Quill’s Awesome Mix: Decoding My Dog’s Vocalizations

Peter Quill had his Awesome Mix—a cassette filled with memories, grief, and joy. My Quill has his own version: a vocal playlist of sneezes, sighs, and guttural sounds that score our days together. He’s the most vocal Labrador Retriever I’ve ever known, and each sound he makes is a track on the album of our life. While Peter’s mix was a lifeline to his past, Quill’s is a living, breathing soundtrack to our present.

 

Labrador Retrievers are not traditionally a vocal breed, at least in my experience. Babe was so quiet that no one in my apartment building even knew I had a dog back in my rental days. One time, someone attempted to break into our apartment while we were home, and Babe didn’t make a sound. Jackson and Tinkerbell only barked occasionally while playing with each other. So when Quill arrived with his wide vocal range—part Labrador, part lounge singer—I knew I was in for something different.

 

Considering their role as hunting dogs, often sitting silently in a duck blind waiting for the moment to retrieve a bird, it makes sense that my Labs have mostly been quiet. In this article, let’s explore the meanings behind Quill’s various noises or, at least, what we believe they signify based on research and context.

Track 1: Hooked on Big Feelings

“I can’t stop this feeling deep inside of me,” goes the lyrics of the famous Hooked on a Feeling by Blue Swede, which you will find on the Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1. This is the same reason my own Quill makes what we have lovingly come to call his Quilly Noises. 

 

I wrote about these noises in my most recent article, Cosmic Timing: The Puppy We Almost Didn’t Get, but to elaborate, Quilly Noises are a blend of whining, moaning, and guttural sounds that Quill makes when he is excited to see someone. He typically makes these sounds first thing in the morning, when someone arrives home, or when he wakes up from a nap. Along with the sounds, he wriggles back and forth between our legs, often while holding a toy in his mouth. Interestingly, my husband noticed that if we take the toy away from him, he becomes silent—so we humorously call it his “Mute Button.”

 

Quill has been making these happy, excited noises since the very first time I met him. I later learned that his mother also makes these sounds, which makes them even more special. The only time he stopped making his Quilly Noises was when he was first diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, a condition that can affect a dog’s vocal cords. I was overjoyed when his Quilly Noises returned.

Track 2: O-o-h Sneeze

It took us some time to realize that Quill’s frequent sneezing was not a typical sneeze. Instead, he makes small, repeated sneezes that sound more like a noise than an actual sneeze. It resembles a dog pretending to sneeze. This usually occurs when we humans are laughing or talking loudly, and he becomes excited, as if he wants to join in on the fun.

 

I’ve come across various resources about this type of sneezing in dogs. Some sources suggest that this behavior is a way for dogs to communicate that they are friendly and playful, which aligns with the context in which Quill sneezes. Other sources indicate that it can serve as a calming mechanism when dogs feel stressed; however, since Quill is quite relaxed at home, I believe his sneezes are a sign of excitement and his desire to engage with whatever we are doing.

Track 3: Ain’t No Marking High Enough

Quill started exhibiting unusual behavior after we began going on regular walks following Tink’s passing. He emits a sound that I initially thought was a growl while using the scent pads on his paws to mark his territory. At first, I assumed he was growling at someone or something, whether a person or a squirrel. However, I soon realized he displayed this behavior in the exact same spot every single day, and there was never anyone around.

 

After some research, I came across a blogger who refers to this behavior as “audible marking.” He describes it as “a dog adding a vocal element to its marking behavior. It’s a sort of deep, grumbling sound that is similar to a growl, but with less menace. It accompanies a dog’s urine marking or ground scratching.”

 

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find many other resources about this behavior. Some other pet owners on sites like Reddit and Quora theorize that their dogs do this to help mark their territory, much like staking a claim to land with a rallying cry.

 

Based on Quill’s demeanor when he performs this behavior and the intensity with which he marks every tree, fire hydrant, and light post, it seems he is either sending a message to anyone nearby or releasing excess energy from being out in the world.

Track 4: Spirit (And Birds) in the Sky

Barking at birds, bunnies, and squirrels is a common behavior among dogs. Many dogs are easily excited by small animals, barking at every leaf that blows in the wind and every person who walks past their home. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a dog that barked at things outside, so I’m startled every time Quill lets out a loud, menacing bark at something in our yard.

 

One of Quill’s favorite ways to entertain himself is to sit or stand by the window and watch the small animals outside. His barks are often accompanied by him pushing the blinds aside with his head and lunging at the window. If I’m not paying attention—because I’m focused on work or reading—he tends to make me jump each and every time.

Track 5: Escape (The Morning Walk Song)

Quill has developed a new vocal quirk: he cries when it’s time for our morning walk. After nearly two months of establishing this daily routine, he has become accustomed to our schedule and now expects to go for a walk at the same time every morning. Whether it’s due to his internal clock or because he has learned the habits I display before our walks, he now sits and makes sad puppy cries until we head out.

Bonus Track: Moonage Barkdream

My late dog Jackson was the most vivid dreamer among all my dogs. He would bark, howl, and make cute little yelping noises in his sleep, and Quill does the exact same thing. I often wake up in the middle of the night to his sleepy little yelps and vocalizations, and I always wonder what he might be dreaming about.

 

Do their dreams make sense, composed of experiences they’ve had in real life? Or are their dreams as peculiar as ours can be, like dreaming of a giant squirrel wearing my clothes and feeding him his Puppy Supper?

 

Experts may say that their brains don’t work the same way ours do, but it’s fun to think about what they might be dreaming about when their paws start twitching and their lips are moving, accompanied by loud yelps and squeals that they don’t make while awake.

 

The takeaway from all of Quill’s noises is that dogs are constantly communicating with us, whether we are fluent in their language or just catching the highlights. They express themselves through their posture, movements, and sounds—a full-body conversation if we take the time to pay attention. 

 

Quill, in particular, is the most vocal dog I’ve ever known, even out-chatting our famously loud Basset Hound, Maggie. His Awesome Mix is more than just noise; it’s his personal soundtrack of joy, opinion, and connection. I wouldn’t want to mute a single track.

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Quill’s Audible Marking

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Quilly Noises and one lone sneeze

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