Why Doesn’t My Dog Bark?

A quiet dog isn’t usually a problem but there are a few things to watch out for if a normally vocal dog stops barking.

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Barking is considered normal behavior for dogs. If you’ve never heard your dog bark, you might find yourself wondering—and worrying—about why not. A lack of barking isn’t always a problem, rather it reflects the dog’s temperament, genetics, and environment.

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4 COMMENTS

  1. One of our dogs, a female Boxer who we adopted at 18 months old, barks a lot. Our other dog, a Boxer/Hound mix, who we adopted as a puppy and was initially socialized and raised with a female Boxer who never barked, rarely barks unless we are playing and being silly, or there is something very significant happening. If he is barking in the backyard we know we need to go out and see what is going on.

  2. My dog yodels and is part Australian Sheppard, Chihauhau and 15 Breeds. She has never been a barker and barked for the first time this past year. She is very even tempered and happy. I never knew not barking could be any type of problem.

  3. My dog, a Sheltie-mix, we acquired as a rescue from Mexico. She had been abused, neglected and finally abandoned in an apartment. She was so very fearful, especially of men wearing hats and boots and loud voices. People yelling on the TV would send her scurrying out of the room. Though Shelties are known to be barkers, it took her about a year to finally bark in our home. I think it took her that long to really was confident enough to feel that she was “home” and part of our pack. Now she barks at the door and I can’t get her to stop! Lol

  4. My previous Sheltie, Milo, was the most ‘non-Sheltie Sheltie’. – he just wasn’t a talker! And when he did bark, it was very soft/quiet. I was so spoiled! My 2 female Shelties (littermates) are very vocal girls 🙁