How to Teach Your Dog to Speak

Teaching a dog to speak on command can be difficult, especially with dogs that are usually calm. But teaching your dog to speak is an impressive feat. And with practice, nearly every dog can be trained to speak on command.

Things You'll Need

  • Small treats
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Instructions

    • 1

      Excite your dog by playing; your pup is more likely to bark when he's excited. Run around, chase him or throw a ball, then bring him back to a central location to begin training.

    • 2

      Hold out a treat so your dog can see it but not reach it. By instinct, she should start whining for it or barking. If she does not, wave it around, walk away or hide the treat and then bring it out again.

    • 3

      Reward him for good behavior by giving him the treat immediately and praise him for completing the trick.

    • 4

      Assign a command to the behavior by repeating Steps 2 and 3 with the addition of a command cue. This may be "Bark," "Speak" or whatever short cue you choose. With repetition, the dog will associate this word with the trick.

    • 5

      Reinforce your dog's learning by saying your cue word whenever you hear her bark. This will teach her to associate the word with the trick.