Your dog will probably never be able to recite the Divine Comedy, but you can train him to bark on command - in fact, it's one of the simplest tricks to teach. You will also need to teach him the "Silence" command to make him stop barking. Once a dog has mastered these simple commands, you can teach him something more complex, such as barking when he needs to go to the toilet or barking to announce visitors at the door.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Teach the Dog to Bark on Command
Step 1. Choose your reward
Choose something the dog really loves; the better the reward, the easier the training will be. If your dog loves to play, you can try using his favorite toy and playing with him when he barks. In almost all cases, however, food rewards will be the most effective way to train a dog. The best treats are those that your dog loves, that are easy to carry, break into pieces and are healthy. Use different rewards so your dog doesn't get bored. Trial:
- Cheese sticks;
- Cooked chicken;
- Meatloaf for dogs;
- Broken dog biscuits or store-bought treats;
- Frozen baby carrots or peas (for dogs on a diet).
Step 2. Consider using the clicker
In clicker training, make a sound to let the dog know that he has done something right. The clicker is very effective, because it is a unique and constant sound, different from your voice. You can, however, also say "good" or "yes" as a signal, if you don't have a clicker.
First, load the clicker. Hold a prize in your hand. If the dog tries to catch it, close your hand. Use the clicker and offer the treat to the dog. Repeat a few minutes later. Then do it again. Continue until the dog comes right up to you when he hears the clicker, expecting a reward
Step 3. Get the dog excited
This will prompt him to bark. Play a game that he enjoys, like fetching or throwing something he has in his mouth.
Step 4. Get the reward
Now that the dog is ready to bark, take the reward. Show it to the dog, then hide it behind your back.
Step 5. Give the dog the treat when it barks
With any luck, the dog's arousal, the food behind the back, and your energy will prompt the animal to bark. If not, you may have to show the food to the dog again or even hold it in front of the pet, but not let him have it. The dog will be confused, and will often bark, but be prepared to be patient as it may take five minutes or more. When the dog barks, click or say "yes" and reward him with the toy or treat.
If your dog isn't barking, you may want to try barking yourself to encourage him
Step 6. Name the behavior
Now that the dog knows that barking will receive a treat, name that behavior. Try saying "Talk" or "Bark" right before it barks. You could also add a hand signal, as dogs learn visual commands before speaking commands. Try saying "Speak" many times just before the dog barks.
Make sure you always use the same pitch and volume of voice each time you give the command. The dog will associate the tone with the command and learn it sooner
Step 7. Try using just the command
Now that the dog begins to associate a word with barking, say "Speak" or "Bark" and wait for the dog to bark. Say the command only once. When the dog barks, give him a reward. Keep repeating this practice for about ten minutes a day until your dog has mastered the command. Make sure you don't subject your pet to too long training sessions. The dog will learn better if the training is fun. If you notice him starting to lose interest, stop.
Step 8. Discard the reward
Rewards are great for teaching a command, but when your dog learns what to do, continuing to reward him will distract him and slow his reaction. Start eliminating treats as soon as your dog reacts correctly to your commands.
- Gradually increase the number of correct answers before awarding a prize. Start by offering a reward every two times. Then every three. When your dog seems to have learned to bark on command, try to get the maximum number of responses without giving him a reward. Goes up to 10 or 20.
- It also increases the waiting time before the reward. The idea is to gradually break the link between command and food.
- Replace food with other rewards. When the dog has learned to bark on command 10 or more times without receiving a reward, it begins to work in short training sessions without food. After many correct answers, praise the dog, pet him and play with him. The goal will be to replace food with other rewards.
- You can give your dog occasional treats to reinforce his behavior.
Step 9. Train the dog in different places
When your dog has learned to bark on command in the quiet of your home, try the park or when you take him for a walk.
Method 2 of 4: Teach the Dog to Be Silent
Step 1. Teach "Silence" after teaching "Speak"
It is much easier to teach "silence" (or "stop" or "shut up") if the dog is in command. Often it will also be necessary. When your dog learns that barking on command leads to rewards, it may be difficult to get him to stop. The "Talk" command should generate no more than 1-4 barks. After that, you will need to ask the dog to stop.
