Need help getting my GSD to bark...!! - Page 1

We have 14 month old male GSD and in his life time (we got him at 14 weeks) he has only ever barked twice.

We have reinacted what triggered the previous bark (him being frustrated by our daughter) but this isn't doing anything.
We have tried all the normal stuff, encouraging with a toy putting on a leash just out of reach of us etc we've even played him sound clips of dogs barking and taking him to places we know other dogs that bark will be and still nothing.

Any helps or ideas would be great as i'm sure the neighbours must think i'm crazy standing outside barking at a dog!

Thanks in advance

Carl

There are a bunch of things that you can do but since I can not physically see how you are doing things and how the dog responds it is a little more difficult. There have been times that I have not fed my dog for a good day and a half or so and I put them on a tie out with their favorite food and them not being able to get it will sometimes do it (that can sometimes get them to become a little pushier with their food though). I will sometimes take it an extra level with some dogs and crouch down real low with my back turned to them and do some whimper noises along with some growling. (You really have to get into it.... sounds silly but I haven't had a dog that it doesn't work for) I will turn my hand outwards toward them....sometimes with nothing and sometimes holding a toy or food,etc. and do some really quick movements to perk interest. (If a whimper or squeak isn't working you can tell because they will just look at you with the tilted head, it perks to much curiousity so they are more in explore mode which triggers nose than they are in play mode which triggers mouth and their vocals.lol. Getting them around other barking usually doesn't help (not that I have seen) because for a puppy it just causes curiosity. Usually if a puppy does bark around other dogs barking it is not something you can bring back on cue because they are only barking AT the other dog and that can sometimes give the puppy the wrong impression of what you are asking them to do which may lead to dog aggression in the future. I actually have a video of me doing some of this stuff with one of my newer puppies (who would never bark!!!!!) You obviously don't have to have the same objects but those are what gets her hype. Here is the link cause I am not always the best in describing things. http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=60197045 (for this particular dog in this video I didn't do the hand backward thing but that was what i did before this particular video to get her started. no video of that though) Sorry it's not the best for detail and length of time but maybe some ideas will spark after viewing. Also if you raise them out of a crate keep them crated longer. No affection, no playtime, just added frustration to the mix..... the more deprived and frustrated they are the more they are going to put more into it. Just some ideas.Good luck and keep the board informed. I would love to see what works for you for further ideas.

Amanda

Patriot-K9

If you are going to schutzhund or any other sport that involve protection then the best way to get him to bark is to put him in a crate inside the car or truck and  work him with tug and whip, frustration and being in small place with no distraction usually works You can also teach him to speak same time. if the barks and let him out right away to get the reward

Carl,

Yes, frustration is the key.  But listen closely.  If he whines a little, or gives a quiet little sound reward like crazy!  Keep rewarding any little noise and as he gets confident about speaking up then go back to teasing and asking for more.  I usually jump around and tease with food or toy to get him interested in the game.  Make a fool out of yourself.  Bark at him if that works for you. Who cares what the neighbors think.  Get his attention, keep it with a reward, tease, frustrate him and reward, reward, reward.  I also use a hand signal at the same time so I can ask for a bark without saying anything.  I put my right hand forefinger and thumb together in an "OK" sign and hold it up next to my right eye while asking "speak" the whole time that I am teasing.  It also helps to have the dog know the command "look at me" so you may want to work on that as well.  Good luck!

Deb

Thanks - i will be trying all these suggestion over the next few days and will update you as we go along. I have noticed over the last few days he is getting much more vocal with his whines etc when frustrated so maybe this will be enough to push him over the edge.

Thanks again

Carl

Well we've been trying this over the weekend and we've had a couple of noises close to a bark and he's getting a lot more vocal with his whines etc so I think over time this will probably do the trick with enough time spent!!

Will let you know when we crack it - but thank you for your advice, I really think this will get us there.