Speech Therapy?-He got it!!!

Mikey

OMG sooo frustrated!!

I'm trying to teach Mikey to speak. It was sooo much easier with an impatient husky-I just held a treat and said speak and within seconds she got mad and barked. Mikey won't get mad. He just sits there-mind you though with some simple free shaping we've been doing-he IS starting to offer some behaviors-so I'm proud (Mandy would always keep trying-Mikey just waits...) Anyways.

He won't talk unless he's growling at Dave when they play or whining to go to the dog park(after long observation of him-these are the only situations we can get him to vocalize in the house at all).

So I've been click treating for any and all vocalizations-for a week now. I always say 'speak' when I get the clicker and treats-and continously throughout. I'm rad-I tell ya! I'm clicking right on every vocalization-be it whining, or growling or a throaty huff. And the treats are good! Steak or hotdogs...

And no lightbulb at all. He is a slow learner-but any suggestions? These are the only ways we can get him to vocalize-doesn't respond to tv, strangers outside, dog soudns...I'm at a loss!!

AmazingMutts

Mikey,

I think some dogs just don't speak much, just like some dogs (like my basset) refuse to give me a bow. Of course, she'll do it on her own as a nice stretch, but when I try to lure her into it.....FORGET IT!!!

I walk around with a bait bag and a clicker, and the moment I see her do it, I click and treat. I've read that this type of training takes the longest cause you have to wait for the animal to do it on his or her own. SO, be patient with your doggy. My basset is a slow learner too, but she's been able to pick up on a lot of other things. Unfortunately, bow isn't a strong point.

Have you tried taking Mikey outside the house - to a dog park or something - and get him excited there? Maybe he'll be more apt to barking in a new environment. Or if you know other dogs that can bark on cue, maybe he'll bark along so you can click and treat. Dogs usually respond to the vocalizations of others in their 'pack'. So, maybe that's something you could try. *Shrugs*

Mikey

Oh he's VERY talkative outside the house-but he's so excited...I don't know-do you think that would work? Everyone hears my dog coming (not a barker -but he's a talker) before they see him lol -what do you think?

I should have mentioned this-didn't think it woud work but we did try when vegas and gamble were over. Vegas knows speak, gamble and mikey don't. So I had a plate of treats, got them doing some sit and down etc so they knew the game -then did speak. Vegas got all the treats-Mikey and Gamble were bewildered lol
I think they can learn from watching each other when it's a self reinforcing behavior (like digging or play moves-I've seen it happen ) but perhaps the difficulty lies in learning a behavior that's trained and reinforced by humans?

But good suggestion-maybe we'll try at the dog park...I'm a little hesitant to take treats there but lots of other owners do (to get their dogs to get in the car to go home! lol) so it shouldn't be touble. Now clicking with gloves on -hmmm heheh

alfi

Dog park is a good suggestion...!

Liza does the same exactly...and god she is a Poodle...and Poodles is supposed to bark a lot!! Anyway, I make her "speak" by breathing fast and acting like I am scared...of course sometimes I can't hold laughing but ok...cowering and back off trying to hide behind a furniture and if this doesn't work (which is quite often) I jump suddenly in front of her and bark myself (oh I bark so good!! and howl like a wolf lol)....if you have already try it sorry I've missed it

Brittany

I taught Kelsey to speak by getting loud and excited but she is a barker anyway. She barks at everything.

He doesn't bark?

Criosphynx

Scooter was a very quiet dog...like...VERY quiet...

it took two years to get "barking?" on cue. Tippy took less than a week. Simply because he never offered it and she did.

so anyway, not to sound pesimistic, but he may take a while, the lightbulb moment took FOREVER with Scooter.

Mikey

He barked when Dave's friend (tall guy) was in the house before Mikey or I were awake-scared the six and half foot behemoth onto a table. Our neighbor has a chained pitt cross (She's not an outdoor dog but they didn't fence so she's chained and barky) he cries at her sometimes in a play bow (while she's threatening to rip him up) but he won't bark. Even when al the neighbors dogs are in chorus-no barking. None at the TV or the door-he rushes to the door and huffs and chuffs-but no barking lol I suppose that's a good thing but not for this trick.

Alfi We tried but we may have poisoned that one-DAve and I will bark from opposite ends of the house and Mikey has to come get us and tackle us. He won't bark if we bark or howl or if we play dogs barking or howling lol

We did practice at the dog park(Brought the clicker and the treats) and two spots on the trail where we were alone we practicied-he whines if I don't keep walking so we got some good practice-come home-ask for speak-confused look

That's exactly it-he really won't offer behaviors (working on lots of easy tasks hoping he will start to become confident enough to do so) and the trick is finding some situation where he'll 'talk to me'

Thanks for all the tips and encouragement guys

fawkese1

have you tried 101 things with a box? it changed clover and now he offers stuff all the time!

i got clover super excited and bowed with him (that is how we play) and he barked and i clicked.... now it is one of his favorite things... maybe you need a combo of things... oh and does he have a toy he really likes? maybe you could use that instead of food to get him going?

Mikey

I *think* so lol I browsed the only article I could find and it seemed like you just choose a simple criteria and reinforce it (free shape) and build. THey kind of learn to offer and try? So without a box-yup we're doing it Just silly things like winking or looking somewhere or chuffing


I can't think of anything but he loves his glowing ball...which we lost. But maybe another ball...I'm not sure that would work with him-he likes anything-toilet paper rolls or socks are fine too.. lol Sorry I'm so dumb when it comes to my own dog-I can totally get it when it's someone elses but I'm confuzzled when it's mine...

fawkese1

lol... try using a box... i kept trying to just free shape with clover, but it was hard for me... the box totally "opened the door" if that makes any sense... lol.. think "inside" the box... he wouldn't offer anything and wouldn't play with toys at first... still with new toys he won't always take to them right off (depending on what they are)

squeakie ball? you could get him amped up for it and bark then maybe?

maybe he is a basenji mix...lol... aren't they a breed that doesn't really bark but makes other vocalizations?