Hi guys!
What would be the best way to train "speak" and "stop speaking" commands? What are the hand signals for them?

Read this ARTICLE that Ed wrote.

My pup didn't bark until I taught her. I got her to do it by getting her excited by playing, then making a goofy "rowr" sound (you'll know you're doing it right when the dog cocks his head and looks at you like you're crazy). After that pair the speak command with the "rowr". Luckily my dog is not a natural barker and only gives one bark at a time, so I don't really have a 'quiet' command.

when your dog is barking find out what motivate him to bark patiently used that motivation to get him bark when he barks say speak and reward him remember timing is important do this until your dog obey you. when you say speak everytime and the dog barks you can now says quiet the instant he is quiet reward again timing,patientand consistancy is utmost important in dog training.

Thank you all for the input. Now he knows how to speak, but that sometimes is not only one bark, but sometimes more. The other problem is how to stop him barking when I do not need it - e.g. I am letting him out, he sometimes starts barking at the wind or at the gate (there are cars or people in the distance of 5-10m or there are our neighbours just across the fence). How to stop this unwanted barking?

It sound like your dog did really understand the command speak beautiful.Now do you put him on leash when you go out? Put him the prong collar and when he speak without your command give him the command quiet and at the same time give a pop when he obeys the quiet command reward and tell him there's a good dog.

Now do you put him on leash when you go out? Put him the prong collar and when he speak without your command give him the command quiet and at the same time give a pop when he obeys the quiet command reward and tell him there's a good dog.

I would have to clarify few issues over here:
problems mostly happen in our fenced backyard, especially during morning hours when he asks to let him out, and as soon as he is out of the house he runs to the fence and if he sees smbd in the distance he starts barking,even though the person or the car is 5-10m away from the fence (I usually do not have problems when I am walking him and he already has a prong collar - works fine outside during walks).Any other ways of controlling this, I mean not to put him on prong collar and leash or is it the only choice I have.|Re: "speak" and no speak commands|vagabund|vagabund|Wed Mar 13 11:58:00 2002|64.228.37.131|0|0|0|0
0014000067000007|0014000067000000|14|343|I would not correct the dog with a prong collar for not minding the quiet command. I would re-focus the dog on something else. Maybe put the dog in a down-stay then reward. Correcting your dog when he is already confused over when to bark and when not to bark will only screw his head up. He has to fully understand what the quiet command means.

I agree with Chuck about re-focusing. You can teach quiet quickly. When the dog starts barking, say "(name), QUIET!!" in a loud overjoyed voice to distract him. Pull a treat out of your pocket or whatever gets his attention. Then as soon as he is quiet, reward and praise saying the word over and over (quiet or hush or whatever you want to use). He will learn the command soon. Once he knows, then start correcting him. If my dogs don't have a prong collar on I just put my hand on the scruff of their necks and make them sit down and give them a little talking to.

Thanks all. We wil try this either with a treat or just down command.