Why isn't my Amstaff barking? Do I need to teach them how to bark?

Some dogs do not bark, they are quieter than others. You can try to train Pucci to bark on command. Check out this article below: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/teach-your-dog-to-speak-in-four-easy-steps/

Some dogs are quieter or more reserved than others. There's no way to "force" Junior to bark. You may be able to train him to bark. Get him excited enough to bark then reward him each time he "speaks". Be warned though, it is possible he may begin to bark too much once he "finds his voice".

Figure out what he gets out of barking and remove it. Don't give your dog the opportunity to continue the barking behavior. But don't ever shout at your dog to stop barking, because they see that as you 'barking' with them and it does little to discourage them. Ignore your dog's barking for as long as it takes him to stop. That means don't give him attention at all while he's barking. Your attention only rewards him for being noisy. Don't talk to, don't touch, or even look at him. When he finally quiets, even to take a breath, reward him with a treat. To be successful with this method, you must wait as long as it takes for him to stop barking. Yelling at him is the equivalent of barking with him. Teach your dog the ‘quiet’ command. Oddly, the first step is to teach your dog to bark on command. Give your dog the command to "speak," wait for him to bark two or three times, and then stick a tasty treat in front of his nose. When he stops barking to sniff the treat, praise him and give him the treat. Repeat until he starts barking as soon as you say "speak." Once your dog can reliably bark on command, teach him the "quiet" command. In a calm environment with no distractions, tell him to "speak." When he starts barking, say "quiet" and stick a treat in front of his nose. Praise him for being quiet and give him the treat. Make sure your dog is getting sufficient physical and mental exercise every day. A tired dog is a good dog and one who is less likely to bark from boredom or frustration. Depending on his breed, age, and health, your dog may require several long walks as well as a good game of chasing the ball and playing with some interactive toys.

Great question and kudos to you for doing your homework before adopting a new puppy! :-) Some of my favorite smaller dogs breeds that bark a bit less include a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Welsh terrier, or a miniature Australian Shepherd. Any dog will bark from time to time, but these breeds typically are quieter and have gentle temperaments. Another breed, a Shiba Inu, practically never barks but generally speaking, they tend not to be as agreeable. The AKC website has a tool that can help with "breed selection" based upon your lifestyle and needs, if you are exclusively looking for purebred dogs. Otherwise, there are plenty of rescues and shelters (even breed-specific rescues) that may be able to help you find a puppy if you are also open to mixed-breed dogs.

I would not be concerned by infrequent barking, and there is no disease that comes to mind that would cause a deeper bark. Sometimes a change in the sound of the bark can be related to certain diseases but if Bella’s bark has always been this way I wouldn’t worry.

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Labrador Retrievers are incredible dogs that sometimes love everybody. They do not always make the best watch dogs. But, he is still very young, & when he matures, he may become more protective of his home & bark more. Otherwise, remember, people can be very wary of large dogs, & this may be enough to keep people out. Take care.

Chihuahuas are, by nature, noisy little guys. It's likely that they evolved to become excessive barkers because their small size makes barking one of the few ways they can gain attention. For more facts and characteristics about Chihuahuas, visit PetCoach's breed page: www.petcoach.co/breed/chihuahua