How to teach your dog to speak

This is a tougher trick to teach, especially with normally calm dogs, but teaching your dog to speak is an impressive feat. And with practice, nearly every dog can be trained to speak on command.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Small treats

1. Unlike with other tricks, you will want your dog to be riled up before attempting to train him. When excited, your pup is more likely to bark. So first, play with your dog--run around, chase him or throw a ball. Then bring him back to a central location to begin training.

2. Hold out a treat so your dog can see it, but not reach it. By instinct, he should start whining for it or barking. If he does not, wave it around so he knows what he's missing. If he still doesn't, try to walk away or hide the treat and then bring it out again. This should make him agitated and ready to bark.

3. When your dog barks for the treat, give it to him immediately and praise him for completing the trick.

4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3, except with the addition of a command cue. This may be "Bark," "Speak" or whatever short cue you choose. With repitition, the dog will associate this word with the trick.

5. Repeat Step 4 over the course of many days. As this is a tougher trick, and it will take longer to teach. You may reinforce your dog's learning by saying your cue word whenever you hear him bark. This will teach him to associate the word with the trick.

Tips & Warnings

• Have patience. This trick will take a few days.

[jenniferw]

on 3/9/2009 how do you get your dog to bark if nothing seems to work?! I tried the doorbell, I tried teasing with a treat, I tried teasing with a toy, nothing. My dog jumps up on me all excited, then sits and looks confused when she doesn't get the toy or treat.