Are Aussies very "vocal" dogs?

[kalija]

I am just wondering because we think Zuki is, for the most part, mixed with australian sheperd. If you've read any of my previous threads you know I have problems with him barking at everything/anything on walks. He is improving. But, I notice he is pretty vocal in general. He "talks" a lot. He barks when playing, running, his ball is stuck under the couch, he wants a pet, etc; he is pretty talkative. Dutchess is usually quiet, unless someone is at the door or something. She won't even bark to come in/go out. So I was just curious if this could be a breed trait possibly. Of course we have no clue what his other breed(s) may be so maybe the question is pointless!

[Spiritus]

Yes, they can be very vocal dogs. Aussies notice everything, and a lot announce the fact that they have noticed something. They bark when they herd, they bark when they do obedience, they bark when they play. Barky barky dogs - and talkative dogs. My daughter's Aussie will have conversations with her....

[Doglover1988]

One of the aussies on my flyball team is very vocal. She barks all the time. She barks when she plays she barks when she does flyball and she barks at her owner when she is exited.

[Agile PAWZ]

My aussie has an opinion about everything, about my handling on the agility course, the fact that we have a new puppy, that Im rubbing his ears just the right way, life in general. I love all his barks, grunts, groans, moans ect. Sometimes he talks just to talk wouldnt trade it for the world we have great conversations.

[sammy]

Usually with aussies they either are or they aren't.
Some of them "talk" as in make talking sounds, moan and groan etc Some can be reallly barky especially when they are hyped up ie bark all the way through an agility course etc
Mine's completely silent, doesn't even bark to come in or when people come to the door, the only thing she does that makes sound is shriek/scream briefly if she gets REALLY excited. There are a fair amount that are like her too.

[kalija]

Thanks! It is quite amusing, especially when I am rubbing his belly, he will grunt and groan. And if by chance his water bowl is empty - look out! He has an ear piercing yip for that one!

[Cherokee]

They probably tend more toward being vocal than some other breeds...but just like basically every breed of dog, with proper training it can be cut to a minimum.

[brandysmama]

Brandy must get her quietness from the collie side, then...lol...she hardly EVER barks, and we think she's part Aussie. When she does bark, you know you'd better go investigate.

[trainingrixie]

Trixie barks for 2 reasons...1-she wants to play or 2-someone's here. i really like the fact that she barks when someone is in theyard because we live in a pretty bad part of town and all my brother's stereo system in his truck just got stolen 3 weeks ago and roscoe never made a sound. they also got their bikes stolen back in march so hopefully if someone does try to rob the house/cars again trixie will wake us all up.

[Aussie_Dog]

Just listen to this video I took once of my cat. She was getting into trouble and whining, and since Jake knew she was being a BAD CAT, he was whining and moaning and making a fuss because, well, I guess because he understood something MUST be done, but he has no clue what.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IahReA3IuPM
Those weird noises ("Ahhhhh wahhhhh wahhhhneeeee") are coming from Jake. He makes us laugh like maniacs when he makes the weirdest (and sometimes scariest) sounds

[Odetoadream]

Most collies are notorious barkers, It's a breed trait so you got lucky, brandysmama! We warn people when they are looking into the breed, that they are barkers. And boy are they!

[cowdog]

my aussie is a mixed breed/ queensland heeler, she is not very vocal at all, in fact the only time I have ever heard her bark was when the doorbell rings, other than that she gives a little woof, when she is laying in my front yard, and a stranger walks by ( the protecting her territory woof) lol..

[RedPowerLady]

Wow your dog looks Just like Mine!
She is not vocal at all. Only at night when she sees something or if there is a stranger in the yard.
I take that back. She whines all the time. We can't seem to break her of it. She whines for what she needs like to go potty.

[aussielove]

My two aussies are not very vocal at all. Ace will bark when he feels a threat...people around the yard or other dogs, oh and the bears that come in our yard.. Dutchess will only bark when she is excited, mainly when she knows it's time to go for our walks or to the dog park.

[Lonewolfblue]

I have a Border Collie, and she is a barker big time. She lets me know when anything even comes close to the front fence. And if there's a truck parked on the street when we get up in the morning, she has to let me know it's there, lol. Anything changes, and she's vocal, lets me know.

My ACD on the other hand is pretty silent unless another dog is close enough where she becomes reactive.

And my new Sheltie, well, she also lets me know when there's something close to the fence. And she just barks to bark I think, lol.

I've seen many Aussies, and some bark and others are pretty quiet. All depends on the individual dog.