How to Train Your Dog to Bark on Command

By eHow Pets Editor

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Training your dog to bark on command has another hidden feature - you can also train her to stop barking on command.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step1
Hold a particular toy, such as a ball or squeak toy that causes your dog to bark. Give the command BARK or SPEAK.
Step2
When your dog barks say, GOOD.
Step3
Give him the toy or food as a reward and praise him.
Step4
Repeat steps 1 through 3 until your dog understands the command to bark.
Step5
When your dog understands the command, command him to bark.
Step6
After three barks say, QUIET or SILENCE or any other word(s) to command him not to bark. Praise and reward him with the toy.
Step7
Repeat steps 5 and 6 until he understands the command.
Step8
Instead of using a toy, have someone knock on the door and repeat steps 2 through 7, rewarding him with praise and affection when he succeeds.

Tips & Warnings

  • Give unlimited praise when dog succeeds, every step of the way.

Comments

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on 4/3/2008 I would love to be there to see the two of you barking up a storm. My German Shepherd, Jake, was a barker from day one. He sometimes mistakes Sit for Speak, so we have had to change both commands. You have to realize that you are not dealing with a human, they don't understand the vocabulary, just the movements and tones we use when saying the words. That is why it is helpful to use both physical and verbal commands. Sit is now Bottom. Speak is now Talk to Me. These sound nothing alike. They sound kinda crazy as commands, but it works for us. Also, when using verbal commands, it is important to say the word the same each time. Just like when you are programming your cellphone to dial mom ... when you say momma (changing the recorded voice) you might not get the response you were after. Oh, and if Mom does all the training, pup might not mind dad as well.

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on 4/3/2008 I would love to be there to see the two of you barking up a storm. My German Shepherd, Jake, was a barker from day one. He sometimes mistakes Sit for Speak, so we have had to change both commands. You have to realize that you are not dealing with a human, they don't understand the vocabulary, just the movements and tones we use when saying the words. That is why it is helpful to use both physical and verbal commands. Sit is now Bottom. Speak is now Talk to Me. These sound nothing alike. They sound kinda crazy as commands, but it works for us. Also, when using verbal commands, it is important to say the word the same each time. Just like when you are programming your cellphone to dial mom ... when you say momma (changing the recorded voice) you might not get the response you were after. Oh, and if Mom does all the training, pup might not mind dad as well.

Flag This Comment

on 4/3/2008 I would love to be there to see the two of you barking up a storm. My German Shepherd, Jake, was a barker from day one. He sometimes mistakes Sit for Speak, so we have had to change both commands. You have to realize that you are not dealing with a human, they don't understand the vocabulary, just the movements and tones we use when saying the words. That is why it is helpful to use both physical and verbal commands. Sit is now Bottom. Speak is now Talk to Me. These sound nothing alike. They sound kinda crazy as commands, but it works for us. Also, when using verbal commands, it is important to say the word the same each time. Just like when you are programming your cellphone to dial mom ... when you say momma (changing the recorded voice) you might not get the response you were after. Oh, and if Mom does all the training, pup might not mind dad as well.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 8/8/2006 I taught my dog to bark by saying the word bark and then making a barking noise myself. Then I said, 'Spangles Bark' (Spangles is the name of my dog), and he barked. This may only work for intelligent dogs, but it worked for mine.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 1/9/2006 Have a treat ready and ask him to speak, then you bark, be real excited about it. Say speak again and you do the barking. When your dog barks, give him a treat and praise him. See how quick he learns!

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eHow Article:  How to Train Your Dog to Bark on Command

eHow Pets Editor

eHow Pets Editor

Category: Pets

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