There are various ways to teach a dog to stop barking. But how on earth am I going to teach my dog (3-year old rescue SBT) to bark or at least make some kind of noise to let me know he wants to go out to do his business??? He is housetrained - up to a point - standing by the door in silence to indicate he wants to go out.
Tonight I was upstairs and when I came downstairs he had wee-ed and poo-ed in the sitting room on the best carpet. He may have been standing by the door, although I doubt it since he would have been standing by the kitchen door and presumably done his business in the kitchen. Feeling partly responsible I didn't have the heart to tell him off; have simply cleared up the mess.
Is there anyway I can teach him to use his voice to let me know he wants to go out???

If he doesnt bark, can you hang something like a windchime on the doorhandle? That way, you've trained him to go to the door, now if you can get him to "knock" on the door - you'll have cracked it!

Lokis mum, thanks for your response. It's certainly worth a try and I do like the idea; let's hope Ben does. But you probably know how stubborn and perverse Staffies can be. Fingers crossed!

Dog Doorbell

Lara Well, why do I hesitate? Have just placed an order for the door bell. Roll on Christmas! Thanks again for your response. And even if my training ability is going to let me down, one or other of the many other suggestions made is bound to work in the end. Won't it?

Hi Fred

Why not create another "voice" for him in the form of a bell that he either stands on or touches with his nose as teaching him to bark, and then teaching him to bark to let you know he wants to go out could take a long time.

None of mine bark to let me know they want to go out although one does it to come in

Christine

I dont know if I would want my staff to bark. I would be glad to have a quiet one as they are terribly vocal. Stat it barking you may regret it.
Mick

Christine: Brilliant idea - shall certainly investigate.
Mick: Since the early seventies I have had three staffies (one, admittedly, a cross) but none of them was vocal. But when Ben spots a squirrel in "his" walnut tree then he stands there, a picture of outrage, barking his head off. But that's the only occasion - so far!

All's well that ends well.
Noticed some blood in Ben's stool this morning and took him to the vet straightaway. Hence last night's accident presumably. Lucky to get an appointment at short notice on a Saturday.
It seems he must have swallowed something he shouldn't have. Since his temperature was normal, the vet suggested 24 hours starvation plus Synulox antibiotics.
While there got some animicrobial shampoo which should clear up his paws, as well as Frontline in case of fleas. Also had his eyes checked out since he has two differently sized pupils. But there are no indications of either cataracts or glaucoma.
Phew - the relief of it! Never mind the bill of £72 which by the way is not covered by the insurance since the excess applies to each condition.

ok this may sound weird but i taught my rottie to bark by making him wait by his food and saying 'say please'.he would then try all different things to please me,jumping sitting lying down etc then he started barking.when he did bark i feed him a treat or his food.
not sure if this will help you but thought id mention it.

Thanks pynadath - Doesn't sound weird at all - sounds an excellent idea and shall definitely give it a try.

Beware of teaching your dog to bark when it wants something....... Bonnie was taught to bark for her dinner for just the reason you want to teach your Staffie - now she barks whenever she wants *anything!* :-(

Lara In my eagerness I whizzed past and overlooked your hyperlink for which many thanks. Have you tried it yourself by any chance? I must say I am very very tempted, have bookmarked the link and shall order it forthwith.

Digger I know you are absolutely right but at this moment I would risk almost anything to make him bark regardless of consequences - although bound to have regrets later.
Do you happen to remember the correct proportion of biological washing powder and vinegar to mask dog urine? I seem to remember you mentioning it somewhere.

Hi

No I haven't tried the doorbell - it's really not my thing but I had just heard of them. If you really are hell bent on teaching your dog to bark then I've cut and pasted this posting off one I did a while ago as I really don't want to type it all out again ....

If your dog is really playful with toys then show her a ball/toy and tease her with it keeping it out of reach. You could hide it behind your hands and show it to her in flashes to frustrate her. Be animated. Tell her to 'speak'. As soon as she barks, even once, give her the toy with loads of praise and play with her briefly. Take it off her and repeat!
Some dogs catch on straight away and some are a bit confused until the penny drops. Gradually increase the amount of barks before rewarding with the toy until she is barking steadily and readily for the toy.
If she is going to leap all over you and try and mug you for the toy then ask someone to hold her while you stand in front of her and tease her or put her on the lead and tie her to something so she can't get to you.
You can also use treats for the same thing. Frustrate her with one hidden in your hand or out of reach until she barks and then loads of praise and give her the treat.
When you give her her food bowl ask her to sit and speak before you put the food down for her. Some dogs will bark readily for their meal.
When you have a steady bark for the toy or when you can tell her the word 'speak' and she barks straight away then you are ready to move on to the 'quiet' and not before.
Sit her in front of you and tease her with the toy. Tell her to speak. When she is barking, quickly put the toy or treat out of sight in your pocket etc... Put your hand up in front of her face and give her a sharp command 'quiet', if she continues a stern No and gently hold her mouth closed. Tell her 'quiet' gently, repeat it a few times to keep her calm and then give her the reward with loads and loads of praise and a game if you use the toy.
Keep doing this a few times and she will catch on.
Alternate the reward for 'speak' and 'quiet' to keep her responses sharp. Tell her speak then quiet then speak again for the reward. Sometimes give her the reward straight away and sometimes make her speak and quiet a few times so she doesn't know when the reward is coming.
It's fun for the dogs to learn.

What I would add here for teaching a dog to bark for the door to be opened is when you have the 'speak' off on command then take the dog to the back door and place the reward/toy outside the door, firstly letting the dog see where you have put it and then close the door. Ask him to speak and then when he barks open the door and let him out to collect his reward.
You can then progress to having the toy/treat outside when he doesn't realise it's there and taking him to the door and asking him to speak then opening the door and he finds his reward again. He should soon make the connection with barking at the door and the door being opened. :)

Hi Lara

Thanks for taking the trouble. Although I shall have to substitute food for the toys (Ben is just not interested in toys) I have a feeling that if I combine this approach with "clicker" training Ben will eventually get the message. And who knows he may also learn how to work the doggy door bell now on order. Maybe I am going to end up with a multi-skilled dog? :)

Hi Lara,

I also found that really interesting!! I'm going to print that off :)

Zoe

Me too I,ve been trying for ages to get him to bark at the back door he,ll bark for his dinner alright,but i,d given up on the going out thing,but I'll start again thank you for the time you've taken Lara
Ann

You're welcome :)