my cavalier puppy does not bark or make a sound

by renee zipprich
(chicago, illinois)

we bought our puppy from what was represented as a breeder from outside of St. Louis. she is allegedly 20 weeks old.

she came in on a plane, and for the first 2 days (we have only had her since friday) she was terrified, didn't eat or drink, and did not make a sound. she is now eating, drinking just a little, peeing outside, playful, snuggling, and seemingly happy. but we have not heard her make a sound.

she does not bark, even at night, and we are worried that there may have been some abuse associated with her barking (and therefore she is afraid).

is this a common phenomenon?





Hi Renee
Leaving their momma and littermates and then traveling to a new home (especially on a plane) is very traumatic for young puppies and it's not at all unusual for them to be quiet and withdrawn for the first few days.

Some may seem to sleep all the time, lose their appetite refuse to eliminate and seem sad. Again this is usually normal and nothing to worry about, and I'd recommend that you check out my Bringing Home A New Puppy page to learn more about what to expect during the first week or so with a new pup.

If this quiet behavior is also accompanied by other signs of illness such as vomiting, diarrhea, discharge from the eyes/nose and so on, then there may be a health issue involved though and it's important to get the pup examined by a veterinarian.

As for your little girl not barking, again I doubt this is anything that you need to be seriously concerned about. Some puppies, and dogs, are simply quieter than others and as your puppy has obviously found all the changes a bit stressful she is likely still adjusting to her new home.

Puppies don't necessarily bark a lot, but I expect that once she feels more secure and confident you will hear her start to find her voice. If she seems healthy apart from this quiet behavior I doubt that you have reason to think that there's been any abuse, it's more likely she's just taking the time she needs to feel comfortable.

However, if you're at all concerned about her health, discuss it with your veterinarian. It's also good practice to have a new puppy examined by your own vet asap so that you can make sure that she's healthy and up to date with her puppy shots and deworming treatments.

Hope this helps and puts your mind at rest. Good luck with your puppy.