Why Doesn't My Dog Bark at All?

As stated above, barking in dogs is only one form of communication. Often, the silent facial expressions or body postures they make are much more revealing than the noises that emanate from their mouth. This is because a dog's body language is very important for communicating in the wild, something which has remained to some extent in domestic animals.

This does not mean barking is negligible in terms of a dog's communication. It is often revelatory, but it can also be hard to interpret. For example, barking can be a sign a dog is happy as much as it can show they feel threatened. Below are the most common reasons a dog barks:

• Excitement: when a dog sees their guardian after a separation, they are about to be given a treat or they have some other reason to be happy, they will often bark to express their excitement.
  
  
• Warning: when a dog sees someone approach their property or perceive some potential issue, dogs often bark to alert their guardians. This is particularly common in breeds known as being good guard dogs.
  
  
• Fear: similar to a warning, if a dog feels they are being threatened directly and their body language calming signals are being ignored, they nay bark to show strength and intimidate a potential aggressor.
  
  
• Attention: dogs will bark at their owners simply because they want their attention. This can be a rare occasion, but it is more likely to happen in dogs which are neglected or have issues such as separation anxiety.
  
  
• Boredom: every dog has their own requirements for physical and emotional stimulation, but no dog should be bored. A bored dog is more likely to bark since they are in greater need of attention.
  
  
• Pain and disease: dogs are very good at hiding their pain, so if they are barking due to pain, it is most likely intense. Similarly, when they have a disease they may bark out of fear they will die. Neurological problems in older dogs may also cause them to bark all of a sudden and seemingly for no reason.

While these are the basic reasons why dogs bark, each dog is an individual. They will bark for their own reasons, some of which we may never understand. The best way to do so is to get to know their personality and individual needs. This is required for both their physical and mental wellbeing.

Since barking has so many meanings for various contexts, it can be strange to see a dog that never barks. We explain the reasons this may be in the sections below.

Although a dog may bark because they are in pain or have a disease, not every dog will respond in the same way. For this reason, many dogs will stop barking when they are sick. Especially if they have a disease which lowers their energy levels, stops them from eating and makes them depressed, they may be too ill to bark. This can be the case when a dog stops barking all of a sudden.

Certain diseases which affect a dog's breathing or vocal cords can stop a dog barking. Upper and lower respiratory infections in dogs are a common cause of a dog not barking, especially if they also cause the dog to be exhausted. Since inflammation of the airways or vocal cords is a common symptom, it can even cause them pain to bark. Similar pain and swelling can be caused by excessive vomiting.

These pathological origins do not explain why a dog never barks. Some diseases are congenital. They may either develop as the dog matures or the symptoms may only present once they are older. These genetic issues can lead to malformations or other developmental problems which result in them not barking. A relatively common issue for Siberian Huskies is laryngeal paralysis which means their vocal cords cannot produce sound in the same way^[1].

Learn more about this condition with our article on laryngeal paralysis in dogs.

Another reason your dog may not be barking is due to trauma. You may see your dog regularly pulling on their leash which causes their collar to pull against their throat. This is often due to excitement, but every dog is different. When they pull on their collar like this, dogs can irritate or damage their larynx, throat and/or vocal cords. This essentially chokes the dog and can make it difficult for them to bark.

If we see our dog has stopped barking and we use a collar, it is important to look for other symptoms. This can include the dog coughing, retching or even having breathing difficulties. If we see symptoms that the dog's bark has changed or stopped altogether, it is important we take them to a veterinarian for assessment.

Especially if the dog is prone to pulling on their leash, it is important we avoid choking. For many reasons, it is better to use a leash attached to a harness rather than one around their neck, It is not only more comfortable and helps to avoid choking, but it is also practically useful in terms of safety and training. Never use a choke collar on your dog and see why electric shock collars are cruel in the video we share below.

Adopting a dog is an act of love that gives thousands of animals a second chance to have a home and receive the love they deserve. We need to take a recently adopted dog to the veterinarian for an assessment. This will help to gauge their physical and psychological wellbeing.

While it is thankfully not as common as it once was, the veterinarian can also check for signs of debarking. This is a procedure which involves the removal of a lot of the laryngeal tissue. It is most commonly performed by caregivers who want to stop nuisance barking in their dogs.

Debarking is a cruel and unnecessary procedure which provides numerous difficulties for a dog. The surgery required for debarking is very invasive and will lead to much postoperative pain in the dog. It also stops the dog from being able to communicate effectively. Both the procedure and its physical repercussions can cause the dog much distress.

If you recently adopted a cute puppy, it is common for them not to bark at the beginning of their time. This is because puppies will have been recently removed from their mother and siblings. They will required a certain amount of time to adapt to their new environment and feel comfortable. Once they do, they should start to feel more comfortable and make more vocalizations.

A similar issue can occur with recently adopted adult dogs. Many dogs are adopted as adults because they have been neglected or abandoned. While it will vary according to the individual, the dogs may have trauma which makes it difficult for them to feel comfortable around their new family. It is only once they learn to trust their new family and feel secure they start to bark out of happiness.

When you adopt a puppy or an adult dog, you will need to take them to a veterinarian for assessment. This is not only for physical examination, but also to see their psychological wellbeing. It may take some time, but working with your veterinarian and/or a canine ethologist can help a dog to regain their confidence. This means they will start to express themselves more freely, including through barking.

Learn more about this period of adaptation with our guide to socializing an adult dog.

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