What if your puppy never barks?

A:

It could be that your dog is deaf and doesn't know he/she can speak. Try making a very lound noise while his/her head is turned away from you. If he/she jumps and turns toward you, then they just don't want to speak very much. (Take him/her to the vet just in case, because it could be that something is wrong with their larynxs.) If your dog doesn't, then he/she is deaf and doesn't know that he/she can speak.

A:

This is not true. Just because your dog doesn't bark, it doesn't mean they are either deaf or there is something physically wrong with them. If they are a rescue dog they may have been abused and may be to shy to bark. Also some dogs are just shy and don't make much noise. My cocker spaniel is two years old and hasn't barked since I got her 9 months ago.

A:

Some dogs are more prone to barking. Typically what are considered guard dog type breeds will bark more when someone approaches their territory. Other dogs; Siberian Huskies for example rarely bark and make terrible watch dogs. They will howl on occasion but rarely bark. Of course these are generalizations and vary from dog to dog.

My cat keeps attacking him and we want him to bark and learn how to bite but he just runs away... help?

A:

Sounds like he's afraid of the cat and you don't really want him to bite. You need help from a dog trainer who can help them get along, maybe a animal psychologist. But you should know that the cats are the bosses in any home they are in. They always boss the dogs, it's in their nature. I've seen Cesar Milan, the dog whisperer, do it but it's not something you should try on your own.