How to Teach a Dog to Speak in 5 Simple Steps
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There are many pet owners out there that like to teach their furry friends how to do simple tricks—sit, lie down, and stay. Training your pet can always be a little bit tricky and you might need some help to get yourself ahead. When it comes to your dog, getting them to learn how to speak on command is one of those common tricks. This article will go into the steps involved in teaching your dog to speak in a few simple steps.
Preparation
There are a couple of things you should keep handy before you jump into training your pup on how to speak. Of course, make sure you have their favorite treats ready to encourage them through the process. Keep an eye out for anything that could distract your dog from focusing on you and try to begin their training while they’re in a good state of mind.
Without further ado, let’s dive into teaching your dog to speak in 5 simple steps:
The 5 Simple Steps to Teach a Dog to Speak
1. Grab their favorite food or treat
A great way to get your dog in the training mood is to use something they love and would perform tricks for. Usually, a treat works best because it’s something they don’t get all the time, so it makes them excited. If they have a favorite food, don’t be afraid to try that too!
2. Show them that you have something they want
Once you’ve picked something you know will get your dog’s attention, show them that you have it! Let them know that you are ready to reward them. Whether you dangle it in front of their nose or say that special word that gets them excited, it’s time to tell them it’s ready for a reward.
3. Be patient with giving it to them
Training your dog will take some time, so you need to practice patience with yourself and with them. If you notice your dog isn’t in the mood or it’s just not working, maybe today isn’t the day to try to train them to speak. If you get impatient or frustrated, your dog might feel it and then they will associate training with something negative.
4. Wait for a bark
When your goal is to train your dog to speak, you don’t want to give up and confuse them by giving them a treat anyway. Giving your pet a treat for no specific reason can confuse them or make them think they can get one whenever they want. You should reward your dog when they do what you want. Put them in a situation where they might bark with less effort, such as when the doorbell rings.
5. Give them the treat!
When your dog complies with your command, it’s time to give them that reward! They will relate you asking them to speak or if you’re clicker training, for example, that noise will now be correlated with barking and then being rewarded. It’s a tried-and-true way of positive reinforcement and will get your dog excited in the future.
Conclusion
And that’s it! It’s that simple! Teaching your dog to speak may take some time, but the process is simple enough. All you need is a lot of patience, a willing pooch, and a handful of their favorite treats!
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Featured Image Credit: Yama Zsuzsanna Márkus, Pixabay
