A dog’s bark can be a very valuable alarm system. I know mine never allows a squirrel or delivery person to make it up the sidewalk without a boisterous welcome. And although I appreciate their vigilance in keeping our home protected, there are times I would also like them to be quiet when I ask.
Just like telling a person who’s upset to calm down, our dogs aren’t always quick to settle, either. If this is a challenge you face regularly, this trainer’s advice may help.
Watch the technique she’s using in this video posted on March 13:
@dynamitedogtraining#dogtraining #fyp #puppytraining #barkingdog #doggo #puppytrainingtips
There’s nothing worse than having a dog that won’t stop barking, especially when you’re on an important call. I’m excited to try Jamie’s (@dynamitedogtraining) method when my UPS package arrives later today.
Related: Golden Retriever’s Funny ‘Whisper Bark’ Is Impossible to Resist
Teaching a dog the quiet command
Jaime educates us that dogs can’t bark when they are smelling: “It’s one or the other.” That’s why she uses a treat for sniffing when training a dog to be quiet, which makes sense. With the dog barking, she holds the treat up and in front of her nose so she will sniff it. When she does, she uses the word quiet and is rewarded with the treat. She explains that when she sniffs and hears the word quiet, she begins to associate the two. Each time she does this, she waits a little longer before giving the treat. She tells us we will know if they have made the association if they start to settle down when we use the word.
The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast recommends teaching dogs the quiet command by using triggers like the doorbell or walking past another dog, whatever sets them off. If more than one outside stimulus provokes them, they advise us to work with each one. They say that a few weekly training sessions can help us achieve the desired results, eventually leading to compliance with our command without the need to reward with a treat each time. They also caution us not to be upset if they initially fall back into their old ways after taking them into the real world. With consistency, they will get it eventually.
People expressed their excitement about trying this method. Viewer @Psychrnsighcaps remarked, “There’s no way my dog can even hear the word quiet over her nonstop barking at me! But I’m still going to give this a whirl!” If she’s sniffing, she can’t be barking.
I’m looking forward to testing this technique myself. If it works, it’s a total game-changer.
