How do I teach my pup to bark on command?

TibetanFan · 10-09-2007, 04:17 PM

I would like to teach her to bark to be let out. But first I need to teach her to bark on command so I can tell her to do it each time we go out. How do you teach "speak"?

briteday · 10-09-2007, 09:37 PM

When you know she needs to go out, go to the door and make her sit there. Say "speak" and the first time she even makes noise praise and reward. Try not to let the dog out until she makes a noise each time.

FilleBelle · 10-09-2007, 10:16 PM

When teaching my last dog to speak, I labeled a behavior she was already exhibiting. When she barked for whatever reason, I praised her with "Good speak!" and a treat. It didn't take long for her to connect the behavior to the word/treat.

An interesting side effect of teaching her to bark on command was that she barked less without the command. Does that make sense? Like, she didn't bark at random as much after she learned the command.