Teaching your dog to "speak," or bark on command can be fun as well as useful. Having your dog bark on cue can be a fun trick to show friends and family. A barking dog can ward off intruders and alert you to potential danger. Excessive barking can be a huge problem, but teaching the speak/quiet commands can sharpen the natural instinct to bark yet allow you to quiet your dog when needed. With dedication and consistency, you can teach your dog to bark on command and to be quiet.