Teaching your dog to “talk”, or bark at command, is fun and useful: a fun trick to show to family and friends, as well as to fend off intruders. While excessive barking can be a big problem, teaching speaking and quiet commands with focus and consistency can both enhance your dog’s natural instincts and allow you to stop your dog from barking when needed.
Different dog trainers and owners have different techniques, but the basic methods explained below apply to many dogs.
Before You Begin
To start training, you’ll need some small but tasty dog treats or your dog’s favorite toy. The rewards should be instant and very valuable. You need to make your dog feel that the action is worth it. Small liver foods, chicken nuggets, or similar training foods work best.
You will also need barking stimuli, such as a doorbell or someone knocking on your door.
Train Your Dog to Be Quiet
It’s best to start with a quiet cue and make sure your dog knows about it before moving on to barking cue. Some people like to teach both of these clues together at the beginning. It’s your choice, it’s about your comfort, confidence and your dog’s ability to learn. Use your best judgment. Dogs with a tendency to “over-bark” may need to learn quiet commands first.
Choose a simple word as a quiet command. This cue word should be easy to remember and used consistently. Good options include “enough”, “quiet”, and “quiet”.
- Create an environment that will make your dog bark. The best way to do this is to have someone ring the doorbell or knock on the door. Or, you may make your dog bark with great excitement. Sometimes seeing another dog can also cause barking.
- When your dog barks, briefly confirm it by checking the source (looking out the window or door). Then, return to your dog and get his attention (you can try lifting a treat or a toy).
- After the barking stops, give your dog a toy or treat.
- Repeat these steps and gradually wait for a slightly longer period of silence before giving the reward each time.
- After your dog has been quiet a few times, add a cue word of your choice. When your dog barks, say your quiet commands in a firm, clear, optimistic voice while lifting the reward. When your dog stops barking, reward him.
- Practice the “quiet” cue often. You can do this while your dog is barking, but keep the training process brief.
How to Train Your Dog to Talk
Once your dog seems to understand the quiet cues, it’s time to turn to barking commands. Choose a simple word as the barking command. The word should also be easy to remember and used consistently, such as “talking”, “barking”, or “talking”. You can make up a word or phrase yourself, but make sure it doesn’t sound like other prompt words or your dog’s name.
- Again, let your dog bark naturally.
- When your dog barks, say your cue words in a clear, optimistic voice.
- Praise your dog and give him treats or toys.
- Repeat the process of saying the command a few times until your dog seems to understand.
- Once your dog has learned to speak and quiet commands, respectively, you can use them together. Let your dog talk a few times and then let it be quiet.
More Tips for Training Your Dog
- The professor speaking command is only available for dogs that can bark. If you are training a puppy, wait until it develops the ability and desire to bark. Basenji dogs do not bark, but they sometimes make yodel songs.
- Clicker training is also very effective when teaching speech and quiet commands.
- To prove your dog’s new skills, practice these commands in a variety of situations outside of the home, such as in the park or in the car.