As a nation of animal lovers, many of us try to communicate with our pets. However, most of us don’t have the abilities of Dr. Doolittle, so we resort to making noises that we hope our furry friends will understand.
Many cat lovers not only talk to their cats in human language but also meow at them, hoping that their felines understand. Similarly, many dog owners bark at their dogs in various tones, hoping their dogs will understand. So, what does your dog think when you bark at him?
Signs Your Dog Understands Your Bark
It’s important to note that there is no official dog language. When dogs communicate with each other, it’s through body language and tone. So, when dogs bark at each other, they pay attention to the type and tone of the bark.
Certain barks are aggressive, others are inquisitive, and some indicate fear. Therefore, your dog may not understand the words you’re saying (since there’s no specific bark for specific words and phrases), but he may recognize the tone you use when you bark at him.
If you bark at your dog and he growls or backs away, it’s likely that you used an aggressive tone. On the other hand, if your dog wags his tail and comes toward you, it indicates that you used a pleasant tone when barking.
Sometimes, your dog may be confused by your barking and just sit there with a confused expression. Observing these signs will give you an idea of the type of bark you used and how your dog perceived it.
Looking at your pet’s body language when you bark is a good indicator of whether he understood your bark tone and what he thinks you’re trying to say. If your dog becomes aggressive or puts his ears and tail down, it’s best to stop barking because he clearly doesn’t like the tone.
On the other hand, if he wags his tail, jumps up excitedly, and appears happy, it’s likely that he likes what you’re ‘barking’ to him. If he sits with his head to one side, you can try changing your tone because he may be confused by the fact that his human is barking without reason!
There are other signs you can look out for to determine if your dog understands the tone of your bark. However, it’s important to understand that your dog cannot translate your bark into actual words. So, barking at him to tell him his dinner is ready won’t mean anything to him.
Some signs that indicate your dog understands the tone of the bark include attentiveness, sitting down, alertness, ears and tail down, ears alert and tail wagging, growling, barking back, and excitement.
Body Language
Here are some signs that your dog is reacting to your barking:
– Growling
– Alertness
– Barking
– Head tilting
– Wagging tail
– Ears dropping
– Ears raising
Other Signs
These are a few more signs that indicate your dog is responding to your barking:
– Being attentive
– Tail down
– Flat ears
– Excitement
History of Dog Barking
Over the years, experts have studied dog barking. While domestic dogs bark frequently, their wild counterparts do not. Some believe that the high level of interaction with humans among domesticated dogs has led to this frequent barking.
Dogs bark to communicate with each other and with their owners. While we may not know exactly what the dog is saying, we can often understand what the dog wants or how he feels based on the tone of the bark. Studies have found that the tone of dog barks closely resemble each other based on the type of bark. For example, the tone of aggressive barking is similar between different dogs, as is the tone of playful barking.
This means that when we try to bark at our confused dogs, we need to keep these historical investigations in mind. This allows us to emulate the right type of bark instead of giving off the wrong signals to our pets by using an inappropriate bark tone. We may unknowingly show signs of aggression in our bark when it wasn’t our intention to do so.
The Science of Dog Tones
When it comes to the science of dog barking, it’s all about the tone, as researchers have discovered over the years.
Dogs use different pitches and tones when they bark. The tone of your dog’s bark when he sees a stranger coming up the driveway is different from the tone of his bark when you come through the front door.
The first bark may indicate protectiveness and signs of aggression, while the latter is more about excitement and happiness at your return. High-pitched barking often indicates excitement, while deep barking accompanied by growling can be more menacing.
Training Yourself and Your Dog
If you want to train yourself to bark in the right tones and train your dog to recognize the message you’re trying to convey, you’ll need to practice. Spend time listening to your own dog and the tone of his bark in different situations.
If you know your dog is being playful or excited about going for a walk, listen to the tone of his bark. If he feels threatened, aggressive, or fearful, listen to the changes in the tone of his bark. Compare his bark tone when he’s wary of strangers to the tone when he’s around someone he knows and likes. This will give you a better idea of the tone you should use when barking at your dog.
Practice different tones on your own dog and observe his reactions. With practice and time, you’ll learn which bark tones are positive and which ones are negative. This will make it easier for you to communicate the right message to your dog through barking instead of doing it randomly and hoping for the best.
When it comes to barking, both you and your pet need to be involved in the training. You need to learn about different bark tones and how to emulate them effectively, while your dog needs to listen to your barks and react to them.
“Barking at your dog may not make him understand your words, but he can certainly pick up on the tone you use.”
Tips & Things to Know
1️⃣ Dogs understand the tone of your bark, not the actual words. Pay attention to your dog’s body language and reactions to determine if they perceive your bark as aggressive, pleasant, or confusing.
2️⃣ Different bark tones indicate different emotions or intentions. Aggressive barks may cause your dog to growl or back away, while pleasant barks may make them wag their tail and come towards you. Confusing barks may lead to your dog cocking their head and looking bemused.
3️⃣ Practice listening to your own dog’s bark tones in different situations to understand what they mean. Experiment with different tones when barking at your dog and observe their reactions. With practice, you can learn to convey the right message to your dog through barking.
Frequently Asked Questions, Answered ✅
1. How do dogs communicate with each other?
– Dogs communicate with each other through body language and tone.
2. Can dogs understand human language?
– No, dogs cannot understand human language, but they can recognize the tone that is used.
3. What are some signs that indicate a dog understands the tone of barking?
– Signs that indicate a dog understands the tone of barking include growling, wagging tail, and coming toward the person.
4. Why do domesticated dogs bark more frequently than wild dogs?
– It is believed that the high level of interaction with humans among domesticated dogs has resulted in their frequent barking.
5. How can owners train themselves and their dogs to communicate effectively through barking?
– Owners can practice listening to their own dog’s bark tone in different situations and try out different tones on their own dog to see how they react.
