When I talk about how to teach a dog to speak, I don’t mean that the dog will start producing the same vowel as you do, but it will start barking on command as that is the easiest way to teach a dog to speak. At the same time, it will be easier for you to combine the quiet command with the speech one so that, you can keep its barking under control. Once the dog learns these two commands, you are ready to teach it more complex ones, and it will easily grasp them without a big hustle.
Things You Will Require
Various rewards
You will need the rewards to be used to entice the dog so that, whenever he barks, you reward him and this will definitely make him to bark more and learn faster.
A dog toy
The dog toy will be necessary when it comes to exciting the dog. Once he is excited, chances are, he will bark. Play with the dog the best game he loves, using the toy.
A clicker
You will use a clicker to produce a different sound from the usual sound the dog is used to from you. This in a way is going to attract the dog’s attention and when it barks due to the noise of the clicker, you reward him.
A tug
A tug will be used similar to the toy as it will ensure that, the dog gets attracted to where you want it to and in the process, gets excited and barks. This will enable you to have an easy time in teaching him how to speak.
Ways To Teach A Dog To Speak
1. Choose Your Reward
Make sure that you get something that your dog loves; if the reward is its favorite, it will be easier for you to teach the dog. If you are sure that, your dog likes to play, you can use its toy and play with him whenever he barks.
But if you prefer the dog treats, then be it so; just make sure it is the favorite for your dog. Choose treats which are easy to carry, loved by the dog, healthy, and easy to break. Make sure that you have a variety so that your dog doesn’t become bored.
2. You can use Clicker Training
This is where you use a sound which is different from the one you normally make; it should be made anytime the dog does something right. The goodness about a clicker is that it is consistent, unique and different from your voice. Apart from the clicker sound, you can use words such as “great” or “good” or “yes.”
3. Make the Dog Excited
When your dog gets excited, it will bark. To make it excited, you can play with it, its favorite game.
4. Hold the Reward
Now that your dog is getting used to barking, it is time for you to hold a reward towards it. Make sure that it is seen by the dog, after which, you hide it behind your back.
5. The Barking Should Be Rewarded
The excitement of the dog, your energy, and the treat you are holding behind your back might just make the dog to bark. If it doesn’t, you will need to show it the treat again or hold it for out, but don’t give it out. This will make the dog be confused and in the process, start to bark; in all this, it requires patients.
It may take more than 5 minutes before the dog reacts. When the dog barks, say “Yes, “good” or click and then reward it with the treat or toy. If after trying for over 5 minutes the dog doesn’t bark, you can try barking yourself as this might just make it imitate you and bark in return.
6. Behavior Naming
Now that your dog barked and it got rewarded, give a name to the behavior. You can try to say “talk” or “speak” just before it barks. You can also add a hand signal as it is a well-known secret that, dogs learn visual cues faster than audio.
Do practice several times saying “talk” just before the dog barks. Make sure your voice is at the same volume and tone each time you say the word as this will make your dog understand that the command and tone are associated with “talk” thus making it easier for it to learn.
7. Try The Command
When you are sure that your dog is now associating the command with the word “talk” before it barks, make sure to say the command only once. When you say it and the dog barks, give it a reward. Do this several times for about ten minutes daily until the dog masters the command.
8. Remove The Reward
It is good to use treats to teach commands, but once your dog has learned the behavior, it is time to stop the rewarding and practice minus one to avoid distracting the dog. Once the dog responds correctly, remove the treat gradually.
9. Change Places of Practice
Once the command has been learned in the home environment, you can try practicing it in a different place.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to teach a dog to speak, it is high time you try practicing it and find out if it works with your dog. I used this information and it worked for me and am quite sure that, it is going to work for you and your dog too.
