This might seem a strange question . . .

Bella's Family · 08-05-2009, 10:55 AM

. . . but when will a puppy begin to bark? I've only had one other dog - but he was a pup 10 years ago. We got him at 10 weeks old and I could swear he already barked by then. But Bella is 14 weeks (purebred lab) and she's never barked even once in the 2 weeks we've had her. She whines and makes noises, but no barks and no growls. Not that I'm complaining - believe me - it's just that I can't remember if puppies bark right away or not.

Keechak · 08-05-2009, 11:06 AM

some do and some don't it's a temperment thing. (or a breed thing in the case of Sighthounds)

lovemygreys · 08-05-2009, 11:18 AM

we've got some puppies here about to turn 4 weeks old (tonight) and they all started growling and barking a bit in the last week. Mostly growling, but a few little barks.

A lot of times, it's an individual thing. Though, you may want to test her hearing.

Ludo the Monster · 08-05-2009, 11:23 AM

Ludo didn't bark until he was 12 weeks old and he heard the neighbor dog bark.

Now it is a constant battle. Enjoy the quiet.

Xeph · 08-05-2009, 11:33 AM

Believe it or not, my mouth monster, Strauss, didn't bark until 14 weeks!

.....Now I can't get him to shut up

Bella's Family · 08-05-2009, 12:09 PM

So I guess maybe it is a breed/temperament thing . . . anybody with labs who can be specific about their experiences? I'm pretty sure her hearing is okay, she really takes notice when other dogs in the neighborhood bark or whine . . . in fact, she gets a bit freaked out when they sound particularily threatening and she runs to get indoors. We've not tried to encourage her to bark or to growl - so maybe that's part of it. And, interestingly, the dogs she lived with only barked when we first drove up - as soon as the humans came outside, they never made another peep. She seems to have been heavily influenced (and maybe even deliberately trained) in that environment, even as young as she was when we took her home, so any hints on how we can continue to encourage this really nice behaviour she has??

waterbaby · 08-05-2009, 12:21 PM

I have a lab x chessie cross that very rarely barks. She didn't bark at all for the 1st 4 weeks we had her and really surprised us when she let out a bark while playing with another dog. She will occassionally bark while playing or if surprised or if a stranger looks "wrong" to her. But she's also quiet in general - very little whining or growling.

We haven't had to encourage quietness. If she barks at our friends, I yawn and I might put her away (inside the house or in another room for a while). But there's maybe only 2 or 3 that she has issues with for whatever reason.

Bella's Family · 08-05-2009, 12:50 PM

That's awesome to hear . . . our old dog, Max, barked whenever he was at home . . . if someone came to the door, if they ran by on the sidewalk, if he saw another animal outside (including skunks LOL)! He did not, however, bark in response to the barks of other dogs, and he never barked at anyone while he was in the car. It was weird. He was an Anatolian Shepherd mix - very protective of us, but apparently he thought we were fine as long as we were enclosed in the car!!

emily445455 · 08-05-2009, 01:32 PM

It depends on the individual dog. Belle didn't bark until she was about a year old, Penny did all kinds of barking in the 1st week she was at our house, lol.

Some dogs are talkers, some are not.

CoverTune · 08-05-2009, 02:31 PM

Corona didn't bark until she was five or six months old... Aria started barking the day I brought her home at 7.5 weeks old.

lol

Xeph · 08-05-2009, 07:25 PM

I've had Lab puppies that come into puppy class at 8 weeks and never make a sound, and meet 8 week olds that won't shut up. I meet 6 month old puppies that are very quiet, and 6 month olds that won't shut up.

It varies.

NalaBaby · 08-05-2009, 11:36 PM

Nala was 3 months when we brought her home, and it took almost a month before we heard any barks from her. Now, she does it all the time.

Martiniz · 08-05-2009, 11:57 PM

My 6 yr old pom Bonny doesnt bark a lot, even when she was a pup. She only whines but not that much barking. The only time she barks is when i'm playing with her or when other dogs get too close to her. But let me tell you, it's good to have a dog that doesnt bark a lot, or only barks when it hears a loud noise (like good watchdogs).

RonE · 08-06-2009, 03:52 AM

When we brought home our big black lab, at 4-5 years of age, he didn't bark fior the first 4 days. I began to worry about him, so I got on the floor and teased him. (I was pretty stupid for someone who'd had dogs for 40 years.)

He finally barked, inches from my face, and it was a thunderous bark that threw my hair back and made my ears ring for hours.

He rarely barked after that. He seemed to think he could handle himself without drawing attention. Molly, on the other hand, is less secure and barks quite a lot.

mintesa · 08-06-2009, 04:27 AM

my friend had an icelandic sheepdog mix and it never barked. or made any other noises.

LuvMyAngels · 08-06-2009, 07:26 AM

Buster barks if we get him REALLY wound up playing or if he finds something he feels needs our attention NOW. He alerted me to an opossum in the neighbors yard one night and a few nights ago slammed his paw down on a moth and barked so I'd come clean up the mess.

Adustgerm · 08-07-2009, 05:58 AM

Sammie barks if someone comes to the door. Buster barks only if Sammie barks.

scropper · 08-07-2009, 10:45 AM

i have a lab/cocker mix and my 12 week old puppy has been barking since about 9-10 weeks old. lol. it's not often. she's only barked maybe 10 times in her life so far. lol. it's cute now... but i hope she's not a huge barker. right now she is just obsessed with whining.

bigblackdogs · 08-07-2009, 09:41 PM

I have a 6 month GSD and she barks at everything. she litteraly wont shut up if she thinks something needs to be scared away. she is one of the most vocal dogs Ive seen. if she wants to play with someone, and she cant, she starts whining. if she is being bathed, she screams(and no, the water is not too hot. she just hates baths. no Idea why)