Teaching "Quiet" - Walkabout Canine Consulting by Sylvia Koczerzuk
Objective: To teach your dog to reduce barking by rewarding moments of silence and calm behaviour.
Step 1: Introduce the Command and Use the Treat as a Distraction
Show your dog the treat to get their attention. Make sure they know you have it.
Say the command "Quiet" just as they start focusing on the treat, which serves as a positive distraction from barking.
Step 2: Praise and Reward Moments of Silence
Wait 3-5 seconds of silence. Praise your dog during this quiet period, saying “Gooo-ooood.”
Reward them with the treat after 3-5 seconds of complete quiet.
Repeat this several times, gradually increasing the duration of the quiet period to reinforce the idea.
Step 3: Build Duration Gradually
Continue practicing, slowly increasing the length of quiet time from 5 seconds up to 1 minute.
Make sure to praise during the quiet periods to reinforce good behaviour.
Step 4: Progress to Not Showing the Treat
Once your dog starts staying quiet on the first "Quiet" command without barking, keep the treat in your pocket instead of showing it.
Reward them with the treat after the desired duration of quiet, but only if they’ve remained silent the entire time.
Step 5: Handle Interruptions
If your dog barks during the quiet time, say “Oh! Too bad,” and start counting the quiet time from the beginning again.
This helps them learn that barking interrupts their treat reward.
Additional Tips:
For dogs who bark out of habit or instinct (e.g., barking once or twice before settling): If they need to get a couple of barks out, allow it, then proceed with “Quiet.”
Keep training sessions positive and repetitive—dogs learn well with consistent practice.
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Sylvia Koczerzuk Koczerzuk 
