Barking contagious or just in the breeding?

[Alice]

Agree! It's NOT inherited/in the breeding BUT temperament is! Certain dogs of certain temperaments are more prone to make a slight noise/bark/whine so it's up to the owner/handler to curb this or rather preventing this from happening. It's not always easy as it would require the handler to change routines. Yes, you can buy in a new pup from a different line BUT you'll end up with the same problem if this puppy has a similar temperament to your other dogs and you're not changing your routines - only if you get a dog/puppy in with a different temperament will it (perhaps) work.

Adjust your routines and training accordingly to your dog's temperament - don't expect it to be the other way around

Natasha

Is temperament not genetic?

yes, but I think Natasha ('Contender')'s point is that it's a bit simplistic to say 'certain lines squeak, certain lines don't, noise is inherited' but rather that handling a dog of a certain temprament in a certain way CAN increase the chance of a noise, so if your pups are temprementally similar and you're the same, you may end up with the same thing happening.

[chrisjd2]

I think there is many ways in which you can reduce the chances.

But I will be training them seperatley obviously so I don't think this will be too much of an issue.

[Rascal]

I can't help wondering if it isn't just plain frustration with the handler for this little dog.....The handler admits in other posts that rather than let the dog hunt the wind and get into her natural flowing pattern. He's by his own admission insisted on the dog hunting a tight windscreen wiper pattern and he's done that on scentless ground. Then in an effort to speed up her hunting he takes her from hunting scentless ground straight to a rabbit pen....Sensory overload?

There doesn't seem to be any process followed for the dog to gradually build up the bigger picture, well that's the way I'm reading it....

Rascal

[Stihl 090]

These can be managed by carefull handling/ training.
Main cause can be frustration, especially when hunting and a lack of game or scent.

As mentioned above in Rascals post and my quote, handling and training methods are essential in not ruining another dog.
Help should be sought sooner rather than later

[lee-kinsman]

I have , 2 springers and a cocker. They have bags of drive in everything they do but also remain quiet and calm whilst waiting. I think this is because I emphasize as more need for patience than anything else. For example, its not uncommon for us all to go out and just sit on a gate and do nothing. They never make a noise. Also in our neighbourhood there are at least 3 yapping/ barking dog houses two of which are next door but one both ways and my dogs never get involved with the vocals.
I think its training and breeding.

I also think that when out if a dog is permitted to engage in fun at anytime after it has yapped this will only ever reinforce yapping. All of mine have tried to yap at some point. I just don't let any of them out of the car, I park up stand around for 10 mins, maybe go for a walk myself get back in the car and go home. That has always worked for me.