How to deal with barking?

[critter crazy]

Squirting him with water is one way- though that would likely be one more thing to bark at. Spray bottle doesn't work n my dogs- they catch it in their mouth- think it is a game. Teach him to speak on command would be a better idea. Once he knows the command to speak, you can get him to understand 'no speak'- or, as our Natalie knows the command- 'mime dog' and she changes her bark to a whisper. This was the only thing that helped us. When I talked to the vet about it- he wanted to do surgery on her vocal chords. I definitely wasn't keen on going that route.

so how does one go about teaching a dog to speak??? we got rotti from a rescue who already knew the command, and we have been trying to teach duke to speak. but to no avail!!

[Kosy]

Try this:
Get a handful of yummy treats and have them in your pocket. Get a can of some sort and put 10-20 pennies inside. Get ready. When your dog barks, shake the can immediately. That should startle him enough and get his attention. Then tell him to sit, and when he does, give him a treat immediately. Be consistent. Eventually you should be able to tell him to sit--or down, if you prefer--after the first warning bark.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

so how does one go about teaching a dog to speak??? we got rotti from a rescue who already knew the command, and we have been trying to teach duke to speak. but to no avail!!

Marta knows how to speak. Find something that makes them bark, and give a treat everytime he barks after you "speak," he will probably pick it up pretty quickly!