What do dog barks mean? Are they trying to communicate with us??

This is a question that I have wondered about for a very long time and I just now thought of doing a blog post on it. If your dog, like my dog seems to bark at every noise, even if it is just you tapping your pencil on the desk to focus, let me tell you... you are NOT alone!

Has your dog every tooted and then started barking and looking around for where the noise came from?? Yeah, if you have it is real funny to watch!!:D So, why do they do these crazy things?

If their barking at a sudden noise it is usually a sign that the dog thinks that there is danger coming and it wants you to go and check it out. If you yell at them for doing this it's not ever going to get better. In fact, it will just get worse. Why will it get worse? Because from the dogs point of view you are saying "I don't care just be quiet!". That is probably what you are thinking in your head too; am I right? Do you just want them to be quiet? Instead of telling them to be quiet approach the situation the way a pack leader would; put your hands on you hips look out the window and walk outside. When you come back make sure that you look like you aren't scared. When you walk in go back to what you were doing the second before. Act like nothing happen. This will make your dog think the same thing. It will get them to think that there is nothing to worry about. Don't pet the dog to comfort it. This will tell the dog that they get attention from barking which is SO wrong. 




There are usually about five different things that cause a dog to bark. Being bored, lonely, spoiled, confused, or fearful. For the different meanings there are different pitches. 


Low pitched barks or growls indicates threats and aggression. It's like they are saying "stay away from me or else!".

Why do dogs bark low when they are saying get away? This might be because big and strong things make low sounds. Of course a dog can't change his size by barking lower or higher in pitch. But they can appear larger if they aren't seen right? So, why the barks sound more threatening. Check out these videos and I think you'll get the idea. It is how we personally react to the noises, we can see the dog but our mind creates the size of the dog when we hear them:

High pitch sounds mean the opposite. They are asking for you to come closer and give them attention. Also, they are saying that it is safe to come near them. If you want to make another animal stay away from you, or to stay out of your territory, the dogs use a lower pitch, like a growl, it's like saying that you are larger and more dangerous so stay back. Or you could use a high pitched whimper to suggest that you are small, so they can safely come to you.

They might also be trying to tell you that they are lonely and that they want and need more attention. I've noticed with my dog Marty he whines high pitched and looks up at the ceiling when he needs to go to the bathroom or if he is hungry and really needs something to eat. So yes, they are try to communicate with you. They are trying to tell you the things that they need. 


Try to pay attention to what they do in the house. Or get you neighbor to keep an eye on your dog to see and know their behavior when you are gone. If they bark when ever they see someone and it's a high pitched bark, then they are most likely trying to tell someone that they want and need attention. 


Thanks everyone and good luck. Feel free to ask me questions about your dogs behavior and I will try to help you figure out what they need. 

Coco 

Here is my drawing of a dog: