We have a 12 month old GSD (f). She has never really barked since we have had her. She did bark a few times when I was in the yard raking grass seed in, she was barking at the rake. The other night she was play growling and a very slight bark when she wanted to play chase with the neighbor, which was a big step for her, she is a very shy dog, but for some reason really likes the neighbors, maybe someday she will let them touch her, but that is another thing.

I would like to teach her "bark" and "no bark". Has anyone found a technique that works (or doesn't) to get her to bark? In your opinion is this something not recommended to do?

In know some people may think I am crazy to train this, I should only be so lucky to have a dog that doesn't bark!

Thanks for any responses,

PS Sorry if this is already posted somewhere; I could not find it in a search.

If she'll bark at the rake again, you can use the rake to teach it. Give the command, rake the ground a bit, and when she barks, praise and reward with a treat. Repeat 2 or 3 times, but don't overdo it. You don't want her to get tired of barking and stop, you want to end the session on a bark.

When you think she's understanding the command, then (having the rake in your hand) you can give the command and only use the rake if she doesn't bark. It's good to praise with a "good bark (speak, or whatever)" so they can make that association.

Soon you won't need to use the rake of course.

Thanks Sandy,

Just one thing I didn't want to do is everytime I bring out the rake (or other hand tool) is having her barking, but I guess that is when the "no bark" will come in. I am a new dog owner and just didnt want to start a bad habit.

You will probably encounter what you mentioned, barking when you don't want her to, however as you said, that's just another opportunity to teach another command, the "no bark" or "quiet". Also accompanied with praise.

Teaching a dog to bark on command won't really create a habit on the dog's part. That has not been my experience. All my previous dogs have been taught to "speak", as well as my current one, but none have made nuisances of themselves because of it. All my dogs have had different temperaments and still no negative habit because of teaching to bark.

I have had a couple of dogs who just loved to bark for barking's sake, but it was never associated with teaching the command. It was just who they were. That's when teaching the quiet command came in handy.

Edited to add: remember that the goal is for her ONLY to bark when you tell her to, not every time she sees the rake. If she barks any other time at the rake without the command, then "no" or "quiet" is appropriate. Eventually she'll understand the diff between the command and doing it of her own initiative.

When you have the rake, introduce a hand signal to accompany it, and mark/treat the behavior. Eventually phase out the rake - it's just a prop for the time being anyway.
When I was teaching the bark on command (as well as the MORE important STOP barking ) I was looking for something that encouraged the barking. A friend of mine was goofing around one day, doing the crocodile dundee hand signal thing, and making this odd sound. My Boxer started going ape. To this day, her hand signal is that same one he used, minus the sound. I phased out the sound after about a week ago, and substituted that verbal command. Took about 2 weeks for her to do it consistently. At this point, she only barks when the situation calls for it, stops immediately on command, and this is one of her favorite commands.

 Quote: scott kapphahn

... Just one thing I didn't want to do is everytime I bring out the rake (or other hand tool) is having her barking, but I guess that is when the "no bark" will come in. I am a new dog owner and just didnt want to start a bad habit.

Not everyone will love this caveat , but I want to tell you that no-bark is often not as easy to teach as bark. JMO, of course.

Barking is a self-rewarding behavior. Some dogs try it and like it. A lot. It isn't like many behaviors that are extinguished when they aren't rewarded.

So I'd be sure of what I wanted in a pet dog and how much work I was ready to put in first.

Not saying that no-bark or "OK, stop now" cannot be trained, because of course they can. It can be quite a process, though, IME, with a dog turned barky.

Connnie, you bring up a very good point about potentially creating a self-rewarding behavior. I have just started introducing the bark command in my training with Niko, and now I am wondering if I should continue to teach it. He is in early phase 1. The key is exactly as you stated: What do we want in a pet dog? Or, why am I teaching it in the first place. Let me tell you my reason and you can guide me based on your experience.

My 19 month old Schutzhund line male GSD is a fabulous dog. He is an excellent learner, well behaved house dog, and a has a wonderfully sweet and playful temperament (he is still a puppy brain afterall). The thing is, that he loves everybody. This is a great trait to build from, esp for a family dog, but there's not a bark in him (except at the deer once in a while out in the backyard). For example, strangers (solicitors) come to the door and not a peep. What I want is for him to mature into a family dog that displays a bit of guarding. I would like one/two warning bark(s) when someone enters our property (approaches the front door).

Perhaps I can attribute his sweetness/lack of suspicion a very trusting nature that he has (or we've helped develop), perhaps he defers to me, or perhaps he will bark if it were warranted (the dog's sixth sense thing?), but I really am not certain. So my thought was to teach the bark on command using voice and hand signal, just to get one bark from him. And then associate it with someone coming to the door. Am I being naive? Should I just let him be as is and perhaps the protective instinct will manifest itself when it is necessary? I certainly don't want to create a barker out of him. I would love to hear your thoughts, or thoughts of others.
PS - I read some of Ed's materials on this topic (e.g., finding a stranger to jiggle the doorknob, etc) and will go back and revisit that, but I wasn't sure if I should go down any of these paths at this point in time.

every dog is different, so this from my dogs -

barking on command for my dogs is a happy thing and when they get excited I don't mind if they bark. It just shows that I have something that they 'REALLY WANT' and they are willing to follow me to get it

I have one dog that barks on command and he never barks at the door/strangers.
I have another dog - she 'protect' barks at the door/stranger but sings/whines/angry sound/little half super high pitched girly bark when i command her to.