Is It Normal For My Dog not To Bark?
Barking is one of the ways our four-legged friends use to communicate. When it becomes excessive, we desperately search for a formula that will make the furry shut up. But what if the opposite extreme happens, is it normal for a dog not to bark?
Dogs communicate in many ways
In addition to barking, dogs are able to communicate in other ways. Therefore, it is important that, as responsible pet owners, we are able to learn to decode our pet’s body language. In this way, we will be able to interpret, without fear of mistakes, all your emotions. And we’ll also know what the furry is needing.
But a dog that doesn’t bark is very strange. However, there are specimens that bark little or nothing. And, in general, they are very expressive animals at the body level. It’s as if they were communicating with their ears or their tail, and because of that they didn’t feel the need to express themselves loudly.
Anyway, for your peace of mind, if your pet is very quiet, the best thing you can do is consult a veterinarian so that he can rule out any physical or psychological problem.
Are there races that bark less than others?
Dogs that don’t bark don’t necessarily belong to a specific breed. It can even happen that an animal barks in excess and another is quieter, within the same litter.
Nordic dogs, for example, tend not to bark much, preferring to communicate through howls. Another breed with little predisposition to bark is the Shih Tuz.
Another extreme case is the Basenji , an animal that cannot bark because its vocal cords are too similar to those of primitive dogs. Therefore, they communicate through high-pitched howls, which some describe as a kind of Tyrolean chant.
Other causes that lead the dog not to bark
Although we have said that the absence of barking is not a problem, but almost a blessing for you and your neighbors, it is best to consult a veterinarian. Although most consultations are motivated by excessive barking, if your dog is silent, it is always good to rule out organic causes, such as deafness or possible trauma from abuse.
If you adopted a dog that was abandoned, for example, perhaps the previous owner used methods that frightened the pet, such as bark collars or other types of punishment. That’s why he doesn’t bark. In cases like this, with a lot of love and patience, and perhaps with the intervention of some specialist in animal behavior, it may be possible to reverse the situation.
There are also extreme cases in which dogs have undergone surgeries to remove their vocal cords. This is a radical method that some people find to solve the problem of excessive barking.
Give your furry time to decide to bark
Another possibility that might explain why your dog doesn’t bark is that he’s getting used to his new life. This is quite common in the case of dogs coming from shelters or from the street. The little animal, until it adapts to the new environment, may not show its personality completely.
As the days go by, the furry will be more calm and confident. Only then will you start to hear their barks. It’s only a matter of time.
The important thing is that – barking a lot, little or nothing – you love your four-legged friend and are responsible for their care and education. And, above all, learn to interpret the different ways a dog has to communicate.
