions.
• Don't yell at your dog. This will only make the problem worse.
• Be persistent. Don't give up if your dog doesn't learn the command right away.

With patience and consistency, you can teach your dog the "quiet" command. This will help to manage your dog's energy and make your life a little bit easier.