What Can You Learn About a Dog From its Bark?

Many people are upset that their pets bark because that deafening noise does not allow them to sleep, listen to the television or converse with others. However, we must pay close attention to a dog’s bark, because it tells us a lot about the animal.

 

The dog feels stressed

It is obvious that dogs experience stress, just like people. When faced with certain situations, such as confinement, a car trip or lack of water, this can lead to the dog barking in despair. If any of the animal’s basic needs are not covered, he or she will choose to use their bark to warn you. This is comparable to a crying baby who is hungry or has a wet diaper.

 

They spend a lot of time alone

Certain breeds, like Cocker Spaniels, cannot stand loneliness.This is why, when their owners leave home, they bark and howl, demonstrating their sadness. You have to remember that dogs have herd tendencies in their genes. These dogs cannot be alone, because they experience fear or see danger where none exists.

This is similar to the previous situation, but instead of them becoming stressed due to being indoors for hours on end, it is because they are spending a lot of time outdoors on the patio, the terrace or on a balcony.

Lack of supervision, not seeing any people nearby, and wanting to confined run around in a confined space can all lead to barking.

They are scared

When dogs have no contact with other animals or with the outside world, every time they go outside, they feel threatened. They hear the noises from cars, bicycle wheels, and children running, or even from objects flying by in the wind. These things all scare them, and it is likely that when a dog is in this type of situation, it will resort to barking. This can also happen when the dog is in a space with other dogs (for example, in the park).

Playing, jumping and running are some of the best activities for dogs, especially during their first years of life. This is why they simply cannot contain how happy they feel. When they play with other animals, get a new toy, discover something new, do something that they enjoy or welcome their owners … this barking will be accompanied by energetic tail wagging and lots of jumping and/or kisses.

For example, if a cat appears on the roof or if you bring a new puppy home, your dog will probably bark to demonstrate that they own the territory and will not hesitate to guard it with their nails and fangs.

They are warning you

Many dogs bark when the doorbell rings or when they hear a knock on the door, because that is the mechanism they use to warn their owners that someone has arrived. However, keep in mind that if you cannot calm your dog down even after the visitor has entered the house, it may be because your dog does not trust them, is afraid of them or does not know them well enough.

Dogs also use their bark to warn owners that there is something they do not like near the house. This especially happens when there is a presence that it doesn’t relate as something known or good. If your dog barks excessively and nervously, take a look through the window to see what is going on.

The older an animal gets, the poorer its senses become, and this can lead to barking more than usual. With old age, they may lose either some or all of their visual or auditory abilities. This could cause the dog to bark more because they don´t understand what is happening around them.

They want your attention

Are you eating, taking care of your baby or watching TV, when suddenly your dog starts barking? It’s because they want food, your attention, wants you play with them, or wants you to takethem out on a walk! You will notice these situations, not only because of the dog’s insistence, but also because the dog’s tone becomes more acute than usual.