My 6-month-old Labrador doesn't bark at strangers. Is this normal?

It's normal for puppies this age to be friendly and not bark - if she were barking at people at this young age, I would be very concerned that she would grow up to be fearful and anxious around strangers. She should start to alert bark when she's older, usually around 10-12 months of age.

Labrador Retrievers tend to be a mostly quiet breed, although they will bark when they are alarmed, or at unusual people or noises. For more facts and characteristics about Labradors, visit PetCoach's breed page: www.petcoach.co/breed/labrador-retriever

Hi there. If Browny isn't barking at anyone, this sounds like good news - most owners spend time trying to get their dogs to *stop* barking at people or other dogs. So congrats, and enjoy your pup. It doesn't sound like a problem at all :)

I would recommend discussing his behavior with a trainer. My concern is if he is already aggressive at 4 months of age it can just get worse. Working with a trainer now is very important. I would bring him to a veterinarian tomorrow to discuss this with them. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These types of behavior can improve though this does require in person training with the help of a qualified dog trainer. I would encourage you to contact a dog trainer that can work with you and Bailey in person to really take care of this behavior. The sooner these behaviors are dealt with, the more likely it is that you can improve and resolve them. Good luck and have a great day!

Lab puppies are very active and need lots of exercise and attention. I would train him to retrieve a ball and play with him a lot and walk him often so he’s tired. You can give him a chew toy when in the house or crate so he’s busy too which should decrease the barking. I have also used a Sonic Egg to decrease the barking. You can buy one at PetCo. It gives off a sound when they bark and that will help also. Remember he’s just a baby and this behavior should improve as he matures. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Scooby.

Temperament definitely has a strong genetic component, so if Kyra's mom was mellow, Kyra is more likely to be mellow. The dad's temperament also figures in as well. You're not going to get a complete look until she's closer to social maturity around 2 years of age. Being exposed to less people now may make her more suspicious of strangers in the future and she may bark more as he gets older, but it's hard to say. It might be worthwhile to explore finding a dog who's parents are more similar to what you're looking for.