A PARTICULAR BARK

Question
MR. TURNER,

I AM CURIOUS ABOUT THE BARKING HABIT OF ONE OF MY DOGS,SOPHIE.  SHE IS A TERRIER MIX PICKED UP OFF OF THE STREET AS A PUPPY SO I HAVE NO DEFINITE IDEA OF WHAT HER BREED MAKEUP IS.  ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO I TOOK ALL FOUR OF MY DOGS WITH ME TO THE MOUNTAINS FOR A VACATION. DURING THE 5TH DAY MY OLDER GERMAN SHEPHERD WANDERED OFF AND AFTER 6 HOURS OF SEARCHING I STILL HAD NOT FOUND HIM. I STARTED TO TAKE THE REST OF THE DOGS INTO THE CABIN BECAUSE IT WAS PITCH DARK , BUT, MY LITTLE TERRIER MIX REFUSED AND SAT ON THE BOTTOM STEP OF THE BUILDING'S STAIRS WHERE SHE BEGAN TO GIVE OUT A SINGLE BARK EVERY 30 SECONDS OR SO.  WELL, AFTER 15 MINUTES WE COULD HEAR THE OLD BOY HOWLING IN THE DISTANCE AND EVENTUALLY HE MADE IT BACK TO CAMP.  NOW SOPHIE WILL REPEAT THAT PERFORMANCE ONCE A WEEK OR SO AND MY JACK RUSSELS ARE STARTING TO IMITATE HER.  YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT 8 MONTHS AGO THAT I WAS MARRIED, MOVED TO SOUTH TEXAS, THE DOGS STAY OUTSIDE AT NIGHT NOW AND THAT THE GERMAN SHEPHERD PASSED AWAY ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER I GOT HERE.  OH, THIS ONLY HAPPENS AT NIGHT AND SHE WILL BE QUIET IMMEDIATELY AFTER WE TELL HER TO STOP.  WHAT IS SHE DOING?

Answer
Dear Terry,
Thanks for the questions and interesting story. Honestly I have no clue! :)

I wonder if she knows the GSD is gone? Were they the best of mates? Did her behavior change after the passing of the GSD? Is she calling the GSD? Sorry I can only speculate.

AT