Speak / Bark / Alert Command Training

[OhSoSharkie]

I was wondering if anyone could help me as I have well and truly failing at this.

I would like to teach my dog to bark, either on my command, or, when she needs to alert me to a scent-seeking finding (to sit and then bark).

I'm really struggling and unsure if it's because I am using the same command for both and she's seeing them as different behaviours? We are a little new to multi-scent seeking so this may be adding confusion too.

Does anyone have any tips for this please?

The reason I would like her to bark on my command without scent seeking being involved is because we have had some unscrupulous activity close to us and I would just like the people involved to be aware we have a large dog in the house in a hope they scuttle elsewhere... and my neighbours would like this to as one of the elderly neighbours is feeling quite frightened by the outside issues.

What does she bark at in general? I would set up that scenario and then add a cue word and reward.

For scent detection does she have a solid detection signal already (freeze, point, sit etc.?). If she does I'd praise her for doing that and then cue the bark (once she's learnt it) and reward once she's barked as well. Then start to drop the cue by just hyping her up once she's signalled on a scent until she wuffs and then praise.

Be warned though. They often like the sound of their own voice once they find it!

I taught my dog to 'speak' by giving him a treat when he made a noise until he worked out what I wanted.

I've never had to train him to bark at the doorbell ringing or weird noises outside he does that voluntarily 🙈😂

She is quite protective of the house so she will bark at that - and loud noises. No command and we have put a lot of work into trying to reduce these behaviours as well which she's done great.

The reason I want to get her to bark is because I want to do scent training in a forest but right now it seems impossible as she keeps trying to eat the scent tin, or she just carries it off like a loony for a game of zooms before admitting defeat and bringing it to me to open for her reward.

Typing this all out maybe I am just really confusing her.

So was the barking an attempt to stop her running off with the scent tin? I mean if so there are other solutions. You can use a cotton bud and jam it in somewhere, or tiny piece of felt (won't matter if she swallows the latter by mistake) and teach a different indication.

The barking bit you can often get with frustration, show but don't allow them to get food/toy or just by barking yourself

You need to work on your indication to the odour carefully.

Barking is not usually a recommended Final trained Response for scentwork (unless S&R) so are you sure that is the behaviour you want?

A nose freeze or sit and stare would be easier to teach. Less confusing for the dog and also not conflicting if you also are teaching an alert bark.

With the scent work, you need to use your marker word (e.g. 'yes') before her teeth touch the tin. So you need to be really vigilant, and as soon as her nose approaches it, you mark, then reward. That way, she'll start to understand that looking at it is what is needed, not grabbing it.

Thanks everyone. The only reason I went with the verbal command was for when she's in forest / woodland / out of sight - I will rethink this though.

I'm more worried she's going to hurt herself with the tin. ie bite down and it will split in her mouth. She doesn't know running of with things don't become a game of chase with me.

Are you using pieces of red Kong as the scent? If so, the other thing you could do is use a vial with a bit of Kong in it. Then you can wedge it in crevices and she won't be able to pick it up.