Teaching Speak....

WarrantsWifey · 04-12-2011, 02:58 PM

So I searched the forums, and I couldn't find a thread on it....

We taught our lab to speak pretty easily. We just held a treat by our face and said SPEAK in an abrupt sort of "barkish" way. She "spoke" right back. However, this method is NOT working with Killian, he isn't a talker, or a speaker. He doesn't even huff. *SIGH*

How did you teach your GSD to speak?!

DJEtzel · 04-12-2011, 03:07 PM

If I speak any words hush-hush like (kind of a suspicious whisper?) Frag will go nuts.

So "Who's here?" is his command for barking/going nuts suspiciously himself.

Will a knock on the door do it for Killian? You could use that to start him up if so.

Lilie · 04-12-2011, 03:09 PM

Hondo was difficult because he isn't easily excitable. We had to utilize the 'windows of opportunity' that he provided us. Once we are home and settled, and bring out the dogs he'll 'talk' to us for about 5 minutes. Asking him to speak wasn't working. So we'd say, "tell me!" in a high excited voice. He would then answer and we'd treat (Good Boy!).

At this stage we only get a "Arrooo Arroo" when we say "Tell Me!". But I'm sure we'll be able to push it futher as he matures into a 'Woof!"

For some reason, with Hondo, we'd get a negative response from him when we asked him to 'speak'. I'm not sure if it's the word, or the way it comes out, but no matter how we said it he would stop, sit and stare - lose all excitability he had.

WarrantsWifey · 04-12-2011, 03:17 PM

He isn't a talker at all, he only barks when Jazmine barks outside. He howls at the sirens, but other than that. He doesn't make noise. ????

Lilie · 04-12-2011, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarrantsWifey

He isn't a talker at all, he only barks when Jazmine barks outside. He howls at the sirens, but other than that. He doesn't make noise. ????

He doesn't make any noise at all? Not a whine, or a moan or a groan? Nothing?

WarrantsWifey · 04-12-2011, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lilie

He doesn't make any noise at all? Not a whine, or a moan or a groan? Nothing?

No, he stares at you..... Weird right?!

WarrantsWifey · 04-12-2011, 03:24 PM

I can try to wait to see if he gets excited and makes noise. I'll stay on my toes. <3 He is a quiet one I tell you!!

Lilie · 04-12-2011, 03:28 PM

Have you had him DNA tested to see if he is part Alien? LOL!

Hondo didn't hardly make any noise - but when he was at his most excitable, we pushed the envelope, created more excitement and then rewarded any noise that came from him at all.

When he was a puppy I didn't want him howling or crying from his crate when I came home, so I ignored him, put him outside and left him there to do his buisness. Afterwards I gave him attention. So he knew it wasn't normal for me talk in a high exciting voice getting him amped up. At that point he'd make sorta mewing noises. I rewarded any sound at all. It took a while. I'm sure that's why he is only up to "Arroo Arrooo" at this point.

CassandGunnar · 04-12-2011, 03:32 PM

Gunnar was a real tough sell on the speak command. I had to resort to teasing him into it.
Here's what I did:

I put him up on a 3 1/2 foot retaining wall in the back yard and had him sit, facing me while I stood down on the ground. (So he was elevated above me)
I had him on lead and put his ball down on the ground, next to me. I had him "stay" and blocked him from getting off the wall to get the ball.
I kept talking in a high pitched voice, really excited, and telling him to speak. As soon as he'd make a noise above a whine, I'd treat him and start over.
It took a while, but as he progressed to an actual bark, I'd treat him and then let him get the ball. We'd play for a while, then back to the wall and another speak/treat/ball session.
I eventually got him to speak on command and we eliminated the treats/ball.

I've done this with other dogs and had them speaking within about 20 minutes. Gunnar took several days to master what I wanted.

Good luck.

WarrantsWifey · 04-12-2011, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lilie

Have you had him DNA tested to see if he is part Alien? LOL!

Haha, I KNOW! All GSD's talk insanely! <3 He is a quiet one. I wonder when we go down to Soddy Daisy this weekend for training if he will get really excited and talk around all those other GSD's.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lilie

Hondo didn't hardly make any noise - but when he was at his most excitable, we pushed the envelope, created more excitement and then rewarded any noise that came from him at all.

