Teaching "Speak" and "Quiet"

Speaking on Command

It’s important to teach a dog to speak on command for three reasons. First, it’s a way of controlling the dog’s vocal expressions. You do this by first teaching the dog to speak, and then by teaching him the “Quiet…!” command. The second reason we teach a dog to speak is that it’s a way of releasing pent up emotional energy in a controlled manner. The third, and most important reason, is that it enables the dog to “stand his ground” rather than shy or run away from fearful situations. For instance, when you teach a thunderphobic dog to bark at the lightning he’ll no longer be afraid of thunder or fireworks or other loud noises, which can be a life saver!

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