How to Train Your Dog to Shut Up in the House

Train your dog to be quiet in the house using positive reinforcement.

Dogs make certain noises as ways of communication. Dogs bark for attention, to defend their property or from excitement or boredom. Barking can be useful if your dog is letting you know someone is at the door, or that he needs to go to the bathroom, but when the barking becomes excessive, it becomes grating and annoying for everyone in the household. If your dog will not shut up in the house, there is a way to train him to be quiet.

Things You'll Need

• Treats

Instructions

1. Teach your dog to "speak." Do something that provokes barking in your dog, such as knocking on the door, and say "speak." When your dog barks, say "good speak," and reward her with a treat. Repeat until the dog associates the word "speak" with barking.

2. Teach your dog to be "quiet." Ask your dog to "speak," then say "quiet" loudly. Give your dog a treat as soon as he stops barking, even for a second, and say "good quiet." Repeat this until your dog responds to the cue "quiet" by becoming silent.

3. Gradually wean your dog off treats. Try giving your dog a treat every second time she obeys the "quiet" command, and reduce the frequency until your dog only gets a treat occasionally. Try to avoid falling into a pattern, because dogs can recognize patterns and might stop obeying if they know a treat is not an option. Keep it interesting for your dog, and think of yourself as a type of treat-dispensing slot machine.

4. Be consistent. Always use the same cues and make sure everyone in your household knows to do the same.

Tips & Warnings

• Use smelly treats like hot dogs, liver and ground beef if your dog is reluctant to obey. Alternatively, try using a favorite toy or simple praise. All dogs are different, and you need to find out what motivates your dog to obey.

• Do not yell at your dog for barking. This could inadvertently reinforce the barking, because your dog might see any attention as reinforcement. Simply ignore the behavior and work on your "speak" and "quiet" commands daily.

References

• Animal Communication Institute: Teaching Speak and Quiet
• PetEducation.com: Excessive Barking: A Common Behavior Problem
• Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center: Training Your Dog Not to Bark Excessively