Doubt this will help, but I will share anyhoo. I have never trained one to speak softer, but I have trained to them to speak louder on command. I start with training speak. Then if they just gruff or quiet bark when I tell them to speak I say "speak bigger" and give a treat only when they bark louder.
You may be able to do the same, except treat only for softer. Not sure.
__________________ Mario  was adopted May 2015. Now he is a service dog and brother to Bailey the Airdale mix  |