Carl Copley wrote 02/04/2009 02:43 PM GSD not barking?? #226448 - 02/04/2009 02:43 PM
Carl Copley Webboard User Reg: 01-29-2009 Posts: 4 Loc: Offline	Hi All, I have looked around the site and the forum for advice on this and cant find any so thought I'd ask straight out. We have an eigth month old GSD and he NEVER barks - EVER! We have tried everything to get him to bark and nothing works. Any suggestions on what we can do?
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Aaron Myracle wrote 02/04/2009 02:49 PM Re: GSD not barking?? [Re: Carl Copley ] #226452 - 02/04/2009 02:49 PM
Aaron Myracle Webboard User Reg: 06-06-2008 Posts: 5062 Loc: WA, USA Offline	Some dogs just aren't idle barkers. They need a legitimate (for them) reason to bark. Some dogs just won't bark unless they are in defense. Those same dogs typically have very high defense threshholds. If your dog is one of them, then there is no real way (short of abuse) for you to put your own dog into defense. If you really want a dog that barks, find a good Schutzhund club. If the helper is any good, he will get your dog to bark. It will take some time for the dog to get comfortable, but he'll get it out of him. I'm guessing your pup is from DDR lines.
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Maisha Butler wrote 02/04/2009 02:53 PM Re: GSD not barking?? [Re: Aaron Myracle ] #226453 - 02/04/2009 02:53 PM
Maisha Butler Webboard User Reg: 01-12-2008 Posts: 372 Loc: High Desert, California Offline	Alyssa, Just curious about what you mean "high defense thresholds?" Does that mean the dog has to feel highly threaten before he barks? And what made you guess it's from DDR lines?
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Aaron Myracle wrote 02/04/2009 02:58 PM Re: GSD not barking?? [Re: Maisha Butler ] #226455 - 02/04/2009 02:58 PM
Aaron Myracle Webboard User Reg: 06-06-2008 Posts: 5062 Loc: WA, USA Offline	My DDR knucklehead is the same way, and from what I've read (and seen in her and others) it's pretty standard in the DDR lines. Ed mentions it in one of his articles somewhere as well. My DDR pup didn't develop anything resembling a prey bark until very recently. Around 11 months old or so, and even then, it's more of a frustration bark than an actual prey bark (withholding prey). When I say the dog has high defense threshholds, I don't mean that he must feel highly threatened before he barks. He'll bark as soon as he feels threatened- but it will take much more for him to feel threatened. Every dog has different drive threshholds. Some move into prey or defense with little stimulation. Others take more.
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Carl Copley wrote 02/04/2009 03:06 PM Re: GSD not barking?? [Re: Aaron Myracle ] #226460 - 02/04/2009 03:06 PM
Carl Copley Webboard User Reg: 01-29-2009 Posts: 4 Loc: Offline	Definitely not a high defense threshold dog... He's scared of his own shadow! He has only ever barked the once and that was out of excitement playing with our daughter but it was more by accident than intention - he looked as shocked as we did! Not sure about the DDR part, any clues on how to check this out? I know DDR is east german bloodlines but not much more than that.
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Maisha Butler wrote 02/04/2009 03:06 PM Re: GSD not barking?? [Re: Aaron Myracle ] #226461 - 02/04/2009 03:06 PM
Maisha Butler Webboard User Reg: 01-12-2008 Posts: 372 Loc: High Desert, California Offline	Thanks for the clarification.
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Tanith Wheeler wrote 02/04/2009 03:33 PM Re: GSD not barking?? [Re: Maisha Butler ] #226467 - 02/04/2009 03:33 PM
Tanith Wheeler Webboard User Reg: 11-04-2008 Posts: 572 Loc: Hampshire, England Offline	My male is from Czech lines and he didn't bark until about 11 months. Then I got him to bark via prey drive - seemed to me like he needed to mature.
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Aaron Myracle wrote 02/04/2009 03:48 PM Re: GSD not barking?? [Re: Carl Copley ] #226470 - 02/04/2009 03:48 PM
Aaron Myracle Webboard User Reg: 06-06-2008 Posts: 5062 Loc: WA, USA Offline	Quote: Carl Copley Not sure about the DDR part, any clues on how to check this out? I know DDR is east german bloodlines but not much more than that. Who are the sire and dam?
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Carl Copley wrote 02/04/2009 03:53 PM Re: GSD not barking?? [Re: Aaron Myracle ] #226472 - 02/04/2009 03:53 PM
Carl Copley Webboard User Reg: 01-29-2009 Posts: 4 Loc: Offline	Sire - King Ross Dam - Amazing Bonnie Lass
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Aaron Myracle wrote 02/04/2009 04:00 PM Re: GSD not barking?? [Re: Carl Copley ] #226473 - 02/04/2009 04:00 PM
Aaron Myracle Webboard User Reg: 06-06-2008 Posts: 5062 Loc: WA, USA Offline	Based on the names, I take it he isn't a working-line GSD? I'd wager, it's probably just not in his nature to bark. He may or may not develop a bark as he matures, but it could just be contrary to his temperment to bark.
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