Bark on Command - Page 1

Charger is 16 months old and I am building his prey drive. I have done everything i could to have him bark. I tied him up teasing him with his favorite treat. I had my friend knock on my front door. The only time he barks is at night when he hears a cat but when I come out he stops barking. I pretty much know what I need to do when he starts to bark but I just cant get him to bark? maybe you have tried something I havent.  Any ideas?

Thanks

Alex

 Try these . put him on crate as soon as he barks let him out you can do with helper or  yourself by looping around long leash to hold the gate ,hold the tug behind or over your head  ,or his food . put the tug or ball on the ground hold him on harness you can lift his fronts up or keep paddings on his side as you asking to bark but to make sure you don;t interrupt his breathing sequence . put him behind fence this works well if he is on outside kennel .After all be creative and see what makes your dog to bark ,if he is crazy for cat get one of those toys looks like  a cat . Good luck

Thanks! Ill try that.

has he started on his bitework? This is why I like the dogs very high in prey drive.  I want them balanced  but I like mine drivy, bc it's easier to problem solve when training, there is always something they will work for. Couple suggestions you could try. 1. When he does bark immediately praise him using whatever command you are going to use for bark, ex: Oh good bark. Eventually he will start associating the word with the action.  I've used this approach for a couple that really did not want to learn platz and fought every step of the way, while I was working on the command with them everytime they laid down on thier own I would throw a party and say Ohh what a good platz.  Dsn't take them long to associate then when I say platz they think oh wait if I lay down she will scratch me and praise me I know that word.  2. You said u were working on his prey drive, if he likes to play fetch you can refuse to throw the ball until he barks just repeat the command and I've had a few that I actually had to bark at, so they got the idea as soon as they made a sound (any sound) I threw the toy. The sound after a couple times becomes a bark.  Mine never get a "free" ball or a "free" treat, if you want something from me you have to earn it you are a working dog.  It could be sit, platz, any number of just fun tricks, but they will do what I ask them to do to "earn" it or they won't get it.  There are other approaches to use if you have started bitework and you have a very animated helper, they work great.  He is 16 months old though I don't know how long you have had him, and I noticed 2 dogs in your avatar is he the youngest? A lot of dogs don't bark a lot until they mature, or if they are new to an environment until they have decided it is thier's to protect.  If he is the younger dog in your avatar and the older dog is dominant, he may not feel the need to bark unless the dominant dog does.  My oldest male is the dominant at my house and several of the other dogs won't bark when outside unless Lucas decides to bark.  Or like your pup is doing with you when he stops barking when you get there, they will bark to alert Lucas to the fact that there is something he needs to "look into" and they will stop barking when he walks out in the yard, and wait to see what he does if he lights up then they follow suit, but once he comes out they stop the alert and wait to see what he does.

Some dogs, even high drive dogs have a different way of doing things.  Also, confident dogs often do not bark when doorbells ring.  That is not a fault.  A lot of barking and growling can mean insecurity. Like the person who talks the talk but cannot walk the walk.

My high drive Leefdaalhof grandson hardly ever barks, but you better not let him get to you because he will knock you on your A%$ without a sound.  He is waiter..he likes to wait for the chance to take you out and BAM...so it was harder to get him to bark.  He has a very strong defensive bark but hardly ever needs to use it.  (that would be when he wants to kill you and I won't let him)  This is where a good helper comes into play to elicit the bark and for the dog to learn something good happens when I bark.  I get a bite if I bark, for example.  Are you going to a club?  Is there a good one near you?  Sounds like it would be a good time for that.  When the dog is older and can be worked more in defense, he will, I am sure bark, but he is young for that now.   

It's a little late for this now in your situation but, given the opportunity, I teach the dog to bark on command when he's very young.  I've found it much easier to frustrate a puppy on a tie out with a rag than it is to do so with a more mature dog.

I'm not trying to be rude but I am going to point this out on this thread too, because it is IMPORTANT. The OP is also the same one that posted the thread on personal protection! Where she is asking about her dog whining before bite work and she just bought a sleeve.  I didn't realize that when I gave advice on this topic.  The fact that she is asking us for guidance on issues like teaching bark on command, and then in a different thread asks for guidance on personal protection says that she does not have an experienced trainer or helper when working her dog.  If she did they would be able to guide her on the bark on command and the bite work.  I realize the "general public" has no clue about the years of experience, and research and hands on training we have before we get in a sleeve or train a dog for personal protection.  But as we all know it's a lot, we didn't just go get a dog, buy a sleeve find a website and be able to train a personal protection dog.  This is a dangerous situation. Dangerous for the dog, the helper, and the general public.  The last thing we need is people with no clue what they are doing teaching a dog to bite! I'm thinking the only advice we should be giving is PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE find a local sch club start taking your dog, or find a reputable trainer and have them train your dog.  I know you don't realize it but you are years away from being able to train a personal protection dog and do so in a manner where you are not putting everyone in danger!