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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Silent dog

25 replies

PuffofSmoke · 30/04/2012 18:03

Ddog (4 year old boxer) never barks. He will let anyone walk into the house, he will pass other dogs barking their heads off at him, he doesn't even bark at the postman. Is this very unusual?

The one and only time I have heard him bark was when play fighting with DH and the poor dog got such a fright! So he physically can bark, just chooses not too.

He is going into kennels for 2 weeks in June for the first time - do you think he might learn to bark then? Has anyone had a quiet dog that has suddenly found its voice? Hope not, i have got used to the silent life! have told him not to listen to the other dogs but not sure he was listening to me

OP posts:

PersonalClown · 30/04/2012 18:05

He might just not be a talkative dog!
Myfluffball Labradoodle rarely barks unless he's shut outside and wants to come in or winding up the Staffy!

My Staffy's the Gobache of the house.

Scuttlebutter · 30/04/2012 20:29

Our first greyhound was very quiet when he arrived. However, after about a week, he found his voice and never looked back. Now we have three, and they often do a sort of pack "roo" where they all sing together. Tis terrific.

There is a variety of barks - there is the excited "Oh my god, I've just seen a squirrel" squawk of ecstasy, the "Postman! Postman approaching!" warning, the plaintive "I'm out in the garden and you've forgotten all about me" , the playful semi growl when doing zoomies, and the impatient whine when nearly at the park in the car - dog equivalent of "Are we nearly there yet?"

Original poster

PuffofSmoke · 30/04/2012 21:01

Aw am almost jealous of your range of barks!

We have had him since a tiny puppy so not new to us. You would have of thought that after 4 years he would have found his voice!

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03angels · 30/04/2012 21:04

I thought my dog was weird as he doesn't bark, even when next doors dog is going nuts! I put it down to him being a lazy British bulldog who will avoid going for walks of it means he can sleep for 5 extra mins

Catsmamma · 30/04/2012 21:06

My parents had a doberman, think he only ever barked once or twice.

I wish my boys would shut up....both burly GSDs with very big barks that always surprise me!

boringnickname · 30/04/2012 21:06

lol don't look a gift horse dog in the mouth! :)

MessyTerrier · 30/04/2012 21:07

Messy only barks when she wants to come in from the garden. Her preferred mode of communication is growling (Not in a nasty way. She growls when she wants to play or when she hears the other dogs in the neighbourhood doing the twilight barking).

03angels · 30/04/2012 21:08

The most Wor bobby does is cry like a little girl- that'll be my 3 dds haha!

MessyTerrier · 30/04/2012 21:09

For those of you that have two or more dogs, do they bark more as a group?

jezebelle · 30/04/2012 21:14

Neither of my dogs bark, i have a long haired jrt and a hairless chinese crested, they can bark as the jrt sometimes does at dogs on tv, and baldy does sometimes at dogs in the distance, but never at the door or strangers etc

Original poster

PuffofSmoke · 30/04/2012 21:15

He doesn't even whine, you get a slobbery head in your lap if he wants out and a slobbery puddle on the floor if he is hungry. Lifts his head when someone comes into the house, anyone of interest gets pounced upon, for everyone else he just goes back to sleep.

He does need to learn to attract my attention though - today DD (2) coloured the white bits on his face with orange pen. He is looking very peculiar tonight!

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BaDaBing · 30/04/2012 21:19

I have a mute French bulldog. He only barks at balloons and cats and even then not all the time. Is funny when he starts to bark, his 'voice' is all hoarse until he does 2 or 3!

teanosugar · 30/04/2012 22:26

I have two boxers and they don't bark much either.

Female boxers hardly ever barks, male boxer only barks when he gets really giddy if you play football with him in the garden.

When we moved to this is house they had no prior experience of hearing a doorbell, when someone rings the doorbell now they either run to the window to see if they can see a car on the drive or if the middle door is open, run to glass porch and look at who ever is on the other side. They only bark at the doorbell if DH winds them up by repeatedly saying 'who is it' but even then they'd rather just go and find out.

But - last year they went in the kennels for three days and the male dog barked himself silly (presumably because of all the other dogs barking) and was hoarse and had a sore throat for three days when he came home!

These are my second lot lot of boxers and I just think boxers aren't barky yappy dogs (thank god)

wildfig · 30/04/2012 22:43

My big dog only barks when the younger dog is doing something bad - usually helping himself to food - when I'm not around to witness his crimes and need to be summoned fast. She is a supergrass.

ornellaia · 01/05/2012 09:22

My dog doesn't bark at all at home, he has a wide range of whimpers and whines and a funny little yip sound. But if we're on a walk and he's very excited playing with his doggy BFF he barks a lot, I always worry that other people will think they're fighting when they play together.

teanosugar · 01/05/2012 11:20

Puffofsmoke - thats very funny about your DD colouring the dogs face in!!!!

My young SD used to dress my previous boxer in pyjamas with hair bobbles on her ears and the dog just to just sit there and let her.

diddl · 01/05/2012 11:46

Our dog also quiet.

The first time he barked-at the neighbour, we stood cheering & clapping

He still doesn´t bark at the doorbell, but will bark when very excited-and on command.

Original poster

PuffofSmoke · 01/05/2012 12:21

teanosugar - have put pic on my profile picture for your amusement. What other dog would be stupid enough to lie still and let this happen?!

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horseylady · 01/05/2012 13:55

Neither of mine really bark. The big dog will occasionally if shes on her own and she hears us coming. The pup barks if someone else is eating her food or playing. But they're both very quiet. Big dog doesn't bark at agility!

teanosugar · 01/05/2012 14:24

pmsl - sorry, thats just so cute !!
DH is laughing as well

Original poster

PuffofSmoke · 01/05/2012 19:30

Its not funny! All the other dogs in the park were laughing at him this afternoon! - I can't get it off!!!

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teanosugar · 02/05/2012 16:45

How's your dog today?
have you got the felt pen off?

Original poster

PuffofSmoke · 02/05/2012 17:50

He is fine, not the least bit wary of DD - I would be!!!

He is still sporting the 'i've been tango'd' look. Very fetching!

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GrimmaTheNome · 02/05/2012 17:58

If anyone wants the most noise per kilo of dog, get a dachshund. Mine has a huge bark for his size, and lots of other vocalisations. Its fortunate he has a relatively quiet snore as he can do this while he's awake but just very relaxed

Original poster

PuffofSmoke · 02/05/2012 18:04

Ddog can certainly snore! Feels like the whole house is shaking! He also purrs like cat when you stroke him. weirdo

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