Barking

[pkhoury]

As a general rule, do GSD's tend to be vocal? Mine is very vocal when playing (grunts, groans, high pitched barking at times). I'm used to it, because my cat is also vocal.

I read somewhere that GSD's love car rides. Mine will sometimes bark at cars, mostly with a high pitched bark, and then low pitched when a car passes by us. And he loves barking at trains (on a leash of course), even when he's 500 feet or more away.

[KZoppa]

Yes GSDs are a vocal breed. HOWEVER, IMO they shouldnt bark unless necessary. Zena barked when it was needed. Riley barks at just about every little sound he hears which is annoying.

I would suggest you discourage the barking at cars and such.

[pkhoury]

Originally Posted by KZoppa

Yes GSDs are a vocal breed. HOWEVER, IMO they shouldnt bark unless necessary. Zena barked when it was needed. Riley barks at just about every little sound he hears which is annoying.

I would suggest you discourage the barking at cars and such.

I thought of discouraging it, but it makes him happy. He doesn't always start, unless I imitate the vocalizations he does, and then he'll get excited. At home, he only barks when is needed - alarm from other neighborhood dogs, which usually means wild animals in the back alley, suspicious people in the front, etc.

When in the water, he ALWAYS barks his high pitched bark - it's hard to get him out of the water at times.

[KZoppa]

well if you're okay with it and he's not bothersome to neighbors about barking, should be fine. I have one who barks too much. One who doesnt bark at all. and my Zena girl doesnty live here anymore for her health but she barked just enough lol.