Thursday, August 26, 2010

Barking Up the Wrong Tree?

Just like humans, dogs do talk but in a different language. Dogs express their thoughts and feelings through whining, whimpering, yelping, growling, snarling, howling and most commonly barking.

* Fun Fact: Puppies do not bark. They begin barking at about the age of 8 weeks old.

Here are examples of barks and what they may mean:

- Continuous and fast barking, at a medium pitch: Alert. Problems. Some is entering our territory.
- Continuous and slow barking, at a low pitch: The intruder or danger is close. Prepared to defend itself.
- Fast barking with pauses every 3 or 4: Warning of a problem approaching. Asking you to investigate.
- Long and drawn-out barks at a high pitch, with pauses between each one: I'm alone and need company.
- One or two short high pitched barks: The most normal greeting.
- One bark normal pitch: Curious, alert.
- Short back in a high pitch: Shows surprise. If it's repeated twice it means "Look at this!" If it's longer then it calling. Many dogs use this when they want to go out.
- Brief bark, at medium pitch: Happiness.
- Faltering bark at medium pitch: Asking to play.
- Howl or short bark at a high pitch: "Ouch!" Response to sudden pain.
- Repeated howls and regular intervals: Suffering from extreme pain or something that scares them.
- High pitch or urgent barks that sound desperate, without apparent reason: It is a way some dogs use to let out steam.

Fact: Some breeds, i.e. terrier group, are supreme barkers. Dachshunds and Chihuahuas are also known to be pretty vocal :)

I’m wondering today: How does your pet communicate wordlessly to you?

Alice England

Makingstuffwithlove.etsy.com

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Interesting post. Owning an Akita it really does not apply. they are not big barkers although they do make about 25 different sounds. I know the girl is playing when she moos. Sounds just like a cow.

Art and Sew Forth said...

I had no idea there were so many 'recognized' barks! Very cool! Do we have to take a test now with Sasha as the barker?

AngelPups said...

Well, if you've looked at my blog and have seen the "howling" video, you know my three can't pick one bark so they just mush them all together and leave me to figure out what they want!?! ;-) As far as talking goes...Moxie is The Penguin and does a very funny quack/cackle when she's riled up and Big Mac will carry on whole conversations with me in a Scooby Doo voice....it's pretty funny. This is a great post! I'm going to have to really pay attention to their barks now...
Great Job, Alice!

Giupetto and Gianna Tails said...

Believe it or not, I could actually visualize at least the first half of the barks described, and would have to agree that when they DO use those barks it is during those different times.
Mostly this all applies to Gianna as she is the barker, and she is a girl, and we all know girls like to talk. LOL
Giupetto does the play one though.
Great post Alice.

SassySashadoxie said...

Hello, Sasha said that was actually her squirrel detection bark. Kind of like sonar with bats, but she puts out a single burst bark that somehow lets her know if there is squirrels in the vacinity. Not sure that is covered in the doggy communication, but dachshunds are a bit different in the way they communicate. More vocal is just an understatement. You still have body language and of course the doxie mind control.

Unknown said...

my girls all bark out request and yes they are all different.
pinelopi is the one who communicates with us without words, no barking.
she squints her eyes and bats her long eye lashes, means i am so hungry for a goody!
she sits in my recliner up tall looking at me, means feed me, i don't care what just so it is not dog food!
when she lays down on the extra chair in the room between me and dad and repeatedly looks at dad, then me rolling her eyes back and forth and making sure she keeps them wide open, means "i am so bored, anyone want to do something? she knows by bys means jensons grove park/lake, she loves by bys and goes in the water up to her belly-only! lol

cute blog, now everyone knows who is my biggest baby! momma's girl

Unknown said...

I loved this post...would love to put it on my site...please contact me if that would be possible! I am visiting from the blog hop.

I have a Jack/Beagle mix who hardly ever barks, except when someone comes in the door. And then its not really barking...its high pitched whining....its like his own way of saying "Hi...where ya been for so long??"

Cody's Closet said...

Copper is my barker. I think because he was ignored for so many months before he came to live with me. Cody is a whiner. Don't really like either one - the whining or the barking - I love my boys!