Speak

[Alec]

I've read a couple places that teaching your dog to speak can be helpful in certain situations. My question is what is the best way to do this? The only thing I can think of is to do, or go around something that will get the dog to bark on its own, and when they do, say speak and give them some food. My dog doesn't bark a lot but always does when the doorbell rings so I have tried ringing the doorbell in this scenario but I have not had great results. Any suggestions?

[Angelique]

Alex, When observing Kevin teaching a dog to speak, he would almost whisper to the dog to encourage them. It definitely helps to have a trigger, and praise even the most gurgled burp of a bark, you are aiming for a deep belly bark eventually - ah, so satisfying!

[Chris]

I was lucky with Ty, he's a barker, first GSD I've had that is but it made it easy to get him to 'speak' by saying speak whenever he did bark. Now if he's getting worked up I get him to speak and it helps him chill out a bit. Sorry I can't help with any ideas for a non barker

[Alec]

Thanks for the responses. The whispering is interesting; I shall try that. I think I need to keep at it for a little while longer as well.

[Lee Charles Kelley]

I tease a dog with a treat and growl at him, slowly increasing the intensity, throwing in a few barks of my own. Then, at the barest whisper of vocalization from the dog, I immediately give him the treat and say "Speak!" at the same time.

Good luck!

LCK
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[Alec]

I must be doing something wrong. Is there a certain way to tease her?

[Valerie]

What worked for me was getting a foster dog that barked a good bit and Eka seemed to have picked it up. Ok, I don't recommend that method.

At 11 months she is now barking quite a bit at various noises, strangely enough, not the tornado siren drill which is loud and annoying and thought stopping, but loud engines starting up far away, other dogs barking sometimes,etc., much softer than the tornado siren at any rate.

Anyway when she is barking I try praise her, my mom looks at me funny worried it will go on forever, (and sometimes I am too) and then when she stops for a moment, I say 'Speak!' but only when she still seems to be in the barking mood. She usually barks again, and I say speak again and if she doesn't bark I might bark just to get her going. It seems to work. Right now I'm at a point where I can't push it, and just say speak at any time and have her bark. If the moment has passed she won't bark when I say 'Speak' and she won't bark if I just say it cold at a random moment when she's quiet and has been for a while. I'm working up to that though.

I'll try the whisper too. Interesting...

I'm also trying to add in a soft "Quiet" after she barks and has been quite a couple seconds and put my finger to my lips. Is it too soon for that, since she hasn't fully generalized 'Speak' yet? Probably so... Gah I'm so impatient! I want her perfectly trained now!

[Lee Charles Kelley]

Originally Posted by Alec

I must be doing something wrong. Is there a certain way to tease her?

Each dog is different. With some dogs it only takes 20 - 30 seconds, with others it can take 20 30 minutes.

LCK

[Alec]

So it sounds like I need to be a little more patient. Thought I might have been doing something wrong because she wanted to jump up for some pushing. Probably would help if I stand still. I start moving my hand back and forth and growling, and at first she gets excited (wanted to push) then eventually just sits down and looks up at me with this what are you doing look. Ha. I will keep at it. Thanks again