Detailed step-by-step instructions for teaching a dog the “voice” command

Preparing for training

Before using the “voice” command, the puppy must learn a number of simpler skills:

Get used to the ammunition.
Master the commands: “come to me, sit, lie down, stand, fu, give me a paw (at the owner’s request), place.”

But first of all, in front of all the teams, you need to learn the nickname. Only when the dog has learned to respond to its name should one begin to study the remaining orders.

We recommend that you read the article: “How to train a dog: tips, rules, methods.”

When and how to start teaching your dog the “voice” command

It is not recommended to train a young dog immediately after eating or sleeping; it will be difficult for him to concentrate on the trainer. The first training should begin in a well-known area - a place of permanent walking or at home.

You can start teaching the “voice” command at the age of 2 – 4 months. During this period, the puppy is already able to understand what they want from him. It is at this age that the nervous system is quite mobile, and it is easy to bring the dog into a state of excitement.

An adult dog can also be taught to vocalize on command. Only the established “silent” behavior will have to be fought a little longer.

Meaning of the "voice" command

The team is primarily intended for special needs when working with sniffer dogs in search and rescue operations to detect persons, illegal or explosive substances.

In life, the “voice” command is necessary for hunting, herding, and guard dogs. When hunting, the dog barks to notify its owner that prey has been found. In pastures it warns of danger or the approach of a stranger. When guarding an object, a dog accustomed to a command also barks a signal to the owner about an intrusion, and to an uninvited guest to leave the territory entrusted to it. Pets in the city are taught commands for discipline or entertainment.

Important! With the wrong approach to training, you can get an “undesirable” effect, for example, a dog barking for no reason. It will be very difficult to wean her off.

The “voice” command is important when working with service dogs.

Choosing a training method

In cynology, there are 11 main methods of training; several are suitable for teaching a pet to give voice on command:

Way of imitation.
Behavior selection system.
Method of active defensive reaction.
Unspoken methods of arousing interest or “resentment.”

A dog barks when excited - that's all you need to know when choosing a training method. An attentive owner will notice what puts the pet in a tense state. Each dog is individual, and the choice of training method should be based on its character characteristics.

Barking out of fear should not be encouraged. In fact, it turns out that the owner reinforces the fear - he praises the dog for being afraid. This type of training can lead to negative consequences.

Arousing interest

Puppies are very curious creatures, sometimes to cause barking it is enough to hold a piece of treat in your fist and let the dog sniff . First, the pet will try to get the desired piece with its paws, tongue, and teeth. But when he realizes that this is pointless, he will most likely start barking, demanding to give him the treasured treat. At this moment you need to command “voice” and immediately give the reward.

You can try to arouse the dog's interest with a toy, relying on the hunting instinct. To do this, you need to tie the puppy or hold a leash in your hands so that the pet cannot reach the toy on its own. It is necessary to tease the dog, as if reviving the object in your hands. Wave it in front of the child’s nose (provided that this does not frighten the child), move it from side to side, squeak (if the toy has sound effects) - but do not let him grab it with his teeth.

At the peak of irritation, throw the squeaker aside - in 99% of cases the dog will rush to bite the object of desire, but will not be able to because of the leash . Which will cause a lot of indignation and, as a result, loud barking. At this moment, a command is given and encouragement follows in the form of that same toy.

Calling out "resentment"

Resentment is an exclusively human concept; it does not exist in the canine family. But there is a certain series of actions that will make the dog “offended” - that is, it will excite the nervous system.

The simplest option to force your pet into a stressful state is to tie it up on the street and start running away. 95% of dogs become extremely excited by such actions and begin to bark, calling the owner to return. Reinforcement in this case will be the return of the beloved owner.

Imitation method

Research by zoologists and the practice of dog handlers has proven that dogs are capable of learning through imitation. Young dogs under one year old are especially prone to this. Inexperienced individuals, looking at how trained animals work, begin to repeat the same actions, wanting to receive encouragement.

This can be actively used by teaching the dog the “voice” command. You need to clearly show the puppy how to behave after giving the command. Show encouragement to a trained dog, and the result will not be long in coming.

Defensive reaction method

This method is not the best for dogs prone to aggression. At least for a companion living in a family as a pet.

Inducing a defensive reaction is achieved by causing the animal unpleasant or even painful sensations, which the dog can only avoid by “snarling.”
After giving the voice, the pet is rewarded with a treat. With each repetition, it is necessary to reduce the unpleasant sensations in order to encourage barking, and not anger.

Behavior selection method

The easiest option to teach a dog the “voice” command is behavior selection. Suitable for melancholic and “silent” dogs.

