How to teach a dog the Voice command?

“Voice” is the basic command for a dog, along with “place”, “sit”, “lie down” and “no”. Each puppy is able to learn to bark on command, but for this the owner needs to make some effort.

Barking is an expression of a dog's emotions. And barking on command is an indicator of the discipline of an animal. This skill is especially important for guard and hunting breeds in order to perform the following functions:

• in case of danger, protect the owner from enemies with a timely signal (for example, bark at strangers in a private house);
• notify the owner of a particular state of affairs on the hunt.

Any dog ​​can be taught this command at home, even if it is not a watchdog. Thus, the positive image of the owner is emphasized, the discipline of the pet is formed, and an impressive effect on others is also produced. In any case, the owner will be pleased if his dog masters such a basic command through proper training.

Before you form the puppy's barking skill on command, you need to decide on the type of his temperament. Dogs, like people, have their own character and are divided into the same psychotypes.

Such a puppy is active, does not leave a single step from the owner and is interested in everything in the world. He may even forget to eat if he finds a hobby to his liking.

This is an energetic dog, but unlike the first psychotype, it is able to take control of its energy and emotions. A pet with a similar temperament is easy enough to train.

For this puppy, long and monotonous work will be a burden, so the owner should not expect from him multiple repetitions of one or another command. The rewards in the form of treats will not be as necessary for the puppy as the joy on the owner's face.

Such a puppy has a calm character. But with the help of food and praise, the owner will not just teach this dog the "voice" command. A pet of this psychotype must understand the importance and significance of this work. Only then will the training bear fruit. But the owner should have a lot of patience.

Choleric and sanguine dogs are the quickest and most readily trainable, because they themselves are more prone to barking. But with the wrong approach to training, there is a risk of accustoming the choleric dog to unreasonable barking. But a melancholic or phlegmatic psychotype without a serious incentive will not be easy to teach this command.

Basic rules of training:

• first you need to determine the temperament of the dog and its ability to perceive and execute the command;
• it is necessary to start from a very early age, the older the pet, the more difficult it is to train;
• the owner needs to be persistent, the main thing in this matter is patience and endurance;
• if the first attempts are unsuccessful, you should not immediately give up;
• from the various methods of teaching the "voice" command, you need to choose one that is best suited for the pet, the method is determined by selection;
• so that the command is assimilated by the dog and is not forgotten by it, it is necessary to regularly practice repetition and hone the skill - two or three times every week;
• the command "voice" is better to teach the puppy after learning other basics: "lie down", "to me", "no", etc .;
• you can teach the dog both at home and on walks, the main thing is that nothing distracts the pet from classes;
• at first, the workout can last thirty minutes, then the owner needs to extend the time to sixty minutes;
• the command should be pronounced in a clear and loud tone, the severity in the voice is appropriate, but you should not get irritated, only a good mood will help both the owner and the pet to tune in to a fruitful training.

With the wrong approach to training, a positive result in a dog may be completely absent or there is a risk of negative consequences. What not to do when teaching your puppy to perform the voice command?

• The most common mistake many owners make is repeating a command. If the dog does not bark after the first pronunciation of the word "voice", you do not need to say the command many times. The main thing is to ensure that the pet obeys the owner the first time.
• Training a puppy is not a primary concern on a walk. First you need to let your pet run and play, otherwise he will not be able to immediately focus on the lesson. And when the puppy throws out the main energy in running and playing, the owner can start direct training.
• It is important to understand that the dog may be tired, feel bad, or not in the mood. Puppies are prone to whims, and the owner should show loyalty and patience in such cases.
• One of the main rules of any training is that only one person needs to teach a pet. Of course, all family members can participate in the process, but someone must give the command, otherwise the dog will not be able to concentrate on the performance.
• Don't be overly strict. The puppy should not obey the owner because of the feeling of fear. The presence of irritation in the voice must be eradicated, otherwise such an unhealthy atmosphere will negatively affect not only the results of training, but in general on the relationship between the owner and the pet.And after the puppy's command is fulfilled, it is important to praise or treat him with a treat.

It is important to choose one of the listed methods and stick to it. Each dog is different, so not all techniques will work the same.

The following methods will help you train your puppy to bark on command.

This method will be appropriate for breeds that have a sanguine or choleric temperament. First, the owner calls the pet and gives the command to "sit". It is better that at this moment the dog is wearing a collar with a leash.

The owner needs to tighten the leash a little to restrict the pet's movement and so that it cannot easily grab the treat. After that, you need to tease the puppy a little with a treat until you see interest.

Such a provocation should cause the dog to bark. At this moment, the owner needs to loudly say "voice", give the treat and pet the puppy.

This technique is also available in a modified version. This takes into account the fact of the occasional barking of the dog. As soon as the pet barks, you need to immediately pronounce the command "voice" and give the dog a treat. This will create a strong bond between command and praise in the animal.

This method can be used in two ways. In one of them, during a walk, the owner must tie the leash to something on the street and move back a certain distance. After a short time, the dog will whine and then bark. Then it is important to give the command "voice", go up to the pet and pet it.

The second option involves a little trick. When going for a walk, the owner needs to take a leash and demonstrate to the pet his intention to walk alone. Having opened the door, it is important to look at the animal and clearly command the "voice", usually dogs react very violently to the anticipation of a walk, and such a provocation will surely provoke barking. Once this happens, it is important to praise your pet by stroking it.

This technique involves the involvement of third parties with their pets. The owner can take his friend with him for a walk, whose dog will already know how to give a voice on command. All that is needed is to allow the puppy to observe the behavior of the other dog, the execution of the command, and the subsequent reward and reward in the form of a treat. The pet will also want to receive praise from its owner, so it will imitate another dog.

Usually this method is used for guard dog breeds. Here, too, a third person is required, but the pet needs to be previously unknown. It is better to ask the new participant in advance to disguise himself by putting on a mask, otherwise the dog may develop a negative attitude towards the person in the future if it remembers the face.

The owner needs to tie the leash to something on the street (you can find a pole), after that you should put some object next to the pet, the bone will work well here. Further, the owner needs to move a short distance, and the third participant begins to approach the object of protection. The dog at this moment will not allow a stranger to take the bone, so it will start barking. Here the owner needs to give the command "voice", and the third person needs to get out of sight. This training is effective and must be repeated regularly.

In the matter of training, you should not expect lightning-fast results, and if the dog does not bark at the command at first, then you should be patient and continue training. As soon as the pet begins to respond to the "voice" even from a long distance immediately, then we can confidently say that the desired result has been achieved.

The main thing with any workout do not forget about praise and treats, and also be in good spirits. Only with the right technique and patience can you get results!

How to teach a dog the Voice command can be seen in the next video.