Is your puppy louder than you (and your neighbors) would like? Teaching your dog to bark on command is not only a fun trick for your furry friend to learn, but it can also help alleviate inappropriate barking.

When you teach dogs to bark on command, you’re also teaching them the opposite – to be quiet. This simple trick will let your puppy know the proper time to use beautiful sounds.

Quiet gameplay

You may want to start teaching your puppy how to talk on command. However, the more important aspect of this trick is your dog’s ability to sit quietly. Before they can learn to speak, they must master this.

As you can probably imagine, teaching a vocal puppy to be quiet is the hard part. On the other hand, if you have a quiet dog, you may need to create an environment where they bark so you can reward them for being quiet. Either way, your pup must understand that a treat is coming because they are silent.

A great way to do this is to have a friend or family member ring the doorbell or knock, as most dogs bark or two when they hear a visitor’s voice. Wait for your puppies to quiet down and reward them. Finally, start adding a word that your puppy will associate with silence. “Quiet” or “Silence” are obvious choices.

You should practice this command until your dog masters it. This could be a few days or a day or so. In any case, understanding “quiet” is key to learning how to speak.

The command barked

When your puppy has mastered the ability to remain silent on commands, you are free to combine “talking.” You don’t want to teach your puppy to bark without the ability to tell them to be quiet.

The professor’s imperative barking is much like the professor’s silence. Similarly, you should create a situation where your puppy barks. This is usually easier for partners who can knock or ring the doorbell. When your puppy starts barking, reward them.

Slowly add a command, such as “speak” or “talk.” Then, reward your dog only if he barks to follow orders. If your dog becomes confused, take a break from the Speak command and focus on the Quiet command again. Some pups become overloaded with orders and do not understand what their parents want.

If your puppy understands the “speak” command, combine the “speak” and “quiet” commands. Remember, practice makes perfect. Do this with your puppy every day until it becomes as easy as sitting or staying.