Obviously you don’t want your dog to bark all of the time, but teaching him or her how to speak is a great trick that is sure to impress your friends and family.

When I saw my sister do this with her dog, I immediately had to know how she was able to accomplish it. It turns out that the trick is really easy for most dogs to learn.

First, make sure you have some treats on hand. As with most training, rewarding your dog is helpful and will give them incentive to do something correctly. Hold the treat in front of you and make your dog sit down. Once your dog is on the floor, say “speak” with a firm but friendly voice. Most likely, your dog will not bark right away. Continue to hold the treat in front of them and continue to say “speak.” Eventually the dog is likely to bark because he or she wants the treat. As soon as the dog barks, give him or her the treat and shower them with praise.

If you repeat this several times, it will become like every other command and your dog will get the hang of barking when you ask them to speak. It’s a neat trick, but make sure that your dog’s barking doesn’t get out of control.