Stretch the Silence

At first, one second of quiet earns the treat. Then you make the dog wait a little longer. Ask for quiet, count to two in your head, then mark and reward. Build to five seconds, then ten, then half a minute.

If your dog barks before the time is up, don't scold — just reset and ask for a shorter, easier hold. Progress comes in fits and starts, with plenty of plateaus, and that's normal. Keep practicing in different spots too: during TV, when someone passes the window, when the mail drops.