Have you ever noticed your dog not barking very much? My dog, who always barks at the mailman, was silent recently. It got me to thinking, is this something that happens a lot? Is it normal? Have you ever wondered; why doesn’t my dog bark?
Your dog doesn’t bark because of stress, training, debarking, or health-related issues. Some dogs suffer from Laryngeal paralysis, causing them to lose their ability to bark.
There are many more reasons why your dog may not bark or may have stopped barking. Let’s take a look at the various reasons your dog may not bark, and let’s see if we find the situation that applies to you and your dog.
Why Doesn’t My Dog Bark Anymore
Your dog doesn’t bark anymore because of medical reasons. Anything that affects the larynx can make it painful or even impossible for a dog to bark. If a dog has an excessive vomiting problem, respiratory issues and specific metabolic issues are just a few medical causes for a dog not to bark.
Some disorders can be from birth or life trauma called “inherited and acquired paralysis,” and certain breeds are more susceptible to these conditions.
If you have reason to believe it could be due to medical reasons, please see a vet to be sure. However, there are other reasons why a dog doesn’t bark. Let’s discuss some other reasons your dog may not bark.
Why Doesn’t My Dog Bark At Strangers
Dogs don’t bark at strangers unless the situation is cause for concern. If there is not fear or discomfort there, your dog will treat them just the same.
Some dogs do not have a natural ability to understand a stranger from a friend. Human beings are all just human beings and not something the dog will bark at.
The relation between you, the master, and other humans can be too close for some dogs to differentiate. The stranger, as well, may have a familiar scent, which would make your dog believe it to be a friend.
However, there is no need to be concerned because there are ways to train your dog to bark at strangers or alert you when a stranger may be at your home.
If you are trying to get a quiet dog to bark, try bringing them to a dog park or have play dates with other dogs that are dogs that tend to bark. Like with children, often what they see in other dogs, they may try to do so.
Should I Be Worried If My Dog Doesn’t Bark
There is no need to be concerned or worried that your dog doesn’t bark because there are so many harmless reasons for a dog not to.
If your dog has recently stopped barking, it may be as simple of a reason as they have strained their vocal cords from too much barking previously. With a bit of time and resting your dog’s vocal cords, the bark will return.
Can All Dogs Bark
No, all dogs cannot bark. Some dogs can bark but are not known for being talkative.
They will rarely bark, if at all. There is also a disorder called Laryngeal Paralysis. Laryngeal Paralysis is when the nerves and muscles that move the larynx do not work. This, in turn, makes it impossible for a dog to bark. There also are certain Breeds of dog that don’t bark or rarely bark.
What Is The Breed Of Dog That Doesn’t Bark
The Basenji breed of dog does not bark. This truly shocks people when they hear that there is a breed of dog that cannot bark. They may not bark, but they do yodel. I think someday I’d like to have a yodeling dog.
There are a few breeds of dogs that are known to be quiet. If your dog is quiet and is a Greyhound, French bulldog, Bullmastiff, or Chinook, do not be surprised, they are all breeds known to be silent or close to it. It is the way they are bred, and though you can train any dog (besides the Basenji) to bark, those breeds would be difficult as they are not talkative dogs from birth.
The breed of your dog may not be an exact science, but if you research into your dog’s breed, it may help figure out why they are barking or why they are not. For example, I have a Border Collie that never stops barking. He will bark at anything from a leaf falling to a car passing to a friend coming to the house.
I had never thought to look into this subject with any of my other dogs, but I had a dog that barked incessantly and wanted to find out why. I found out why, and it’s nothing I can change. My dog’s breed is known to be talkative, and they also can understand up to 500 “people words.” So, the dog breed does have a lot to do with the dog barking too much or the lack thereof.
How Can I Make My Dog Bark
It is difficult and unreasonable to “make” your dog do anything, but there are proper ways to train your dog to do certain things. First, you must train your dog to “speak.”
You can do this by giving your dog a treat when it does bark, for whatever reason. Your dog will bark, give the treat as soon as you hear the bark and say, “good dog, speak good dog.”
Once your dog can speak or bark on cue, you can further train your dog to speak when they see a person they don’t know. This would be done similarly, with a treat when your dog does as you request of him/her.
Types Of Dog Unusual Barking Behavior
If your dog is not barking, chances are they may be communicating in a different way. After all, barking is the main way dogs let us know that something is wrong, or that they are in need of something like food or water.
There are a few types of unusual barking behaviors that quieter dogs exhibit:
- Public Barking
- Emotional Barking
- Pain Related Barking
With public barking this is on the environmental front. Some dogs won’t bark at all unless they are outdoors experiencing the world. They are more inclined to bark at trees, birds, cars and other things they may see outdoors. In the comfort of their own home or space, you may not hear them make a sound.
Then there is emotional barking tied to situations of loneliness, such as when you go off to work or go to bed for the night. That can also be barks of excitement, but what excites a dog varies from pet to pet.
Lastly there is pain, or physical related barking. Some dogs have the ability to bark, but will only do it when they are in a great deal of discomfort.
Other Reasons Your Dog Doesn’t Bark
Perhaps now you have the answer to why your dog doesn’t bark, but if not, remember.
- Don’t automatically think it’s something you need to be concerned about; it could be a simple as your dog’s breed.
- Perhaps your dog is tired or has barked too much recently and lost his/her voice
- It may be that your dog needs to be trained to do or needs to see other dogs doing this behavior.
- Check into your dog’s breed to see if your dog is more likely to be quiet due to that, try some training techniques
- If you are concerned that your dog may have a health issue that may be causing your dog not to bark, please see a veterinarian.
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