My Dog Never Barks

Barking is an important feature of dogs. Canines are territorial animals, so they bark to ward off intruders. They use their bark to communicate with other dogs and also to gain their owner’s attention. Yet, sometimes there are reasons why a  dog never barks. 

We hear dogs bark all the time. In some cases, they can lose that ability through medical conditions, while others are simply born with soft barks. If you’re thinking, why doesn’t my dog bark? then you’re at the right place. Read this article to find out the reasons why some dogs never bark.

9 Reasons Why Dogs Never Bark

There’s no such thing as dogs that are mute. They have their barks, but sometimes they’re so soft that you can’t hear them. That’s the reason why some pups are referred to as “barkless dogs.” Yet, there are instances where dogs don’t bark due to congenital defects, stress, and even shyness.   

There are also other reasons why canines suddenly lose their barks. Some dogs just prefer staying quiet, while others have no choice because of their strained vocals. If you want to know more, this article listed the top reasons why pups don’t bark. 

Breed Disposition

All dogs bark, but some breeds are quieter than others. Although in some very rare cases, dogs can be born mute. Further, Reader’s Digest listed the top 10 dog breeds that naturally don’t bark often.  

• Great Dane
• Basenji
• Newfoundland
• Bulldogs
• Shar Pei
• Mastiff
• Malamute
• Chow Chow
• Rhodesian Ridgeback
• Shiba Inu

Training

Training plays an important role in lessening a dog’s bark. Dogs bark when they’re bored, alarmed, or excited. For starters, an untrained dog that wants attention will bark at almost anyone at anytime. So, when you train your canine not to bark at people, they will most likely adapt that behavior even outside training sessions.

Personality

Like humans, some dogs are attention seekers while others are wallflowers. A withdrawn personality is one of the main reasons dogs won’t bark. Canines also become quiet, especially when they’re in new places. When dogs are quiet, it doesn’t mean they’re depressed; rather, they just prefer silence.

Stress and Anxiety

Changes in the body language of dogs can tell us whether they’re hurt, stressed, or feeling anxious. Dogs can be emotional too. Naturally, when they’re anxious, they bark, whine and pace non-stop. Anxiety and stress can also trigger sadness, leading to a dog not barking.

Too Shy

Dogs can also lose their confidence too. If they haven’t been around people for so long, they can develop an extreme shyness disorder. Timid dogs aren’t barking because they feel fearful all the time. Socialization can treat shyness. Yet, in some rare instances, it can be a lifelong tendency.

Vocal Stress

One reason why your dog never barks is due to vocal stress. When canines bark, they put pressure on their vocal cords, leading to laryngitis.  Also, excessive barking causes an inflamed pharynx called pharyngitis. Well, pharyngitis is the medical term for sore throat, while laryngitis causes voice loss.

Medical Issues

A dog that doesn’t bark can be suffering from laryngeal paralysis all along. Vomiting and harsh breathing are the usual signs of laryngeal paralysis. This occurs due to a degenerative failure of the nerves and muscles that open the voice box. Also, this disease causes dysphonia or changes in a dog’s bark.

Past Experiences

Some dogs have very loud barks. So, in very rare cases, their owners have them undergo a debarking, also known as the devocalization procedure, that permanently lowers their vocal range. This surgical procedure involves damaging a dog’s vocal cords. Further, infection, bleeding, and voice loss are the common side effects.

Getting Older

Senior dogs are prone to health issues. There are two reasons why your senior dog never barks anymore. First, their vocal cords collapse due to old age, leading to voice loss. In worst cases, a cancerous tumor can grow in the larynx or trachea of your dog.

When Do Puppies start to Bark?

Puppies learn how to bark through their surroundings. When they hear older dogs bark, they too will try to do so. As a result, their first attempt at barking is known as vocalizing. Those vocalizations happen as early as 2 to 3 weeks old and sound like grunts or whines.

Young dogs emit sounds because they want to communicate. Also, they can finally create their first bark when puppies reach 6 weeks old. Yet, it’s not a perfect bark since their vocal cords are still growing. It’s more like a high-pitched yelp which people refer to as the puppy bark.

As puppies mature into adulthood, their barks also change. Their barks transition from the high-pitched sound at 5 months to an even deeper sound at 1 year. When dogs learn to bark properly, abilities such as growling and howling develop too.

When to Bring Your Dog to The Vet

Why does my dog never bark if you’re still curious about the thought? then you’re not alone. It’s alarming when dogs suddenly lose their voice. But, how will you know if it’s fatal or not? Take note of the following signs and symptoms listed below. 

Chronic Vomiting

Chronic vomiting occurs due to a variety of reasons. For instance, it could be gastritis or pancreatitis and sometimes acid reflux. When dogs gag, they put pressure on their pharynx. As a result, too much gagging irritates the vocal cords. Hence, this results in hoarseness or loss of voice.

Breathing Difficulties

A few of the many reasons why dogs never bark is due to blockages, injuries to vocal cords, and laryngeal collapse. Symptoms like these require immediate medical treatment. Yet, dogs will still manage to live even with a collapsed larynx. Though, if not surgically treated, it can progress.

Respiratory Illnesses

Since vocal cords are found in the larynx, the main illness that causes voice loss refers to laryngitis. Also, laryngitis is caused by a spectrum of respiratory viruses such as parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, and rhinovirus. If not treated properly, this becomes acute and may cause your dog never to bark again.

Surgical Complications

Research in 1991 stated that in post laryngectomy, 28 dogs suffered from cough and 15 dogs from pneumonia. Also, 8 dogs underwent a second operation to ease the complications. If surgery fails, a voice may become temporarily hoarse or worse, dogs may never bark again.

Something must be wrong when suddenly a healthy dog doesn’t bark. If that’s the case, then your canine could be experiencing blockages or vocal strain. Worst case scenario, it could be tumors or upper respiratory infections. To be sure, it is advisable to visit the nearest veterinary center for an immediate check-up.