Step 2. Ask the dog to speak
Wait for it to start barking.
Step 3. Say "Silence" and give him a reward
When the dog stops barking, give him a treat. Repeat this sequence, practicing ten minutes a day.
Step 4. Discard the use of rewards as you did when teaching the command "Speak
"Start by saying" Hush ", without showing the prize, but still giving the pet the reward when it stops barking. Once it has mastered this command, you can start increasing the number of correct answers before giving the prize. Award a prize anyway. occasionally to keep the dog interested.
Step 5. Test the command in more difficult situations
Once your dog has learned to be quiet in a noiseless room, try the command when the environment distracts him the most, such as outside the park or when a visitor comes to the door.
Method 3 of 4: Teach the Dog to Bark to Get Out
Step 1. Teach your dog to ask out
Imagine you really need to go to the toilet, but you are in a foreign country, can't find a toilet and you don't speak the local language. Welcome to a dog's life. Teaching your dog to ask out by barking will help prevent accidents around the house and make life easier for both of you.
Step 2. Make sure your dog is trained to go to the toilet outside the house
The dog must know that he must urinate and defecate outside the house before he can be taught this command.
Step 3. Stay out of the house with a prize in hand and the door just ajar
Ask the dog to talk. When he does, open the door and give him the treat. After a few times, stop giving the "Talk" command. The dog should bark to get out. Open and give him the prize.
Step 4. Discontinue use of the reward
Now that the dog knows that barking will open the door, you need to teach them to go out to go to the toilet, not to receive a reward. Train him early in the morning when he needs to urinate. Stay out of the house and ask him if he needs to go out. When he barks, open the door, praise him, and make him go to the toilet. Praise him again when he has urinated or defecated. Do this every morning for two weeks.
Step 5. Go inside the house
Ask the dog, with his hand on the door, if he wants to go out and wait for him to bark. Praise him as before. Do this for two weeks.
Step 6. Step away from the door
You sit in the room with the front door, but give the impression that you forgot to take the dog out. Wait for him to bark, then immediately open the door for him and praise him.
Step 7. Try to make the dog bark in different rooms
Lock yourself together with the dog in a room other than the one with the front door. Be patient and wait for him to bark, then immediately open the exit door and praise him when he needs to go. After two weeks of training, the dog should be experienced and know when to bark to leave the house.
Make sure you react to the dog barking even when you are not actively training him. Whenever the dog barks, you should let him out and praise him
Method 4 of 4: Teach the Dog to Announce Visitors
Step 1. Make sure you really want the dog to bark when people come to the door
Many dogs make too much noise in the presence of visitors. If your dog doesn't bark, you might consider yourself lucky. On the other hand, though, you may want to teach your dog to bark for safety reasons, or because you have a big house and don't hear people knocking.
Step 2. Approach the door and knock
Give the command "Speak" when you knock. Reward the dog for barking.
Step 3. Release the "Talk" command and just knock
After you knock a few times and ask the dog to speak, you will need to train the dog to bark at the sound of the knock on the door. Reward the dog and praise him a lot when he barks. Do this for several days to make sure the dog understands.
You can train him this way with the doorbell too. Have a friend or family member play it
Step 4. Have a friend or family member knock on the door
You may need to give the dog the "Talk" command the first few times. Afterward, avoid using the command and let the dog respond to the knock on the door.
Again, you can do the same with the doorbell
Step 5. Gradually abandon the use of rewards
As mentioned earlier, only start giving a prize after several correct answers. Then it comes to unrewarded training sessions.
Advice
- Make sure your dog can actually bark. The Basenji breed does not bark at all.
- Be careful not to feed him too much because of the morsels. Reduce his regular food intake to compensate for his training dose.
Warnings
- Don't train him for too long. If your dog seems tired or bored, stop training him and start over at another time.
- Never punish a dog if he doesn't obey. Only use positive reinforcement to teach him the tricks.
