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BARK ON

Lisa Vaught
Apr 19, 2015
3 min read

Hello!

Service dog are quiet when working. Barking, howling, or other various noises are a big no-no. It's as much a breach of protocol as being in a corporate meeting, busting out in a rendition of "MMMbop" by the Hanson brothers in a off-tune falsetto! As we've discussed before, every canine is different, just as each one of your kids is. Every service dog brings to his job his own unique personality, likes and dislikes. Each approaches the work from a different viewpoint to figure out problems and respond to needs. Each of my helpers has had completely a different personality however accomplished the same tasks with wonderful expertise.

Jet was exceptionally quiet. I never heard him whine, howl or yip. Ever. Of course once the vest and 'working clothes' were off and on home turf, things were different. Every dog considers his home and person his responsiblity and turf. The only time he ever barked was when the doorbell rang. He was convinced it was satanic. The bell would ring and he let loose like Cujo, scaring the UPS delivery guy half out of his shorts! Never mind that when the door opened he was all wags and smiles, cuddling and licking the UPS man~ and they had known each other years! We tried everything to figure out why the doorbell had this effect. Nothing worked. We disconnected it.

As discussed, Frax is totally Zen. The above picture is about as boisterous as he gets. He's nearly spooky quiet. Except. He talks. It started shortly after he came to live with us. We've decided that Frax is mimicking our speech patterns as best he can. He only 'talks' when he feels he has something vital to share, for instance: food, snacks, ball, Bill coming home, me entering or leaving the room, Bill entering or leaving the room, food, something very important requires our undivided attention, general group discussions, did I mention food?, and lastly people he thinks are 'fun' (he decides what constitutes a 'fun' individual.)

The speech pattern is like nothing I've ever heard. The nearest thing I can compare it to is human yodeling. I've named his speech 'yortle chortling' or 'yortle chortle woo'. He will take a gulp of air, and expel it sloooowly in a looong drawn out uulating yortle. It's tone is deep, masculine and mid-range. Exactly the volume of human casual conversation. The best is when he does a 'downward facing dog', takes a gulp of air and a yortle chortle woo emanates from deep within his long frame~ it's astounding in depth and length. Pasted across his doggie countenance during his commentary is a self-satisfied smirk.

He only decided to chat up a person one time while working. At the library. An elderly man who moved quicker than anyone old or young to avoid Frax, who I assume he thought would eat him! The fellow would have climbed the stacks if he could have, despite our attempts to reassure him Frax liked him and was trying to have a pleasant conversation! Frax stood next to me the entire time, a goofy grin plastered across his face, still doing his job. Obviously he thought the man might be 'fun' and wanted to share some insight with him. Frax and I had a discussion regarding 'no barking' zones while working. He never has spoken in public like that again, unless given a release command to 'visit' with someone.

Frax loves to be sung to as well. Just as your child would. Admit it. You sing silly songs to your dog as well! His favorite is of course the "Frax Song" sung to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It"

If you're happy and you know it wag your tail!

If you're happy and you know it the your tail will surely show it!

If you're happy and you know it wag your tail!

Additional verses may be added to the song, such as 'bark out loud', 'shake my hand' and 'roll around'. The 'pawsabilities 'are endless!

Strangely, during a routine hospital visit, a worker and I got into discussion, and no I have no idea how we wound up talking and later singing the Frax song! It did seem to make her happy, and it sure made Frax's day!

There. Now I've done it. Totally embarrassed myself! I can't think of a better way to do it, can you?