Learning to howl!

J

j-hawk

Forums Regular
Help!! I have the least vocal sheltie that I have ever met! He is my second sheltie. My first one loved to sing (howl) all the time - whenever we would sing, whistle, ask him to howl, etc. This guy has no interest in barking or howling. I have taught him to speak, but no luck on the howling. Any suggestions?
 
Ah yes, the singing sheltie. In my experience they either do, or they do not sing. My first sheltie Indy was an incredible vocalist in his youth. Then after his terrible injury in 2000 he didn't make a sound for 4 or 6 months. I can't say that I was in love with his singing so much until AFTER he couldn't do it. I was actually happy when he starting singing again. When we got Emma, she would try to join him with her hoarse screechy howl and he shut her down. So she tap dances while Indy howls. More recently I have not heard him do any howling...he's losing his hearing.
 
Maybe its a matter of music selection. My Deska prefers to sing along to swing music - he isn't interested in singing for more modern music.
 
Spencer doesn't howl to music, but when I step into the shower, the melodious howl is heard thoughout the house until I step out of the shower.:razz:
 
That's so funny! My non-howler's name is Indy - short for Indigo (he is a bi-blue). My first sheltie, Sammie, was very vocal, but he also stopped howling when he started to loose his hearing. I really miss it!
 
isnt that a good thing that you have a non-barking sheltie?

i thought barking was one of the problems everyone tried to fix.
I wish i could get my older girl to stop barking:dead: its piercing to the ears
 
Barking (or talking) is one of my favorite sheltie traits! I was always trying to fix it on my Sammie, but now that he is gone and I have a silent sheltie, I cannot tell you how much I miss it!! I have taught him to speak on command, which he does reluctantly, and he has a beatiful deep pitched wooof - not a yip like Sammie. Howling is different, though, and I really love that. If no one is home except for Indy and me, he will howl with me a little bit. When the rest of the family is home, he is just too content.
 
I'm perfectly happy (and I'm sure my neighbours are too!) with limited howling and barking in my household. Indy will howl a little when the neighbour's dog comes out to play, and Bacca will join in a little to, just to show that he's a tuff guy too.
 
My last sheltie, Dorian, he howled. But I could not teach him to do it on command, and we tried. He'd howl when he wanted to come inside, or if we left him alone.
Now, Maia, she will howl when she wants to come inside. Chinook, not a peep out of him. So, I think it just depends on the sheltie?!
 
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