Dog questions

[skhill]

Well, Stella's settling in well-- it's been a week and a half since she joined the household. She's feeling like she's at home it looks like, and all the cats are willing to be in the same room with her. The still don't approve, though!

Question 1: will she ever bark? She hasn't yet-- and apparantly didn't while she was at the humane society. I've heard her growl and groan, and she's done so little dream arfs while asleep, but no barking. She's definitely not deaf, so that's not it. I'd rather live with a quiet dog than a loud one, but this is extreme. Any thoughts?

Question2: will she play? She's polite and civil to other dogs, but when they offer to play with her, she's not interested. When I offer to play with her, she's not interested. She does want to play with the cats, but they are definitely not interested! And she does like to chase a tennis ball. But will she loosen up and have a good romp, or is that just not her thing?

Thanks, y'all

[Trek420]

Question2: will she play? She's polite and civil to other dogs, but when they offer to play with her, she's not interested. When I offer to play with her, she's not interested. She does want to play with the cats, but they are definitely not interested! And she does like to chase a tennis ball. But will she loosen up and have a good romp, or is that just not her thing?

Thanks, y'all

My shelter mutt did not play at first. She did some "zooms" in open space, learned to love and play with "her" cats but ignored toys. No telling what her puppyhood was like and the shelter itself is a stress But I still have and she loves that first squeeky hamburger toy. Just keep playing, trying new things.

Just as we love doing different sports you never know what your dog will love. If she likes the tennis ball will she like a chuck-it, like chasing it into water, is she a frisbee dog, will she play soccer with a large ball, does she like sliding down the kiddie slide (my mutt does)?

[Biciclista]

what is Stella's breeding? that is a lot of how to determine whether or not they will bark.
She doesn't have to bark right now. I bet if there was the right situation, she would.
and the cats don't have to approve... they just have to deal.

[Irulan]

I had a golden that was super mellow, and rarely barked. Sure I wished for more of a watchdog personality ( Golden? Not.) but otoh, having had to listen to waaay too many barkers, I'd say don't worry about it.

[NbyNW]

We had Gordy for 6 or 8 weeks before we ever heard him bark.

He will probably never be great at playing with other dogs. He prefers to play with us. He is well-socialized enough to be around other dogs, at the park or in day care. Otherwise for him it is usually enough to sniff a little and then move on if he decides there is no threat. If he feels like another dog is getting too much in his space, he will but them with his hip or warn them off, but he's really not one to initiate play.

We've talked about maybe getting a second dog when he is much older, but that is a few years away.

[spokewench]

I love, love, love dogs that don't bark. It is a problem you don't have to deal with so be happy about that.

She'll get used to all things and probably play more later, but she may not ever like to play with other dogs due to her upbringing. Who knows? But she has a lot of adjusting to do still.