Teach a dog to Bark to go Outside

Teaching your dog to bark to alert you that he needs to go outside is an easier trick than you might think.

First, however, the dog needs to: 1. Be potty trained and 2. Be able to bark on command.

Once you have a potty trained dog who knows how to bark on command it’s as simple as chaining the behaviors together in order to teach them to bark to go outside. When your dog alerts you that he needs to go outside, or you are taking the dog out on his schedule, simply pause before you open the door and say “speak” or whatever your command word is. As soon as the dog makes a sound fling open the door and excitedly tell him he’s a good dog. (Treats are not necessary for this trick since the reward is in the opening door.) If you require your dog to bark each time before he is allowed to go out he will quickly begin to associate barking with going outside and within a week or two will begin to understand he can bark in order to communicate he needs out.