What is the dog barking about?

Attentive owners must have noticed that the barking of the same dog can be different depending on the situation. Some may even, having heard the barking of your dog, say what he wants and what he “talks about”. What does a dog bark about and how to learn to understand its barking? 

In the photo: the dog barks. Photo: pixabay.com

Norwegian trainer, expert cynologist Tyurid Rugos highlights 6 types of barking dogs:

1. Barking when excited. As a rule, barking when excited is high, sometimes a little hysterical and more or less continuous. Sometimes the dog barks in series, between which there are small pauses. In this case, the dog can also moan. The dog’s body language includes jumping, running back and forth, intense tail wagging, circling.
2. warning bark. This sound is used in a flock or in the presence of owners. Usually, to notify the approach of the enemy, the dog makes a short and sharp sound “Buff!” If the dog is not confident in himself, he tries to sneak away. But sometimes the dog stays behind to take over the protection of the rest of the pack.
3. A bark of fear. This bark is a series of very high-pitched sounds, somewhat reminiscent of a bark of excitement, but the body language indicates anxiety of the dog. The dog hides in a corner or rushes from side to side, sometimes begins to gnaw on various objects or bite itself.
4. Guard and defensive barking. This type of bark includes growling sounds. Such barking can be both low and short, and high (if, for example, the dog is afraid). As a rule, the dog lunges towards the object at which it barks, trying to drive it away.
5. Lay of loneliness and despair. This is a continuous series of sounds, sometimes replaced by a howl, and then again turning into a bark. This barking is often accompanied by stereotypy or compulsive behavior.
6. learned barking. In this case, the dog wants to get something from the owner, barks, then pauses and waits for a reaction. If he doesn’t get what he wants, he barks again and goes silent again to see what’s going on. In this case, the dog may look back at the owner to make sure that he has attracted his attention, or try to make contact with the owner in order to receive a reward.

In the photo: the dog barks. Photo: maxpixel.net

Barking is the dog’s attempt to communicate. And by learning to distinguish what your dog is barking about, you can better understand your four-legged friend.