The training method is that the owner needs to closely monitor the puppy, catching moments of excited barking. The algorithm of actions is as follows: the dog barks - encouragement and praise are immediately given: “well done voice”, “good voice”. Sooner or later, the pet will associate reinforcement with barking.

Basic ways to teach the “voice” command

Any dog can be taught a command - both a purebred dog and a mongrel, if you know the basic methods:

With the help of treats. You need to take the dog on a leash, step on the middle of the leash so that the dog does not have the opportunity to jump. Then show the treat and raise it above his head so that no matter how hard he wants to, he cannot reach it. The dog, limited in its ability to jump, will try to grab a piece and will begin to bark in despair. When barking, the owner must give the command “Voice!” in a clear voice. and give the treat.
Through excitement. The goal is to cause indignation or irritation in the dog using the “hunting instinct.” Tie a leash to a tree and give her a favorite toy. Then sharply throw the toy not far to the side so that he cannot reach it. After futile attempts, the pet will begin to growl in indignation. At this time, he must hear the owner’s command every time. The toy must be returned and the dog praised. At home, you can hide the toy in the closet, but so that the dog can see it. After trying to get it on his own, he will start barking.
Imitation of sounds. Dog trainers use this method mainly for puppies or young animals - they train inexperienced students next to “skilled” ones. The dog hears the barking of his brothers and repeats after them, at this moment he should also hear the owner’s command. At home, you can turn on dogs barking in your gadget.
Use host dependency. This method is suitable when the pet has been in the house for a long time. You need to tie the dog to a tree, pet it or pat its ears in a friendly way. Then the owner must pretend to leave or even run away. This will make the dog feel offended and he will start barking for him to come back. At this moment she should hear the command. Then the owner must return and praise his friend.

Need to take into account! The puppy may not understand what happened or may not react immediately due to childish gullibility. Don't be surprised if he first sits or lies down and then starts to worry

Basic mistakes when learning

Sometimes it can be very difficult to get a “woof” from your pet. This may be due to certain mistakes: You will have to work very patiently with such pets, since it is almost impossible to get a “woof” from them.

Incorrectly selected methodology. Often an inexperienced owner teaches a dog by trying everything at once. And sometimes, in the absence of a quick result, he begins to haphazardly try all the methods, which confuses the dog and often gets the opposite effect. The pet becomes irritated or refuses to respond at all. It happens that he starts barking uncontrollably without stopping.
Using aggression or force towards a student. This cannot be done - this will cause the owner to lose the dog’s trust and the dog will be afraid of him.

You need to be patient with your pet to teach it the necessary commands.

Choice of incentive

Motivation is one of the most important elements in training. The more desirable the reward, the faster and more willingly the dog learns.

Reinforcement should be selected taking into account the individual characteristics of the pet. All dogs, even of the same breed, can differ greatly in character and needs.

Taste reward

Rewarding with treats is suitable for almost all animals. Food motivation is part of the instinct of self-preservation - to eat means to survive.

Well suited for dogs up to one year old - during the period of active growth, puppies always want to eat and pieces of cheese or meat cause great delight. Training with treats is also good because motivation can be increased by skipping 1-2 feedings.

Game encouragement

Praise in the form of a game is suitable for dogs with pronounced instincts of fetchers and hunters. This option is not suitable for everyone - aboriginal breeds and primitive Spitz dogs are not inclined to play with balls, but true shepherd dogs and hunters, on the contrary, play with pleasure.

Play rewards should only be used if the toy really delights the dog and is a desired object. Otherwise, the pet will quickly lose interest in activities.

Where to train

For quality training, in order for the dog to be controllable in any situation, classes must be carried out in various environments. The more places classes are held, the higher the chances of your pet being obedient in stressful situations and with a large number of distractions.
But the first training should be carried out in a quiet place where nothing will disturb the puppy, so that he gets used to concentrating on his owner. You can start practicing at home, gradually making it more difficult to practice in new places, first quiet, and then with irritants.

Preparation

Teach your puppy the basic commands “no”, “fu”, “come”, “place”, “near”. On the first day of purchasing your pet, immediately train him to use the toilet. If the dog has honed his skills and immediately follows commands, teach him to use his “voice.” Preparation:

For training, choose a quiet place, train the dog on the street and at home so that it follows commands in different conditions.
Train 2-3 times in 7 days. At first, train for half an hour to 40 minutes. The dog will learn the lessons, after which increase the training time to 60 minutes.
Periodically repeat teaching past tricks so that your pet does not forget them. Do not overload the dog, this will affect the poor learning of lessons.
When learning to give a “voice”, pay attention to the intonation of the pronunciation of the command. Shout loudly and clearly. Don’t yell, but strictly say “voice.”
Each executed command is rewarded with a treat. If the dog doesn't do the trick, don't give the cookie. He must understand why he is being rewarded. Stroke and praise your pet, this is important, just like a treat.

