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The doghouse

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

Original poster

My dog has never barked.

38 replies

notmoredirtywashing · 25/01/2025 12:34

I have a 6 month old Labrador and she has never barked!

She can be quite vocal and makes whining noises and other funny noises when trying to get attention, but if another dog barks she never barks back and I can honestly say I've never heard her.

She had a check at the vets last week, she's healthy and thriving, but the vet didn't really answer when I asked him about the barking.

Any ideas?

OP posts:
Alalalala · 25/01/2025 12:36

She’s absolutely fine! She doesn’t feel the need to bark - some dogs are barkier than others!

Original poster
notmoredirtywashing · 25/01/2025 12:37

Thankyou!

My neighbours are very pleased 😜

OP posts:
Purplecatshopaholic · 25/01/2025 12:38

Lucky you! That is all..

drivinmecrazy · 25/01/2025 12:42

Our Weimaraner was like this til 6/7 months.
A full range of vocal sounds except a bark.
Then one day it just came out of his mouth, think it shocked him more than us!!!

With lots of training since, he's not a huge barker. But when he does, boy does the world know it!! 😝

Ours probably spends more time singing than barking now.
Depending on his mood it can range from an upbeat rendition of abba to a rather disturbing version of Taylor Swift !

ShadowCalls · 25/01/2025 12:44

My lab didn't bark till he was 3 years old.

Then we got a second dog, the first time the new dog went near labs food bowl he came out with a really loud bark and startled himself as well as us. He was very much in charge and went on to use his bark for telling off and training the other dog.

It makes sense for labs not to bark, as they're gun dogs and have to sit quietly next to owner until there's something to shoot at. If they were barky they'd scare all the wildlife away!

Original poster
notmoredirtywashing · 25/01/2025 12:52

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I'm not complaining! Maybe she'll find her bark when she's older. I've had dogs all my life ( and other labs) and this just seems weird.

OP posts:
Dearg · 25/01/2025 12:52

Happy labs are not barky dogs in my experience.

But, try leaving one outside in a run all day ( as my neighbour did) and they will soon tell you, and the neighbourhood, they are lonely .

My own older boy rarely barked, until we got our second dog , a bitch. She had been left alone , in a cage, for long periods of time before she came to us, and she was very unhappy about this, and continued to bark when left alone in a room ( she’s better now)

Now, if she starts off, he will join in, and boy, does he have a very impressive sounding bark. Deep chested and booming😂 So I am very glad he chooses not to use it too often.

Sounds like your lab is pretty comfortable, with no need to be noisy.

Original poster
notmoredirtywashing · 25/01/2025 12:53

drivinmecrazy · 25/01/2025 12:42

Our Weimaraner was like this til 6/7 months.
A full range of vocal sounds except a bark.
Then one day it just came out of his mouth, think it shocked him more than us!!!

With lots of training since, he's not a huge barker. But when he does, boy does the world know it!! 😝

Ours probably spends more time singing than barking now.
Depending on his mood it can range from an upbeat rendition of abba to a rather disturbing version of Taylor Swift !

Maybe I'll teach her some songs 🤪

OP posts:
amaworried · 25/01/2025 12:53

We had an Old English Sheepdog that never barked…absolutely marvellous!

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 25/01/2025 12:57

My terrier didn't for about a year, nothing at alll. Then he found his voice and used it 😂

GrimDamnFanjo · 25/01/2025 13:02

Many dogs are actually bred to be quieter!
And some noisier like guard breeds and my own lovely border terriers who I am sure could be clearly heard underground if they were still hunters!

princesspeppax · 25/01/2025 13:04

My 6 year old Labrador, has also never barked. Family member has one from same litter and he barks non stop Confused

Whaleandsnail6 · 25/01/2025 13:07

We've had 2 greyhounds and neither ever barked (well one once barked at a fly and I was so shocked I spilt my coffee on myself!)

Anyone can stroll into the house or garden, knock on the door, approach with another dog and neither would make a peep.

Our poor current girl got forgotten about in the garden for about 5 minutes by dh once in the rain...went to get her and she was just standing looking at the patio door waiting for it to open!

CoubousAndTourmalet · 25/01/2025 13:08

It's not unusual at that age. I honestly wouldn't worry. She might find her voice as she gets older or she could just be naturally quiet.

We have female pup of a guarding breed which is notorious for being very barky. By 6 months, our girl had barked maybe 4 or 5 times, no more than that (aside from making squeaky noises at the cat or play growls with her tug toys).
Now, at approaching 10 months, she has barked a few more times but she is still very quiet compared to our others of the same breed.

Growsomeballswoman · 25/01/2025 13:09

My lab only barked when it was her breakfast or tea time.

Icannotremembermyusername · 25/01/2025 13:15

Our lab never barked until she was about a year old, then did a woof out of the window at some double glazing salesmen, which made us laugh! (We live at the end of a private road). It was still another few months before she did her first joined up bark! Now she does that, it is saved for our new postie who is just lovely with her. Apart from that she is pretty quiet( although she does growl a bit if new people approach us or the children at our house). Which is weird as she wags her tail the whole time and actually just wants to be fussed! Funny girl!!

IsItSummerSoon · 25/01/2025 13:17

My rescue dog didn't bark or make any noises for about 6 months. Then she found her voice and loves using it. Ohhh I miss the quiet days now!

BigBundleOfFluff · 25/01/2025 13:39

My Goldie didn't bark for a year and now at 3 barks very very rarely and only really if she's woken unexpectedly- maybe once every month? She got barked at by a vicious little thing today and didn't blink an eye.
She is very very vocal in other ways though - she sounds like a dinosaur when playing. So much so we just play inside as I worry the neighbours will think one of us is killing the other.

MimsyBorogroves · 25/01/2025 14:03

My eldest FRL is 5 and has barked a handful of times in his life. Never, ever growled.

My 18 month old FRL is an absolute barky arsehole.

Notgivenuphope · 25/01/2025 14:05

I have an almost 5 year old labrador and think I have heard him bark max 4 times in his life! Your lab is fine haha enjoy the peace.

We just say he causes maximum carnage in silence.

Puppy photo please!!

Branleuse · 25/01/2025 14:08

Our staffie doesn't ever bark.
She makes little chirping dolphin noises if she's worrying about something

MyOtherCarisAVauxhallZafira · 25/01/2025 14:13

Not a dog, but we have a Bengal cat, everyone says they are loud and meow a lot, for the first year or so ours made little squeaks and chirpy noises, I used to try and encourage him to meow because a cat that didn't 'talk' was odd to me. Well he meows now ... He is so loud and demanding! If you have a quiet dog be thankful OP.

Original poster
notmoredirtywashing · 25/01/2025 15:06

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I honestly thought there was something wrong with her!

I'll enjoy the peace and it'll hopefully last 🤞

OP posts:
Dryerjanuary · 25/01/2025 15:08

We had an old rescue dog who never made a sound. Then someone asked her to ‘speak’ and she barked! She had clearly been trained to do so.

Lyn348 · 25/01/2025 15:19

I dog say a lab that never barked. She was an extremely calm, well adjusted girl and had much cleverer ways to make sure you knew what she needed.

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