Mary Allen
If you want to teach your dog to bark, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
Before you start teaching your dog to bark or even “speak”, he should have learned that barking for attention or the like is not allowed.
Think carefully about teaching your dog to bark on command. Some dogs then bark more often and it becomes difficult to get rid of this behavior.
If you are sure, the command “Speak” is easy to implement.
We have created a step-by-step guide that will take you and your dog by the hand and paw.
In a nutshell: how do I teach my dog to bark?
Here’s a quick guide on how to get your dog to bark.
Go outside with your dog.
Wait there until your dog barks. You can also encourage your dog to bark. (See how below.)
When your dog barks, give the command “speak,” “yell,” or some other verbal command.
Reward your dog with a treat or their favorite toy.
For more tips and guidance, check out our dog training bible. This saves you a tedious search on the Internet.
Teach a dog to bark – you still have to pay attention to that
In order for your dog to bark and understand his command correctly, you have to consider a few things. Among other things, of course, that you can ask your dog to rest again.
Train in a suitable environment
For once, it’s better to train in a busy environment. There it is more likely that your dog will bark and make noises on its own.
It’s important that your dog understands that barking isn’t inherently great and commendable (or rewarding to him).
If your dog tends to bark a lot or has previously had trouble staying calm, you should refrain from barking or growling.
My dog doesn’t bark?
Very good! Not for practicing the trick, but good for your nerves.
Some dogs naturally bark very little. Some almost not at all. If your dog doesn’t want to bark at all, then you should leave it at that.
Instead, teach your quiet dog other commands. With us you will find some instructions on how to teach your dog to stay or paw, roll and make manikin.
On the other hand, if your dog just doesn’t really dare, you can encourage your dog.
Just turn it up a little yourself. Play with your dog, throw his toy or romp around with him. This increases the likelihood that your dog will start barking.
Teach a dog to growl
Getting your dog to growl isn’t that hard either. Also wait until he offers it himself and then reward him.
The best way to do this is to train outside and wait for a squirrel or a deer.
teach dog to be quiet
In order to be able to stop your dog again, you should teach it the command to be quiet.
Until you’ve done that, you can simply calm your dog down as soon as you want him to stop barking.
How long will it take…
… until your dog can bark.
Since every dog learns at a different rate, the question of how long it takes can only be answered vaguely.
Most dogs need a little time to understand what to do. Expect to need about 7 to 10 training sessions of 10-15 minutes each.
Step-by-step guide: How to teach the dog to bark
Before we start, you should know what tools you can use for the step-by-step instructions.
Utensils needed
You definitely need treats. You might consider feeding natural treats like some fruit or vegetables.
Most types of vegetables that are low in bitter substances are good for your dog as a healthy snack.
My personal favorite is probably the cucumber. Cucumber can be a great treat, especially for dogs that don’t drink enough water anyway. It also minimizes bad breath and cools your dog down on warm days!
The instruction
- You take your dog outside or look for a place where he barks more often.
- Grab a treat.
- Wait for your dog to start barking. Then say the command. (You can also animate him. Use a toy or let him have a little romp.)
- Then reward your dog.
- Once he understands that he should bark, you should teach him the “quiet” command.
Conclusion
Teaching your dog to bark is actually not that difficult. You should consider whether you really want your dog to be rewarded for barking.
If you are sure, you should also teach him the silence sign as soon as possible. So you can easily stop your dog when barking.
Some dogs need a little help to start barking. A boisterous game of tug-of-war or a few long throws with your favorite toy are suitable for this.
For dogs that really don’t want to bark, you can teach other cool tricks. The male or the role is particularly popular.
For more tips, guides, and dog tricks, check out our dog training bible.