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Post by johne on Apr 22, 2005 18:22:37 GMT -5
I'm having trouble training my dog to speak, it really does not bark that often.
Anyhow, I've tried trying to fraustrate it by offering it treats but keeping it at a distance, but nothing, after the dog couldn't get it after about 5 minutes it just layed down. I've tried hot dogs, chicken breasts and ham, it still is only motivated to get it, jumps but doesn't bark when it doesn't get it.
Any ideas?
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Post by johne on Apr 22, 2005 18:59:49 GMT -5
Oh yeah, I also don't have a doorbell, I don't know any strangers that could come by and I don't have any other pets that could make him jeajous.
Any suggestions?
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Post by Aussienot on Apr 22, 2005 22:47:16 GMT -5
With a dog that is not naturally vocal, you may have to frustrate him enough to elicit a bark. If food is not working, try a toy to wind him up. With Finn, it took tethering him and playing with a furry squeeky toy just out of his reach. Don't overlook the tether, the restraint adds an element of frustration. You have to be a good actor and convince him playing with the toy is the most fun you've ever had. Tease him with the toy, putting it close and then snatching it away. Make each session short, just a few minutes.
Be patient. With a non-barker, it can take several days. If toys don't work, try having someone in another room make strange noises.
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Post by Brooke on Apr 23, 2005 0:54:15 GMT -5
I actually taught my dogs this with the word "Guard" instead of speak. I think it's more useful in an intimidating situation. It's actually come in handy for me...
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Post by Aussienot on Apr 23, 2005 19:12:52 GMT -5
Another idea to try is to find someone who has a dog who will 'speak' on command, and have them perform the trick front of your dog a few times. The other dog barking, and getting rewarded for it, may make him exiticed enough to copy the activity.
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Post by Kona on Jun 13, 2005 0:49:57 GMT -5
Aussienot, that's a great idea about the tether and the squeaky toy. I just started trying to teach my little Sheila to Speak today. I got her all excited playing with her rope toy, and then I held it out of reach above her head, She tried jumping, but once she realized that she couldn't reach it, she just sat down and waited for me to decide to be nice and give it to her. It was hilarious.
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Post by Kona on Jun 14, 2005 21:05:05 GMT -5
It's day two and still no luck. Yesterday I got her all worked up playing with her favorite toy, and then I held it above her head out of reach. Once she figured out that she couldn't reach it, she just sat quietly and waited for me to give it back to her.
Today I moved her crate to another room and left her alone, thinking that she might get lonely, but she never so much as whined. When it was time for her lunch I put the bowl right in front of her crate where she could see it and left it there. Again, not a peep.
I took her outside to relieve and put her back in the crate. At dinner time I fed my other dog right in front of her crate, and I put Sheila's bowl on a chair where she could see it but where I knew the other dog would leave it alone. Not a sound out of Sheila. It's been over four hours now.
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Post by Kona on Jun 16, 2005 1:54:44 GMT -5
lol @ myself. After three days of trying, I give up. In three days she barked a total of three times, and each time I marked and rewarded, but I couldn't get her to repeat the behavior. I'll try again when she's a bit older. It was a fun experiment, though.
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Post by Am on Jun 16, 2005 21:13:40 GMT -5
Hmmmm, so you can't get your dog to bark, no matter what you do? I know some people who'd really love to have your particular 'problem' Kona!
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Post by Aussienot on Jun 19, 2005 0:36:34 GMT -5
Please don't laugh at me for this idea. Have you tried barking at her? My Lab Sailor is a bit of a mimic. If I jump around, she jumps around, if I bark, she barks. If that fails, have you ever considered a Sheltie . . . . . or could you work up a ventriliquest routine. . . . .
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Post by Am on Jun 19, 2005 0:51:39 GMT -5
I won't laugh - Monsta does the same.
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Post by Nicole on Jun 19, 2005 8:41:20 GMT -5
Aussie, no laughs here. That is a great idea. I read an article about dogs and mimicking that was so interesting. According to the author, dogs are capable of learning through mimicking a human but only if it is a natural driven behavior. For instance, a dog is capable of copying you if you dig, or chase or tug. They aren't capable of mimicking behaviors that are not drive induced like sit, down, tricks etc, But since barking is a natural drive induced behavior, it just may work. I taught Sunny to bark with a laser. The excitement of it made him bark allowing me to praise and mark the behavior. Then I would move the laser only if he complied with the bark command. In addition to learning to bark, he also learned that barking moves the laser and so we don't play that anymore, because it makes him bark too much. Also some people say that it can cause obsessive/compulsive disorders in GSD. I don't know if that is true but wanted to mention it. But from there, he learned the barking command and now I can even get him to bark happy birthday to people. ;D If you bark at her make sure you bark a high pitched happy bark or she may run for cover!!
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Post by FlatCoatedLover on Jun 19, 2005 20:11:04 GMT -5
All I have to say to this is be careful what you wish for. For a year I woud always say that I wanted Lucy to bark but no matter what I did she would have none of it. In that year she barked exactly twice, once when a donkey wandered into our front yard and 2nd at a big GSD that found its way into our back yard. Now since acquiring our little monster, Duncan, she has become a barking machine. Both of them make sure that I am aware of EVERYTHING that goes on around our house. They bark to let me know there is someone waiting at the bus stop, that the neighbors dogs is out, when the ice cream man is coming (this does come in handy on hot days), leaves falling or anything else you can imagine. They do quiet on command but it can get quite annoying.
To top it off, the little monster is a talker. It voices is pleasure and displeasure at many daily activities. When we leave he tells us how unhappy that makes him with little growly grumbles and when we get home he runs down the stairs with these little happy yeps, bouncing all over and wagging his tail like it is going out of style. I can now get him to do both on command but I would love to figure out how to do it just on command.
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Post by Kona on Jun 20, 2005 1:32:38 GMT -5
Please don't laugh at me for this idea. Have you tried barking at her? My Lab Sailor is a bit of a mimic. If I jump around, she jumps around, if I bark, she barks. No laughs here, either. I think it's a great idea, and I'll try it the next time I give it a go.
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Post by Am on Jun 24, 2005 19:34:26 GMT -5
Hey Kona and Sheila, Did it work?
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