Most dog lovers will swear to the fact that they can communicate with their beloved pet. It is easy to see why, with the camaraderie, love and obedience that dogs and their humans enjoy. Therefore, it is the responsibility of every dog owner to learn the way their dog communicates, and how to understand not only their vocalizations, but their behaviors. What is your dog trying to tell you? Here are some tips on figuring it out.
Your dog is speaking to you every day, they just speak a different language. A dog’s vocalizations can mean different things at different times, and they utilize frequency, pitch and duration to differentiate their message.
Barking: Of course, the most common and identifiable dog communication is barking. Because of its everyday application, barking can indicate a wide range of emotions ad reactions. Barking can mean that you dog is happy to see you, or they may be trying to alert you of danger. They may bark when a visitor approaches the front door, or when they are afraid of the vacuum cleaner. At its root instinctually, a dog’s barking is meant to “Alert the pack of a situation. Therefore barking is highly contextual, and you will have to be aware of what else is happening to determine the basis for the behavior. Still, just like a baby’s cry, most pet owners can quickly learn to identify the type of bark they are hearing, and understand what the dog is trying to communicate.
Howling: Sometimes, a dog communicates through howling. While he may howl for many reasons, a dog not prone to howling may be in distress when exhibiting this behavior. Separation anxiety, sickness and depression in canines is often announced with howls. However, if you determine that none of these are the basis for this behavior, your dog may simply be an attention hound (pardon the pun). If your dog just makes noise for the sake of getting your attention, you can ignore them until they stop, and reward them when they do – but also, you may assess your daily routine to determine if your dog feels neglected because he is not getting enough play time, exercise, or interaction.
Growling: Oddly enough, growling is a sign of two possible emotions – playfulness, and aggressiveness. You will need to read your dog’s body language and learn their demeanor. Often, when a dog growls they are warning you (or another human or animal) to stay away; and other times, they growl when playing. If your dog “freezes” or stares while growling, they are likely reacting to their perception of the threat; while a relaxed body and tail indicate they are just playing. Before bringing your dog to a dog park, be confident in your ability to interpret their behavior.
Whining or Yelping: The most common reason for a dog whining is that they have to go outside to go to the bathroom, or they want a snack or treat. In some cases, whining may indicate separation anxiety of sickness; so if the first two reasons don’t make sense, you may want to investigate further. Yelping is most often a sign of your dog being in pain. While an isolated yelp may be a reaction – such as if their leash pinches them, or you accidentally step on their paw – consistent yelping may indicate chronic pain and should immediately be checked by a vet.
Your dog communicates with you every day. If you are having difficulty with a specific behavior, such as excessive barking or howling and would like to enlist some help, call Gulf Coast K9 Dog Trainers. We are here to help you to learn how to have a happy and harmonious relationship with your dog.
