How do I get my quiet rescue dog to bark and find his voice?

Some dogs do not bark, they are quieter than others. You can try to train Pucci to bark on command. Check out this article below: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/teach-your-dog-to-speak-in-four-easy-steps/

It is true they are not prolific barkers. AmStaffs don't need to be taught to bark though. All dogs can bark. You can reinforce the behavior by discovering what makes him bark, then get him all riled up and just before he barks, say "Speak". When he barks, reward him. Repeat this until he starts to bark on command. Be careful though, because even though they don't usually bark much, you can create an excessive barker accidentally. Read more about the breed below. https://www.petcoach.co/breed/american-staffordshire-terrier/

Figure out what he gets out of barking and remove it. Don't give your dog the opportunity to continue the barking behavior. But don't ever shout at your dog to stop barking, because they see that as you 'barking' with them and it does little to discourage them. Ignore your dog's barking for as long as it takes him to stop. That means don't give him attention at all while he's barking. Your attention only rewards him for being noisy. Don't talk to, don't touch, or even look at him. When he finally quiets, even to take a breath, reward him with a treat. To be successful with this method, you must wait as long as it takes for him to stop barking. Yelling at him is the equivalent of barking with him. Teach your dog the ‘quiet’ command. Oddly, the first step is to teach your dog to bark on command. Give your dog the command to "speak," wait for him to bark two or three times, and then stick a tasty treat in front of his nose. When he stops barking to sniff the treat, praise him and give him the treat. Repeat until he starts barking as soon as you say "speak." Once your dog can reliably bark on command, teach him the "quiet" command. In a calm environment with no distractions, tell him to "speak." When he starts barking, say "quiet" and stick a treat in front of his nose. Praise him for being quiet and give him the treat. Make sure your dog is getting sufficient physical and mental exercise every day. A tired dog is a good dog and one who is less likely to bark from boredom or frustration. Depending on his breed, age, and health, your dog may require several long walks as well as a good game of chasing the ball and playing with some interactive toys.

As Dr. Phil says, "You don't break a bad habit so much as you replace it with a good habit." For the barking, you can teach the dogs the word "Quiet." Have some treats handy and, when they are barking, show them the treats. In order to eat a treat, they have to stop barking as they can't chew and bark simultaneously! As soon as they stop barking, give them a treat and praise by saying, "Quiet! Good dog!" They will soon learn that "Quiet" means a treat and when stop barking when they hear it. Some (but not all) dogs will even train themselves to appraoch you for a goodie when they feel the urge to bark! This is something you can be grateful for if it happens, but don't expect it. As for barking in the van . . . it depends on where in the van they are in relation to you. If they are nearby, you can use the same technique. If they are in the back in crates, you can get a "Treat and Train" device for each crate. You control it by remote to dispense a treat when they deserve one. In fact, you can even use it in your home if you want to reward them from another room after you've yelled "Quiet!" and they've complied. Good luck with this!

Barking is a complex issue, and without knowing the cause of Tuck's barking, it'd be hard to recommend how to fix the issue. Finding the cause of it (IE is he stressed out when you leave, barking at seeing a neighbor, other dogs, etc) can help you narrow down ways to treat the issue. Often times, distraction and redirecting the behavior are what is needed to stop the barking. These articles below may help with general barking issues, however, speaking with a trainer in person that can observe the behavior and provide a more tailored response may also be beneficial: https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-tips-to-stop-excessive-barking-in-dogs/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-does-my-dog-bark-so-much/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/excessive-barking-a-common-behavior-problem/

Well down on teaching Max to "speak"! You are half way there to now teaching him how to be "quiet" Begin by working with the “speak” command. Say speak, then wait for your dog to bark a few times in succession. If you dog seems confused, put him or her in a situation where your dog will most likely bark, and then use the word “speak” during the action. Offer a treat to stop the barking and don’t give it to your dog unless the barking has stopped completely. Offer praise and rewards readily. Once you have established and mastered this command, begin to work on the “quiet” command. When your dog starts barking wait patiently until he or she finishes, then calmly use the word “quiet”. Then offer praise and a reward. Once your dog is effectively following the verbal commands with treats you can start using the commands without a treat every single time. Be consistent and enlist the help of other individuals to use the commands when they come to your home. https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-tips-to-stop-excessive-barking-in-dogs

It sounds like Siri is trying to train you. The best way to get him to stop without significant intervention is positive reinforcement. In this case, you will be reinforcing the absence of a behavior. I don't know where he stands in reference to you while he is barking, but hopefully it is within a reasonable voice's reach. You need to start rewarding Siri for periods of quiet (I would say if he is in a barking fit, any period of silence greater than 10-15 seconds should be rewarded). You should also start to come up with a word you phrase you use to ask Siri to quiet down. It doesn't matter what you choose as long as you are consistent. If this fails, there are bark collars out there of all different types. On small dogs I essentially never, ever recommended any collar that produces an electric shock. However, there are citronella collars that spray an unpleasant liquid (not bothersome to humans) at the dog any time it barks above a certain volume. It is extremely effective on some dogs and completely harmless. Hope this helps.