How to Train Quiet Behavior in Dogs Using Treats (Stop Barking & Whining)

Posted by Salik Khan on

How to Train Quiet Behavior in Dogs Using Treats (Stop Barking & Whining)

Excessive barking and whining can make your home feel chaotic — especially when your dog:

  • Barks at everything that passes by

  • Whines in the crate when you leave

  • Barks in the house nonstop for attention

  • Cries at night and won’t settle

The good news: with reward-based training and the right treats, you can teach your dog to relax and be quiet on cue.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

  • How to train a dog to stop barking and whining using treats

  • How to reinforce quiet behavior in dogs

  • How to stop attention barking, crate barking, and nighttime whining

  • What kind of treats work best for fast training results

Why Dogs Bark and Whine

Before you can fix it, you need to know why it’s happening.

1. Alert Barking

Your dog is “on duty” — barking at people, dogs, cars, delivery trucks, anything that passes by the window.

2. Attention-Seeking Barking & Whining

Your dog has learned that barking/whining =
“you look at me / talk to me / give me treats / let me out / play with me.”

3. Crate Barking or Separation Whining

Often happens when you leave or when the dog is confined and doesn’t fully understand or feel safe in the crate.

4. Nighttime Barking & Whining

Common causes: boredom, inconsistent routine, anxiety, or a dog that is under-stimulated during the day.

The Core Approach: Reward Quiet, Not Noise

Dogs repeat what gets rewarded. Punishing barking rarely works long-term.

Instead, we flip the script; we reward calm and quiet, so your dog chooses that behavior on their own.

To do that effectively, use high-value training treats that your dog cares about more than the distraction:

Small, tasty treats make it easy to repeat exercises without overfeeding.

Step-by-Step: How to Train “Quiet” Using Treats

Step 1: Capture Silence

Start by rewarding any short moment of quiet — even 1–2 seconds.

  1. Wait for your dog to pause barking or whining.

  2. The instant they’re quiet, say “Yes!” (or click if using a clicker).

  3. Give a small treat.

Do this repeatedly throughout the day.

Your dog learns:

“Being quiet makes good things happen.”

Step 2: Add the Cue “Quiet”

Once your dog is offering pauses more often:

  1. Wait for a quiet moment.

  2. Calmly say “Quiet.”

  3. Immediately treat.

Repeat many times so the dog associates the word with the state of being calm and silent.

Only after that should you start saying “Quiet” while the dog is barking — and then rewarding the moment they stop.

Step 3: Interrupt → Quiet → Reward (Fast Response)

If your dog is in full bark mode and you need to stop barking “in seconds”:

  1. Interrupt:

    • Call their name, or

    • Toss a treat gently on the floor away from the window/door.

  2. When they turn toward you and stop barking — mark and treat.

  3. Then add the “Quiet” cue as they’re calm.

Over time, they learn to switch from “alert and barking” to “quiet and looking at you” very quickly, because that’s what gets rewarded.

High-value motivators like the Training Treats for Dogs – Sweet Potato & Chicken or Beef Meat Sticks are perfect for this.

How to Stop Barking in Common Situations

1. “My Dog Barks at Everything That Passes By”

This is classic alert barking at windows, doors, or the yard.

Technique: “Look at That” Game

  1. Your dog sees a trigger (person, dog, car).

  2. Before they explode into barking, say “Yes!” and give a treat.

  3. Repeat: trigger → you mark → treat.

You’re teaching your dog:
“Seeing the trigger predicts food, not a fight.”

Use small, easy treats like Training Treats – Sweet Potato & Chicken

You can also manage the environment by:

  • Closing curtains or using frosted film on lower windows.

  • Moving furniture so your dog can’t constantly patrol the window.

2. How to Stop Dog Barking in a Crate When You Leave

Crate barking is usually frustration or anxiety-based.

Make the Crate a Calm, Rewarding Place

  • Feed surprise treats in the crate when your dog is calm and quiet.

  • Start with very short crate sessions and build up gradually.

  • Use long-lasting chews in the crate so your dog has something to focus on:

Great options to link in the blog:

Only give these special chews in the crate, so the dog thinks:
“Crate = my favorite thing to chew.”

3. Dog Whining and Barking for Attention (“I’ve Tried Everything!”)

If your dog is barking or whining for treats or for you:

  • Don’t scold.

  • Don’t talk.

  • Don’t even look at them.

Any reaction can still count as attention.

Fix: Reward Silence, Not Noise

  1. Ignore the barking/whining completely.

  2. The moment your dog stops (even half a second) — calmly say “Yes,” walk over, and reward with a treat.

  3. Over time, increase the duration of quiet required before reward.

This can feel hard, but it’s one of the most powerful ways to stop attention barking.

4. Dog Whining and Barking at Night

Night barking is often linked to:

  • Under-exercised dog during the day

  • Boredom

  • Inconsistent bedtime rules (sometimes you respond, sometimes you don’t)

Build a “Quiet Night” Routine

Avoid turning nighttime whining into a habit by:

  • Not starting play at 2 a.m.

  • Keeping responses brief and boring if a genuine potty break is needed.

How to Stop Dog Barking in the House in General

Barking in the house is usually a mix of boredom + habit + triggers.

1. Manage Triggers

  • Limit access to “bark zones” like front windows.

  • Use background noise (fan, white noise) to reduce outside sounds.

2. Enrich the Dog’s Day

A mentally tired dog is a quiet dog.

Ideas:

3. Reward Calm on the Mat or Bed

Every time your dog chooses to lie down calmly:

  • Quietly walk over.

  • Drop a treat like a tiny piece of
    Beef Meat Stick between their paws.

You’re shaping a dog who sees relaxing as the best job in the house.

If You Feel Like “Nothing Works”

If you’ve felt like: “I’ve tried everything and my dog won’t stop barking”, it’s usually because:

  • Treats weren’t high-value enough

  • Timing was a bit late (the reward came too long after the quiet moment)

  • Training wasn’t consistent across family members

  • The dog’s physical/mental needs weren’t fully met

Switching to higher-value rewards, like Training Treats – Sweet Potato & Chicken and integrating quiet-rewarding throughout the day tends to unlock progress.

Final Takeaways

  • Reward quite far more than you correct barking.

  • Use small, high-value treats so you can repeat training without overfeeding.

  • Manage the environment: less access to triggers, more enrichment.

  • Build strong routines: crate time, bedtime, and calm time all become predictable.

  • Be patient and consistent — dogs absolutely can learn to be calm and quiet.

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