When did your doodle start barking?

[Dan, Judi, & Timbow]

Timbow will be 6 months old on June 9 and has only barked 3 times. I know most people think that I won some kind of non-barking dog lottery, but it concerns me a little. I don't want him to start barking at everything, but it would be nice if he barked when someone came to the door. Has this happened to anyone else?

[Mary, Scrappy, Sully and Olive]

I don't remember mine barking too much in the beginning. As a matter of fact, Grover, who is just turned 1, still isn't much of a barker. He doesn't even bark to go out, just rings the bell. He usually only barks when Scrappy starts. Lately, Scrappy barks ALOT and this is definitely a new habit (She's 2).
I think one day soon, you'll look back and wish that Timbow had kept quiet for a lot longer;)

[Dan, Judi, & Timbow]

That's what I'm hoping for. Even though nothing weird has happened since we've had him, he doesn't bark when neighbors or friends come over to the house and ring the door bell or knock. I guess when he does choose to bark I will know that I need to be aware of what's going on. I just wish he would let me know when people are coming over. :)

[Crazy Doodle Lady]

Bear started barking about a month ago (5 months.) I think he picked it up at the dog park. The week I signed him up he started barking at other dogs. He barks at every dog he sees. I think it's his way of saying "Hey! Come play with me!" Hopefully it's something he outgrows. He also barks when someone knocks on the door. Thankfully he doesn't bark at anything else.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Have you tried downloading a wav. file of a dog barking, then using it to teach him to speak? It may work, I don't know. Do you have another dog that speaks for him? I have seen the pack leader in a group do all the speaking for other dogs--similar to the oldest child who speaks for the youngest sibling.

[Dan, Judi, & Timbow]

I've thought about that. The first two times we ever heard him bark was at my parents shih tzu trying to get him to play. The last time was because something startled him and it was more of a huff than a bark. I'm nervous about the file though because I don't want him to go crazy barking. Just enough to let me know what's going on. He's our only dog so he doesn't really have any teachers in that sense. I'm hoping that maybe he is just choosing to use his voice for when he really needs to let me know something's going on.

[Eileen Ross and Cody]

Cody is definately a barker. He has 4 distinct barks. One to go out. Wake up please and feed me. Play with me (alot of the time) and a Stranger is at the door. He rarely barks at other dogs unless they bark at him first.

[Adina P]

I vote that you're a non-barking dog lottery winner! Seriously wanna swap doodles for a few weeks? LOL
I was THIS close to buying TWO bark collars a few weeks ago...but calmed down. I think it was pregnancy hormones making me overly irritable with loud noises. But still, mine can make your heart jump at times with the seemingly out-of-nowhere alarm barking!

[Michelle]

Our two doodles are 7 months old: Hannah is our barker, and Jake is our non barker. Its funny how different pups can be! Next month we are going to be having some construction done at our home and I have signed them up for doggy day care. It will be interesting to see how they do and what they learn. They love all their dog interactions when we walk and at obedience school. Enjoy your non barker and I agree with the other posts: if your household was ever in danger that Timbow would bark! Have a great weekend!

[Gabriele Kennedy]

I had the same concern about my Chili Pepper when he was pup. Not a peep for a year... Chili didn't really bark until about 15 months... Don't worry.

Even now he doesn't bark a lot just once when he wants in the house and once or twice when he wants someone to notice ( Look over here! Hi!!! ) he also has a deep bark when he is confused and can't identify what he is looking at. for example when they brought out football dummy across the street..

" What the heck? What is that!?"

[sandy b]

Max barked the day we brought him home - 8 weeks and we were amazed how loud he was. He now barks at everything. I'd say you won the lottery :-) Wanna trade for a week!!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

We did teach a dog to speak. Pete rarely barked. He weighed 140lbs, but when he barked, if ever, he sounded like he weighed 20lbs. It was awful. Since he was a rescue we thought someone had tried to de-voice him. Dunno?

In 14 years he learned to say MOMA, I LOVE YOU, Cookie, and others. The best was "OUT" when he needed to go out. He didn't bark--he spoke.

Using training treats you may be able to accomplish this. I don't know of doodles though who speak. Speaking may be better with specific breeds I haven't tried it with my doodle since he makes PLENTY of noise.

You may want to post this question next. " Anyone out there who has a speaking Doodle?"

Repetitive, one to two syllable words, backed up by a treat. It takes a while, but is a lot of fun to do for you both and your pup. There are speaking dogs on UTube.com for example. Good Luck

[T. Byrne]

Rue, only barks when I have to leave her in a room alone or when something that is normally in one spot, has been moved...like her bag of dog food. Even on those occasions, the barking is short lived. She doesn't bark at other dogs, although she has barked at horses before....she didn't start barking at all until she was 4 months old. Perhaps your dog just doesn't have any reason to bark, in his opinion. :)