Dog who never ever barks - anyone else had this?

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I'm asking because I wonder if it's more normal than I think, or it's just that our dog is strange? He has got vocal cords that he can use, because we have the occasional weird noise, so I'm not worried on that score. He's our fourth rescue sighthound, and he was eight when we adopted him in 2019. He was a very successful racer, later used for breeding; and then he was handed to a greyhound rescue site.

For months he was mute. When we'd had him a few months and he finally made some kind of weird sound I was so pleased. From time to time he'll make a noise that I try to interprete, but barking isn't part of his vocabulary. I was used to knowing what my dogs were trying to indicate because of the noises they make; can't do this with him.

I have picked up on one sound, which I interprete as 'Woe is me, I'm not getting another breakfast just after my first breakfast'; 'Woe is me, you're not getting my tea, mum, even though I'm an hour too early'. So he can say, 'Woe is me', but not bark to say, 'I think that's an intruder mum, you need to protect me'.

I had a whippet cross and I can't remember her barking ever. Beautiful old girl. I do miss her.

This reminds me of the lovely story “Only One Woof” by James Herriot 😊

My PILs had a rescue Jack Russel that never barked. He could make noises but never barked, possibly abuse - but he had a lovely 4 years with my PILs who spoilt him rotten !

My rescue dog never barked... until recently when she developed dementia and now won't shut up. I prefered her silent!

Seems to be a rescue dog theme here? Maybe they were hit when they barked?

Another rescue dog here who very, very rarely barks, though she did for ages at a cat in the garden the other day and it was suprising but lovely to hear her voice! Like Titsywoo I have wondered if there is something in past (mis)treatment and a lack of barking?

Sighthound here doesn't bark.

Has a wide range of whines and huffs to indicate what he wants.

Had him since puppy and have always rewarded a bark with treat/fuss as thought it would be useful for him to bark when someone at the door. Nope he's not bothered. Think he scares himself when he does woof (about 4 times a year) as he has a loud deep bark and he's a softie.

He woofles in his sleep.

My late jack russell only barked when I was getting her food ready (as if to say hurry up) other than that nothing at all. She managed to get locked out overnight in wind and rain during last winter and still didn't bark or even whine but she was a very sorry sight in the morning

I have a staffy and he never barks. He'll woof whilst dreaming but the only noise he makes is a pathetic whine if I won't throw his ball!

Greyhounds are the least barky dogs I've ever met, it's totally normal for them.

I have two labradors. The elder wouldn't bark at all. One day he was agitated and looking at the top of the fence where a cat was taunting him. He was moaning rather than barking. All very odd. Eventually we taught him to bark on command but it takes him a while and he has to put a whole lot of effort into it....practically leaps of the ground as he woofs! The younger dog has a splendid deep bark, and will only use it if she thinks someone is about. I think we are very lucky to have quiet dogs!

My retriever doesn’t bark a lot, some dogs just don’t. She makes a whinge noise when I haven’t paid her enough attention but she will sit on our front verandah and watch people, cars and other dogs go by without making a sound. Strangers approach the front door and she just wags her tail. She barked at a scary wheelie bin right before she went on heat once and she will defend our house from possums late at night. It’s lovely, having grown up with happy neighbourhood dogs I appreciate it!

PIL dog has barked once (and it terrified the begeebies out of everyone as no one had heard him before). All dogs are different.

One of the reasons for having lurchers is that none of them has ever barked in the house. No disturbing my neighbours.

We have a Staffy and she doesn't bark at all. She grunts, wheezes, huffs, sighs and makes a variety of disgusting noise but never barks. She occasionally howls too but is mostly silent.

We've had her since a pup and she's always been the same.

We've had our grey 5 weeks now and he barks (fairly weedily) perhaps a couple of times a week - and that's a play bark. The odd whine when he wants something and one greyhound scream of death when (we think) he got a touch of cramp. He looks very disdainfully at dogs that bark when we're out.

one greyhound scream of death when (we think) he got a touch of cramp

Precious aren't they :)

We have a wheaten one of a dozen or so silent breeds I was aware of it when i got her but didn’t appreciate just what a positive it was I couldn’t have a yappy dog nightmare

We used to have a rescue dog who never barked. We were told he had been badly abused and beaten whenever he used to bark, so he learned not to do it. I remember hearing him bark once in the 12 years we had him and it was such a strange sound - like he had a sore throat. I guess his vocal cords weren’t used to it anymore! (He was very loved with us and died an elderly and happy boy)

I have a greyhound cross. We've had him for 8 years now and have only ever heard 3 woofs.

The only time he makes a sound is when he's dreaming but even then, they're quiet "yips".

Growing up we had a Labrador who didn't bark. She had a noise for 'open the back door please'. As a young pup she did bark once or twice and jumped in astonishment! When she got old she growled a bit.
I thought that was normal, and wondered what everyone else was doing to upset their dogs so much.

Our dog is 8 and I can recall him barking once-when we had an intruder in the back garden. He is completely silent other than his snoring

Our childhood Old English Sheepdog rarely barked. She wasn’t trained not to I don’t think, she just didn’t. There would be the very occasional woof that used to startle us all. She would just come and gaze at you if she wanted something.

We had a rescue springer spaniel who also didn't bark. At the same time we had a springer from puppyhood who did bark so we didn't need 2 barkers. One day after living with us for about 3 years the rescue did one very loud bark and that was that . He was so laid back he'd fall over , no unnecessary barking

Thanks so much everybody. This thread is making me cry again. I haven't got over our previous rescue dog who would constantly use his voice to tell us, 'Don't leave me'. This one is totally different.

But I love the ..."Has a wide range of whines and huffs ...", and "come and gaze at you if she wanted something." Also love, "Our greyhound very rarely barks. Didnt bark once in the first six months we had him, jumped out of my skin the first time he did ...!"

At least I now know his vocal sounds aren't abnormal, even if the rest of his behaviour is mad.

I had a rescued lurcher who never barked and basically had been sent to rescue as was crap at hunting, but the idea is that lurchers are silent dogs, they slope Off and bring down rabbits without a big fuss so the poacher doesn't get caught. Don't worry your dog is probably normal and healthy. My lovely old lurcher used to communicate by sticking his nose under our hand and jerking his head up, this would mean anything from stop the baby from crying, stroke my head, please let me eat the yummy looking dead squirrel!