My dog makes a very similar greeting noise, but hers is only done with something in her mouth.
My first dog had a very unique greeting noise. She made a chuffing sound. I’ve never had a dog make that sort of noise.
Another old stand-by for retrievers is the moan-yodel. My golden boxer made that very noise whenever her people returned. If you want to hear a dog making this noise while being told a bedtime story, check out this program about the Canadian author Farley Mowat. (That dog is a St. John’s water dog, not a Labrador. You can find out more about that particular dog here and here.)
I have always found canine greeting noises a source of amusement. I’ve never met two dogs with the exact same greeting noise. And not all dogs have them. Most Jack Russells I’ve know don’t have greeting noises, but nearly all retrievers, boxers, and Nordic breeds have them.
My Jack Russell has a greeting noise… it’s called “bark as loud as you can while running laps around the couch.” :)
Luckily he is pretty quiet for a Jack an only barks through one lap, the rest he runs silently!
I just had a Flattie make a huge “Arooo” — much louder than this — to me last week. Totally surprised his owner (he doesn’t usually get that excited over people). He was a rescued Flattie who had lost his tail. The owner couldn’t believe I knew he was a Flattie!
My first 2 Goldens purred. My current Golden makes ‘piggy’ grunts. :)