Does anyone know how to do this? I have read somewhere that if you can teach them to "speak" then it is easier to teach them "no speak" or "no bark". I have tried saying speak and then barking myself but he just looks at me like I'm crazy and waits for me to stop. But he barks all the time, outside, inside, you name the time or place and he's there barking! There are dogs in the neighbourhood who bark a lot and that is most of it, and I know it is a natural reaction for him to bark when they do, but it's not acceptable. My husband and our other neighbour both work straight midnights, and the barking makes it hard to sleep somedays. He also really hates birds and squirrels, and we have a lot of trees around our yard. So if anyone knows of a way to teach him when it is acceptable to bark and not acceptable, I'm all for it. Or just teach him not to bark at all. I know some dogs are just barkers, but it drives us crazy! He is a border collie, and he is fairly smart, but everything we have come up with for this doesn't seem to work. Thanks.
teaching the "speak" command
- Thread starter caseyd
- Start date
I dotn know about whether or not teaching him to bark will help unteach him. if your trying to stop him from barking. Ide wait till he started barking... go and get him and bring him in to a down, stay position, reward him when he doesnt bark and completley ignore him whn he does.
if you decide you want to teach him to bark, we taught our dog, we waited for her to bark, then said "speak" and rewarded her. Now she knows it, we are trying to change the command to "say please"
if you decide you want to teach him to bark, we taught our dog, we waited for her to bark, then said "speak" and rewarded her. Now she knows it, we are trying to change the command to "say please"
It was simple for me because eveytime I clapped my hands Gus would bark. So I clapped my hands and said "Speak" at the same time and then rewarded him with something tasty. Within an hour I didn't need to clap anymore!! Amazing what a tasty treat will do!!! 
You have to find something that triggers the barking and then say speak at the same time and then reward! I don't think it will help with the whole barking problem though, as you will be encouraging your dog to bark. I would love to be proved wrong though!!
You have to find something that triggers the barking and then say speak at the same time and then reward! I don't think it will help with the whole barking problem though, as you will be encouraging your dog to bark. I would love to be proved wrong though!!