Nikon is 10 weeks old and LOVES to bark. He barks at me, dogs, people passing by, toys, cats.... I've always been told that when a dog does something too much, train them on cue. So, I've trained Nikon to "speak". I have either a treat or a ball and I say "speak!" When he barks, he gets the treat or I throw the ball. I'm trying to use the ball more to build his ball drive so I can use it later as a high value toy for Schutzhund training.
Now I realize I may have shot myself in the foot. Anytime I am holding a toy or food, Nikon sits right in front of me and gives me a few short barks. So now he barks on cue AND barks whenever he demands something.
What's the best way to introduce a "shhhh" command? I tried the other day, I would use the same concept as the speak where I ask him to sit and hold the treat or ball, but instead I say "shhh" with my finger over my mouth (hand signal for speak is making my hand like a quacking duck) and reward him QUICKLY before he started barking. Should I just keep doing this and hopefully get longer stretches of quiet once he catches on that he's also being rewarded for NOT barking?
I do not want to get him to totally stop barking because the bark will be valuable later on, just want to control it without him thinking that any time he barks, he gets the treat or ball (no, only when I SAY speak).
ETA: The barking I'm talking about in this thread is different than his fits when he is in the pen or crate, THAT barking I ignore, and when he is quiet is when I praise him or let him out. He's doing really well with the pen and crate but still will throw a fit here or there.