My 6 month old GSD x loves talking, not barking but talking. I've heard it's a normal gsd thing, and it's quite amusing to listen to. I try not to encourage it, especially when she's doing it to demand attention, but is this something she'll grow out of or will she always be chatty?

I have 2 elkhounds that do it.One 'talks' when cuddled....it sounds like a growl but we call it doggy purring and the other talks when he wants something...usually food! He will sit infront of you ,look you in the eye and 'speak'...very cute
Archer

For what it's worth, all of my GSD's have "talked" to me, with the girls being more vocal than the boys ;)

It has never been a problem for me as it is something that I have accepted as part of the breed. It is only now, having another breed, I have realised just how vocal my Shepherds were. I still have a bitch and she is about 7 and still does it :) In my experience, they never grow out of it, they just learn to pipe down if desired.

At 6yo my boy is still very chatty LOL

I have to admit it doesn't really bother me, and it is quite endearing most of the time, especailly when she sounds like she's in pure ecstacy if you give her a cuddle/brush her.  I swear sometimes you can make out she's saying  'ma-ma'. She talks her head off to her 'brother', who mainly ignores her so she'll go and talk to her squeaky toys instead, who talk back to her at least :-D Her brother (shar pei) never utters a word, unless he sees a cat or horse (makes horrible squeaky 'bark') or someone comes up the driveway (makes the deepest bark, sounds like he should be about 6 times the size he is!).

:-)

Hi

My friend Kamille, has a GSD, Bella. Bella is now almost 20 months old, and she still talks....

Sounds like i'll just have to get some earplugs!  :-)  Is there a reason GSDs do this? Although it doesn't bother me, some visitors have come round and decided that she's obviously been mistreated as she shouldn't be making any noise when people are in the same room as her. I try to explain to them that it's because there are new people around that she's showing off/trying to get attention (which works with other people, who instantly react to her talking, even tho I ask them to ignore it!). I can assure you that her talking isn't a sign of mistreatment, and it is just the normal GSD type, but if I could give these 'know-it-alls' (who incidently have never owned dogs ) a solid reason as to why she does this then it might help to shut them up :-)

thanks

I wouldn't worry about what these people who have never owned/understood dogs think ;) you know that it is common with this breed and many other dogs too and that she is happy and thats all that matters :)

In my experience, they do it to get your attention. It's a kind of interaction. When a dog barks it's communicating with the world/owner/pack/etc. If my bitch feels that she is getting left out for any reason she gets louder. Albeit we don't encourage it, this is her way of saying "hey, I'm here, don't ignore me" or if I am stroking her, its, "this is good mum, don't stop, I'm in ecstasty" :D In fact she doesn't need a reason to do it :)

I've come up with a simple solution.. don't invite aforementioned people round again  :-)  Hee hee. I'm glad you all have reassured me that there is nothing wrong with her (i 'knew' it was normal, just good to be told it's normal!). She does it in a happy way, and it's not a constant whining for attention or anything like that. I think she just likes the sound of her own voice! She mainly just trots around cooing and gurgling at anything she can interact with (toys, dog, cat etc). If she's getting up to no good however (found a forgotten drink/bowl/box of quality street etc) then she suddenly goes quiet ---> alarm bells ring in my head!  :-D

On a completely different topic, when I got her at about 8 weeks she could walk underneath Dylan without thinking about it. Today I was in the living room and she was standing in front of me sort of across the doorway and Dylan walked under her!!!!   I hadn't really realised how quickly she's grown up til then!!  They don't stay little for long do they :rolleyes:

Elle

My GSD girl will be 3 years old in May and she can make a right old din with her talking. She'll put her two front paws round one of her cuddly gorillas and talk like mad then fall asleep with him in her mouth. The worst din is when she gets hold of a squeeky toy especially a chick in an eggshell. Although, she had a cuddly penguin at Christmas that played a Christmas song, she sings along to the tune. Don't have to worry about visitors though, most of my relations won't visit since I've had one of those "nasty dogs", although they've never met her, she would be really excited and pleased to show off in front of them. Wished I'd had one years ago (a nasty dog) a dog is alot more entertaining. She has the run of the bungalow and if she's in the hall making a din it's usually because she wants a "shower", which is a drink of water out of the shower head on the bath taps. Outside it's usually a drink from the hosepipe. Left a couple of sausages on the grill pan once, forgot she was taller than my Cavalier, went into the kitchen and no sausages. Looked everywhere for them, thought I was going even more senile, then it dawned on me what had happened. Sue x

i think GSDs are very "chatty!", sort of abit "moany" to my ears but maybe i only know ones with something to complain about! ;)
my little collie bitch nell is incredibly vocal,had to retire her from competition cos she sings when shes working!!!!

I have a dalmatian bitch who talks regularly to me, my dog doesn't but he is a bit uptight at the minute so hopefully when he becomes more relaxed he will. Casey usually does it if I tell her off for something as if she's answering back, She's done it a couple of times in the park to people that she knows will give her a treat, she sits infront of them and talks to them as if to say "Come on I know you have something"
She talks when I've been out and come back in, telling me off for leaving her.

I'm now on my second GSD bitch, and they have both been 'talkers'. I call it Shepherdspeak! In fact, if we're waiting in the vets waiting room, we can usually recognise when it is a shepherd in with the vet by the voice! The girl I have now is more talkative than my first. Her party trick is to howl when my husbands mobile phone rings. It always makes us laugh, and is very melodious! Getting another pup in April (hopefully) so will be even noisier.
Kat

your dog likes to talk how sweet some rotties do the rumble when being petted .my dog does the rumble sounds too even though shes only half shepard   i find it the way she communicates the fact that she wants to tell me how pleased she is with me. just dont give her attention on her terms but hopefully you wont say no to all talking cus it can be fun to teach her to talk on command  good luck nitody

Hee hee, it's funny to read all your stories too. I do like to have a good old chin wag with her and people think I'm totally mad, but there's something therapeutic about talking to a dog, especially when it talks back to you  (but not back AT you)  :-)

Elle

I have a GSD and a RC both girls and they love talking :) Anyone else have both breeds? I find my RC speaks more than my GSD and I have grown up with RC and each one I have know to be right little talkers.
My GSD also loves talking and arguing with her squeeky toys too... she has a pink squeeky ball that she carries everywhere and boy does she squeek that thing a lot hehe.
They also both know the time I am sure because every dinner time (2 a day) they go bonkers right b4, and they know what time my husband is due home from work too and I get the same nutty behavour... I love it :) and encourage it most of the time :D

My GSD Elsa (now in Rainbow Heaven) used to copy the children and when the ice cream man used to come round with his van playing chimes she would howl (use to sound like the hounds of the baskervilles) in anticipation of getting the last little bit of each childs ice cream cone. She continued doing this even though the children were grown up and flown the nest long ago. Brought a tear to my eye on remembering our lovely girl. 

I reckon my lurcher is part GSD. Reading this makes me believe it all the more!

I love talking back with Fred - it makes me laugh!!