The dog will have a positive attitude towards you, will learn faster, and will perceive you as a leader.

How to teach a dog to vocalize 3 or more times

Dogs are incredibly smart creatures, and are quite capable of learning to bark not just once, but 3 – 5 or even more times . It is not difficult to teach this; you can use the behavior selection method and reinforce only the required number of “woofs”.

Or, if the dog has already learned to give a voice once on command, give the order the required number of times and reinforce only the last one. In the near future, the pet will realize that he is given a treat only after the third “woof”. Wanting to speed up the process of getting the coveted piece, the dog will begin to omit unnecessary moments and bark the required number of times.

Which breeds are easy to train and which are not?

The “voice” command has nothing to do with the dog’s ability to learn. There are a priori silent dogs, and there are those that simply do not know how to bark (the Basenji is a prime example of this). On the contrary, there are very “talkative” individuals.

The most silent breeds include:

Akita Inu;
Shar Pei;
Chow chow;
Rottweiler;
Doberman;
German dog;
Neapolitan Mastiff;
Rhodesian Ridgeback;
Setters;
Cane Corso;
English bulldog;
Basenji;
Newfoundland;
Saint Bernard;
Sennenhunds.

Basenjis simply cannot bark, and Akitas are simply very silent dogs. In Japan there is even a proverb - “if your Akita barks, expect trouble,” since it is almost impossible to hear the treasured “woof” from these dogs.

There are also completely opposite types of pets that absolutely love to “talk”. The noisiest breeds, as a rule, include livestock and shepherds, namely:

Caucasian and Central Asian Shepherd Dogs;
Collie;
Sheltie;
German Shepherds;
Retrievers;
Russian dogs and Estonian hounds;
Beagles;
Giant Schnauzers (and schnauzers in general);
Almost all terriers;
Huskies and Malamutes (howl);
Border Collie;
Shorthaired Kurtshaars;
Maltese dogs;
Dachshunds;
Basset Hound;
Chihuahua.

Of course, there are a lot of breeds, you can’t fit them all into the lists; there are more than a hundred species of shepherd dogs alone, and they all love to show their voice. This is connected with breeding stories; shepherd dogs “at work” were supposed to keep the herd together by barking. Hunters use their voice to drive the animal or notify the guide of their location. Talking about whether it is good or bad to have a “talkative” dog is not appropriate in this case. Every pet does what its instincts tell it to do.

Useful tips

During work, they are patient, do not scold the pet under any circumstances, and certainly do not use physical force.
Observation is your best friend. Any stimulus that causes a storm of emotions in your pet can be successfully used during training.
The exercise must be repeated several times a day under different conditions.
Gradually replace rewards with tasty treats with praise and affection, using treats only occasionally.
Uncertainty and poor execution of orders are the fault of a person who was too strict and harsh with the student. You can correct the situation either with rest or with generous encouragement and approving pats the next time you successfully complete a task.
The dog must be taught not only the “Voice” command, but also the “Silence” command in order to force it to behave quietly when necessary.
Periodically, the memory is refreshed and the lesson learned is repeated: a long absence of a command leads to “forgetfulness” and the fading of the developed reflex.

There are a huge variety of training methods, but which one to choose depends on the temperament and ability of the pet. In any case, the animal will happily obey only if the work is based on respect, affection and mutual understanding.

Author: Chuprinina Marina

Practical advice from experts

Some practical tips to help with training:

There is no need to force the dog to work when it is “not in the mood”; it is better to postpone the activity for a more favorable time.
You cannot use harsh correction methods or hit the dog during training - this will lead to the pet’s rejection from the owner and a lack of trust in the relationship.
When the puppy already knows what they want from him, it is necessary to achieve the fulfillment of the order.
The first workouts do not need to be stretched out for a long time; 10 – 15 minutes is quite enough.
It is better to start each lesson with a repetition of already learned skills, and end with the successful execution of a newly introduced command.

Imitative way

A funny method of teaching the “Voice” command is imitative. Most often it is used by professionals when the dog’s interest in any stimulus is completely absent.

In this case, it is necessary to take a dog for a lesson, which miraculously fulfills the task assigned to it by barking at the request of a person. A dog handler who places an “obedient” and “lazy” dog next to him should encourage and praise only the one that follows directions and carries out the command.

As experience shows, an individual that “does not want” to learn begins to repeat the actions of its neighbor and, thus, understands the benefits of executing the “Voice” command.