- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Some dogs are as quiet as mice, while others love to bark and ‘talk.’ If your dog is a big talker, you might wish they’d be quieter, especially at bedtime. That’s where the ‘speak’ command can help.
Teaching your dog to speak can actually help them learn when to bark and when to stay quiet, says Dwight Alleyne, DVM, a veterinarian with Better Pet.
Read on to find out how to train your dog to speak, step by step. Plus, get some expert tips to help if they’re having trouble with the trick!
What You’ll Need to Teach Your Dog to Speak
Before you start training, it helps to have a few supplies ready, like these:
- A clicker. Clickers are small tools that makes a ‘click’ sound when you press it. It’s not required, but it can help mark the exact moment your dog does the right thing, like barking.
- A reward. Positive training means giving your dog a reward to encourage them. “Rewards can be [training] treats, play, or affection,” says Shoshi Parks, Ph.D., a professional dog trainer and owner of Modern Hound Dog Training.
4 Steps to Teach Your Dog to Speak on Command
Parks and Dr. Alleyne explain these steps to teach your dog how to ‘speak.’
1. Mark the bark
First, find something that makes your dog bark so you can “catch” the behavior. “This could be ringing a doorbell or showing them a favorite toy,” Dr. Alleyne says.
When your dog barks, mark it with a clicker or say “yes,” then give a reward, like a treat. Repeat this at least five times.
2. Add a hand signal
Next, add a hand signal that shows your dog when to bark. For “speak,” Parks suggests making your hand look like a “duck” and moving it like it’s “quacking.” But you can use any hand motion that’s easy to recognize.
Start by making the hand motion, then using the sound or toy to make your dog bark. When they bark, click or say “yes” and reward. Do this about 10 times.
3. Take away the bark trigger
Now your dog should know that your hand signal means it’s time to bark. Try using the hand motion without any sound or toy to get them to bark.
Park says to make the hand signal and wait 5–8 seconds for them to bark. If they do, click and reward! If they don’t, go back to the last step and keep practicing until they can bark with just the hand signal.
4. Add a verbal cue
Once your dog can consistently bark when they see the hand signal, you can add a word like “speak.”
Say “speak,” then make the hand motion. If your dog barks, click and reward. After doing this at least five times, you can drop the hand signal and just say the word. Practice until your dog learns to bark just with the word.
After they learn both cues, you can use either the hand signal or the word, whichever you like better.
Why Should You Teach Your Dog the “Speak” Command?
While we often want our dogs to quiet down, Park says when you teach a dog to speak, you’re giving them a fun way to use their bark.
Training your dog can:
“Speak” Command Troubleshooting
If your dog doesn’t get it right away, don’t worry! Go slower or repeat the steps until they understand.If your dog isn’t connecting barking with the command, Dr. Alleyne suggests trying a more exciting bark trigger to make them bark every time.
“You can also try teaching the command in different environments,” Dr. Alleyne says. For example, if your dog is too distracted outside, training inside might help them focus better.
After trying different methods and locations, if you’re still having trouble, hire a dog trainer to help! Most are well-versed in basic commands like “speak” and can offer unique tips and tricks.
Should You Teach Your Dog the “Quiet” Cue?
Yes! Dr. Alleyne says it’s a good idea to teach ‘quiet’ along with ‘speak’ to help control barking.
Here’s a quick guide to teach ‘quiet’:
- Use the same sound that makes your dog bark, like someone knocking on the door.
- Wait for your dog to stop barking. Then, give them a treat and say your ‘quiet’ command.
- Slowly make your dog stay quiet for a little longer before giving the treat.
- Start giving the ‘quiet’ command before they stop barking, and only reward them if they follow it.
- Keep going until your dog reliably responds to your command and quiets down on cue.
Teaching Dogs to “Speak” FAQs
How long does it take to teach a dog to “speak”?
Every dog learns at their own pace. Dr. Alleyne says it can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks for dogs to learn ‘speak.’
Research shows dogs with training experience often learn new commands faster.
Can any dog learn to “speak”?
Yes! Dogs of all breeds and ages can learn new tricks and commands. Some breeds are more talkative, so you might have to be extra creative to get a bark.
Don’t worry about older dogs—they can still learn, and training helps keep their brains active!
Can I teach my dog to “speak” without treats?
Yes! In fact, many dogs prefer to work for playtime with toys or a good petting session.
It all depends on what motivates your pup.
How often should I practice the “speak” command?
Dr. Alleyne says to practice three to five times per week for about 10 minutes each time.
While you might think that more or longer training sessions will help your dog learn faster, it’s actually the opposite. Studies show that dogs often learn faster with short, spaced-out sessions rather than training every day.
Will teaching my dog to “speak” encourage more barking?
Nope! In fact, Parks and Dr. Alleyne say teaching ‘speak’ actually helps your dog use their bark in a healthy way.
But remember: only reward barking when practicing ‘speak,’ Otherwise, you could end up reinforcing excessive barking.
What’s the difference between “speak” and “alert” commands?
‘Speak’ teaches your dog to bark on command. ‘Alert’ means the dog barks only in special situations, like during an emergency.
