Dogs are experts at reading human body language, tone of voice, and even words. They’ve been evolutionarily primed to care about what their caretakers are doing, and so they notice! We humans, however, often fall short at reading our dogs’ signals and may look at that furry person who sleeps in our bed and steals our food and think, “What is going on in that big head?” Dog barks provide a valuable clue into what your dog is thinking and feeling, and if you learn to carefully listen, you’ll soon be well on your way to better communication with your dog. It’s important to pay attention to both the pitch and speed of your dogs’ barks in order to understand what she’s trying to tell you. Here’s an overview of dog barks and their meanings:
Consistent, Fast Barking at a Medium or Average Pitch
This is the bark you’re most likely to hear if your dog hears a strange noise at night. It’s a rallying bark, designed to gather the pack together. If your dog is barking like this, it’s a sure sign that he’s alert, thinks that something is amiss, and is seeking backup from you or the other dogs in your house.
Consistent, Slow Barking at a Low Pitch
This is the bark you may hear after the bark listed above. If the source of your dogs’ alarm continues to approach, the bark will change into a lower pitched bark. This is a warning to intruders that your dog is ready to stand her ground and defend her territory. It’s also an alert to her pack (you and the other dogs that live with you) that they should be ready to do the same.
Fast Barking With a Pause Every Few Barks
This is another alert bark, but is slightly more urgent. Your dog may be feeling hesitant about checking out that strange sound or strange person herself. She is asking you to do it for her.
With the three above-listed barks, one of the best things you can do to stop the barking is to investigate the source of your dogs’ alertness and anxiety. If your dog is barking at the door, look out the window. Acknowledge your dog’s barking, and even if you’re unsure of what exactly she is barking at, pretend to investigate the situation. If she sees that you’re handling it, she’ll feel less need to handle it herself and thus will be more likely to stop barking.
Rapid Barking that Starts Low And Gets Progressively Higher, Even Squeaky
The dog who is barking like this is overstimulated. She may have started barking at an intruder and gotten herself worked up into such a tizzy that she’s forgotten what she’s barking at. She may also be feeling anxious. In either situation, this is time for you to intervene. Give her a “time out” in a crate or in a quiet room so she can calm down, and make sure to investigate what she’s barking at!
Short, Irregular Barks at Normal Pitch
Your dog wants to play! Dogs often make this bark while performing a “play bow” or engaging in play with other dogs, and your dog is trying to get your attention to get you to join in the fun.
Random or Widely-Spaced Higher-Pitched Barks
Your dog is lonely and trying to get your attention. This is the bark you are most likely to hear if your dog has been left outside and is ready to come in, or if you’ve been hard at work and ignoring her all day!
Short, Isolated Bark at Medium Pitch
Your dog is feeling content. Sometimes dogs really do bark just to vocalize, and if your dog is feeling content and wants to share her feelings of happiness with you, you might hear this bark.
High Pitched, Rapid Fire Barks
These barks can be due to pain or loneliness. However, if you have no reason to believe your dog is unhappy, you may just have a dog who likes to bark. Some dogs bark like this to burn off energy and to get rid of anxiety.
Short Bark at Medium to High Pitch
This bark sounds more like a scream or yelp, and is a sure sign that your dog is in pain. If your dog continues to make this sound, it may begin to sound more like howling and means your dog urgently needs your help. If you cannot find the reason your dog is barking like this, it’s time to call the vet.
If you’re interested in learning more about dog communication and language, read my article on dog tail wagging:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article
/2733611/understanding_dog_language_
and_communication.html?cat=7
Source:
Experience
Patricia McConnell- Both Ends of the Leash DVD, The Other End of the Leash Book
Jean Donaldson-The Other End of the Leash Book
