Barking to be let out
- Thread starter YellowLabMom
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To teach a dog to bark, first you need to teach him to "speak". Then each time you go to let him out, you have him "speak". Eventually he will learn to "speak" by the door to go out.
to teach him to speak you need to find something that will make him bark, some sort of trigger..a toy, a noise, ringing the doorbell, knocking on the floor, anything that will make him bark. Then tell him to "speak' and show him/do the trigger. When he barks, tell him ...goood speak...goood speak and give him a treat. Do this over an over until he speaks on command. Then start having him speak at the door, and when he speaks , open it immediately.
Many people teach their dogs to ring a bell at the door, that may be easier. Hang a bell on a rope, or buy one of those bells like on a counter at a store, and each time you open the door ring the bell, then show your dog how to ring the bell by "touching" it with his foot.
to teach him to speak you need to find something that will make him bark, some sort of trigger..a toy, a noise, ringing the doorbell, knocking on the floor, anything that will make him bark. Then tell him to "speak' and show him/do the trigger. When he barks, tell him ...goood speak...goood speak and give him a treat. Do this over an over until he speaks on command. Then start having him speak at the door, and when he speaks , open it immediately.
Many people teach their dogs to ring a bell at the door, that may be easier. Hang a bell on a rope, or buy one of those bells like on a counter at a store, and each time you open the door ring the bell, then show your dog how to ring the bell by "touching" it with his foot.
The explanation that mrsgrubby gave on teaching speak will work well if you have a dog that barks at things--our dog Wrigley does not bark (very rarely anyways)--so we just keep an eye on him and when he stares or sits by the door for a minute we take him out......As a puppy we had to be extra vigilant--we stared at him constantly and only had a few accidents.
I like the idea of having Max ring a bell whenever he wants to be let out. The issue we are having right now is that he doesn't want to go out by himself. I think it is partly due to separation anxiety and partly because it is very cold outside here now. We praise him when he goes potty outside and if he is willing to go by himself we praise him when he comes back in but that doesn't seem to be enough motivation for him to want to consistently go outside.
I did the bell thing with Sammy. Rosie just comes and bugs me until I realise what she wants.
If he isn't inclined to go out you could teach him the bell, and for a while go out with him until he does his business. Even if he learns to ask to go outside, you'll still need to keep a close eye and sort of keep him on a potty routine. He's awfully young still- enjoy it, they grow up so fast.
If he isn't inclined to go out you could teach him the bell, and for a while go out with him until he does his business. Even if he learns to ask to go outside, you'll still need to keep a close eye and sort of keep him on a potty routine. He's awfully young still- enjoy it, they grow up so fast.
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