I think I might try that. Any sound at all will get rewards.... <3

04-12-2011, 02:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
WarrantsWifey Knighted Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,905	Teaching Speak.... So I searched the forums, and I couldn't find a thread on it.... We taught our lab to speak pretty easily. We just held a treat by our face and said SPEAK in an abrupt sort of "barkish" way. She "spoke" right back. However, this method is NOT working with Killian, he isn't a talker, or a speaker. He doesn't even huff. SIGH How did you teach your GSD to speak?!

04-12-2011, 03:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
DJEtzel Knighted Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 2,932	If I speak any words hush-hush like (kind of a suspicious whisper?) Frag will go nuts. So "Who's here?" is his command for barking/going nuts suspiciously himself. Will a knock on the door do it for Killian? You could use that to start him up if so. __________________ I'm Danielle Frag CGC, male GSD Bailey, female Rat Terrier Mix www.FraggleRockCollars.com

04-12-2011, 03:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
Lilie Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 6,290	Hondo was difficult because he isn't easily excitable. We had to utilize the 'windows of opportunity' that he provided us. Once we are home and settled, and bring out the dogs he'll 'talk' to us for about 5 minutes. Asking him to speak wasn't working. So we'd say, "tell me!" in a high excited voice. He would then answer and we'd treat (Good Boy!). At this stage we only get a "Arrooo Arroo" when we say "Tell Me!". But I'm sure we'll be able to push it futher as he matures into a 'Woof!" For some reason, with Hondo, we'd get a negative response from him when we asked him to 'speak'. I'm not sure if it's the word, or the way it comes out, but no matter how we said it he would stop, sit and stare - lose all excitability he had. __________________ Hondo Von Dopplet L Bauernhof "Hondo"- GSD Lilie's Tug McGraw "Tug" - Golden Retriever Maggie - Mini Dachshund (Rescue) Lonestar - Texas Blue Lacy Funyon, Ashe, Soot - Barn Cats Scooter /1/2 Arabian, Shadow, Katie / APHA

04-12-2011, 03:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
Lilie Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 6,290	Have you had him DNA tested to see if he is part Alien? LOL! Hondo didn't hardly make any noise - but when he was at his most excitable, we pushed the envelope, created more excitement and then rewarded any noise that came from him at all. When he was a puppy I didn't want him howling or crying from his crate when I came home, so I ignored him, put him outside and left him there to do his buisness. Afterwards I gave him attention. So he knew it wasn't normal for me talk in a high exciting voice getting him amped up. At that point he'd make sorta mewing noises. I rewarded any sound at all. It took a while. I'm sure that's why he is only up to "Arroo Arrooo" at this point. __________________ Hondo Von Dopplet L Bauernhof "Hondo"- GSD Lilie's Tug McGraw "Tug" - Golden Retriever Maggie - Mini Dachshund (Rescue) Lonestar - Texas Blue Lacy Funyon, Ashe, Soot - Barn Cats Scooter /1/2 Arabian, Shadow, Katie / APHA

04-12-2011, 03:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
CassandGunnar Crowned Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,578	Gunnar was a real tough sell on the speak command. I had to resort to teasing him into it. Here's what I did: I put him up on a 3 1/2 foot retaining wall in the back yard and had him sit, facing me while I stood down on the ground. (So he was elevated above me) I had him on lead and put his ball down on the ground, next to me. I had him "stay" and blocked him from getting off the wall to get the ball. I kept talking in a high pitched voice, really excited, and telling him to speak. As soon as he'd make a noise above a whine, I'd treat him and start over. It took a while, but as he progressed to an actual bark, I'd treat him and then let him get the ball. We'd play for a while, then back to the wall and another speak/treat/ball session. I eventually got him to speak on command and we eliminated the treats/ball. I've done this with other dogs and had them speaking within about 20 minutes. Gunnar took several days to master what I wanted. Good luck. __________________ He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours faithful and true~ to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. ~unknown

04-12-2011, 03:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
WarrantsWifey Knighted Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,905	He isn't a talker at all, he only barks when Jazmine barks outside. He howls at the sirens, but other than that. He doesn't make noise. ????

04-12-2011, 03:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
WarrantsWifey Knighted Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,905	I can try to wait to see if he gets excited and makes noise. I'll stay on my toes. <3 He is a quiet one I tell you!!

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