How old is Moose? My Gargamel didn't bark til he was about 8 months and never for play or fun, just when nervous. Mel is scared of balloons. I was a kids Birthday party and all the kids had balloons tied around his wrists, jeesh I almost freaked when he started barking at every kid who approached. One didn't have a balloon and Mel was all wags and sniffing, I figured it out, hightailed it out of there and apologized to him the whole ride home lol. Now at 2 years he barks maybe if the curtain moves funny, at balloons ( god forbid there are open houses with them flying all around on walks, he needs to cross the street to get away from those evil things!!) and Kites or if there are noises outside out house. And then night only, daytime he isn't as nervous about it. But yeah, I think its normal. I think Gargamel being scared of balloons on the other hand is NOT hahaha