speaking on command

I taught Kaiser simply by holding a treat infront of him, he naturally got a little frustrated (naughty Mummy) but when he made a noise I would treat him, he soon got to know when he let offf a single bark he would be treated. Then I put the command speak to it and there you go within a few mins I could ask him to speak

That's how I would do it, with a treat or ball - something the dog wants really badly!

Mine are both quiet dogs - though yesterday Zee did bark when some friends with their GSDs called round - usually neither bark at the door, postman, phone, erm anything. Remus will do a happy bark out on a walk or sometimes playing with other dogs.

I think I prefer them quiet - at least they look the business, deterent-wise and I don't have to teach them to shut up!

[Matty88]

very good point Anni... i suppose the quiet command can be more difficult in some circumstances
With our old GSD we used the word "protect" and he would lunge and bark on the lead but the soon as you said "out" he would completely forget about barking. Very reasuring as I work nights and my gf would have to walk him on her own. Even though he was a giant softy it didnt look that way to someone who knew little about dogs.

I did a little work tonight with Sabre and his barking was really good when i got someone to knock on the door but not so much when i introduced the command so more work tomorrow i think

Thanks

Matt

I think that's it, Matt, GSDs are usually a protection breed anyway so you have to train them like your old dog to react on command, OR if the dog's shouty, to shut up!
Good luck with Sabre

[Matty88]

Yeah true, our old GSD was naturally very confident and gobby
With Sabre (our new GSD) i think that due to his history with being mistreated his confidence is much lower.
Im sure that given more time he will be fine

Matt

Zeus is a gobby one- when we first got him at 5 1/2 months old he was a real barker- now it's less so due to us re-enforcing the quiet command. We have tried to get him to "speak" on command but he only , what I can best describe as, huffs at us..... It's a silent bark and soo cute!! Lol

[Bonniesmummy]

Originally Posted by jonsgirl

Zeus is a gobby one- when we first got him at 5 1/2 months old he was a real barker- now it's less so due to us re-enforcing the quiet command. We have tried to get him to "speak" on command but he only , what I can best describe as, huffs at us..... It's a silent bark and soo cute!! Lol

He he if we say 'say please' Bonnie Huffs

[Zak]

Originally Posted by LUTGARD

I taught Kaiser simply by holding a treat infront of him, he naturally got a little frustrated (naughty Mummy) but when he made a noise I would treat him, he soon got to know when he let offf a single bark he would be treated. Then I put the command speak to it and there you go within a few mins I could ask him to speak

Thats exactly how I got Zak to do it, took less than 20 minutes. Add the command once they realise they bark for the treat.

Zak also barks if you bend your index finger because I kept doing this when giving the speak command without realising it.

He also barks now if you ask "what do you say"