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Why is my dog barking?

 If your dog has a barking problem, this can be a nuisance for both your own family and your neighbours. You love them and give them everything they need, right? So why can’t they just be quiet? Generally, if a dog is barking there’s a reason why. And it’s important to identify the underlying causes, so that you can then take appropriate action to fix the issue quickly. Why do dogs bark? Barking is a very normal behaviour for dogs – after all, they can’t speak to us, so this is how they communicate. Dogs may bark when calling out to other dogs, expressing emotion, being territorial or when trying to grab their owner’s attention. Any noise, no matter how slight, can stimulate a barking response – for example rustling leaves, a banging window, lightning or thunder, or a ring of the doorbell. Dogs also bark because of behavioural issues. For example, a dog may bark out of fear, boredom, or when they’re anxious to be left alone. Again, barking is a normal behaviour and is simply our do...
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Barking dogs - what can I do?

 Dogs bark for many different reasons. A dog may bark to express how they're feeling - for example, when they're excited, frustrated, bored or scared. If a dog feels threatened, they may bark to tell somebody to stay away or to leave. Other times, dogs may bark because they want something in particular, such as their favourite toy. Dogs may also bark when they're in distress - for example - when they're left alone. Barking is a form of communication and is a completely normal dog behaviour. However, if the amount your dog barks increases or becomes excessive, it can be a sign that something isn't right and it may also cause problems for other people. If this happens, it's important to address any underlying problems which could be causing your dog to bark more. My dog has started barking a lot more than usual If your dog is barking excessively or more than usual, there may be an underlying health issue - for example, any problems with your dog's hearing co...
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“Dog speak”: Understanding the meaning of dog barks

 When it comes to the meaning of dog barks, they have many connotations. However, understanding what a dog bark is telling you could get you out of a potentially risky situation. And that’s got to be a good thing, right?! Typically, the meaning of dog barks centres on three key factors: pitch, duration, and frequency. Of course, translating the meaning of dog barks also means understanding what associated whines, growls and grunts mean. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the three main elements of dog speak. Decoding the meaning of dog barks: 3 main factors Discovering the meaning of dog barks starts with recognising the various types of barks. In doing this you will be much better equipped to understand what your furry friend is saying to you. Here are three principal elements to listen for. 1. Pitch A low pitch sound, for example, a growl, suggests the dog feels threatened. It also indicates the potential for aggression. Typically, the dog is saying, “Stay back” or “...
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Types of Dog Barks and What They Mean

 Dogs are truly man’s best friend. They always have our back, no matter what. Not only are they loyal, but they are loving, and great best friends for our kids. We just wish we could know what is on their minds. How awesome would it be to get home from work, and be able to have a conversation with your furry friend about your day as well as their day? Believe it or not, you can interpret quite a lot about what they are saying through the types of dog barks you’re hearing. Your chats may not be long, but you can understand what barks mean to determine whether your dog is happy, sad, or something else entirely. Types of Barks: A Dog’s Communication System According to Psychology Today, interpreting a dog’s bark , moan, or howl breaks down into three fundamental aspects: the pitch, frequency, and duration. Before we get into the meaning of their sounds, let’s first understand how to interpret these three aspects of their communication. What Does the Pitch Mean? Just like we have tone...
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Understanding Barking In Dogs: Cause and Creative and Humane Treatment

 Communication involving ritualized displays or graded signals is used to confirm or reject information received from others. Contexts in which this occurs varies considerably: general social interactions, indications for species, sex, and sexual receptivity, situations pertaining to relative social status, negotiation of social interactions et cetera. Communication can be instantaneous as is the case with tactile behaviors and visual displays. These behaviors are also relatively "short-distance" signals. Vocal communication is instantaneous, but may reach over longer distances. Olfactory and pheromonal signals provide information that can be assessed over distances and across time. Dogs use all of these modalities, and we can best understand what the dog is telling us when we have sets of information that are congruent (e.g., the vocal signal matches the physical behavior). Extremely important signals are always redundant, so that more than one modality is involved in the si...
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Dog Barks Decoded: The Meaning of the Sounds Dogs Make

 Dogs are members of the canidae family, which also includes wolves, coyotes, foxes, jackals and hyenas. Just as their wild counterparts, dogs communicate with other animals and with us through the sounds they make.  Most dogs have a variety of vocalizations that are associated with what they want and how they are feeling – from happy to fearful, content or excited, annoyed or agitated. The meaning of a dog’s sounds are varied and sometimes curious. The team at Lone Tree Veterinary Medical Center is here to decipher some of these barks , growls, mumbles, and yips into a discernible dictionary for us humans. Dogs Make An Assortment of Sounds Far from the standard “ruff, ruff”, dogs sound off in a variety of ways. Each of these sounds correspond to something your dog is communicating. Let’s explore some of these familiar canine calls.     Barking – A dog may bark as a warning, an invitation, a call of distress, or just because it’s happy. There are many reasons for th...
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Why Do Dogs Bark?

 Recent research shows that the domesticating of dogs began between 20,000-40,000 years ago. In that period of time, dogs have learned how to understand large vocabularies, compound sentences, and upwards of 1,000 words if trained properly.   Like us, dogs use verbal and nonverbal cues to communicate. For dogs, barking is a completely normal behavior—it’s one of the most effective ways dogs know how to communicate with their owners.  They use barking to communicate a variety of feelings, so in order to fully understand what a dog is communicating, pet parents need to contextualize a dog’s verbal cues within their nonverbal cues (dog body language). 7 Reasons Why Dogs Bark To help you understand what your dog may be trying to say , here’s a breakdown of the most common reasons dogs bark. Excitement Barks Does your dog bark when you come home, or start barking when they hear the familiar sound of you getting their leash? Well, those are barks of excitement.  In f...
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