People talk to their pets. It’s a funny fact that transcends both cultures and generations. Some of us use funny voices while addressing our pets, others ask general questions like “are you hungry”, or “what do you think” and others provide words of affirmations like “you’re such as good dog”, and “I love you so much”.  While many of us believe our conversations with our pets are one-sided, that’s simply untrue.     

How Canines Communicate

Dogs communicate with each other and us all day long. While dogs aren’t the chatty species that we humans are, dogs communicate through barking and body movements.  To the untrained eye, a dog’s body language is difficult to decipher because it changes with lightning quick speed.  To the untrained ear a dog’s barks all sound similarly.  However, by using your powers of observation its possible to learn a very valuable skill guaranteed to deepen the connection you have with your dog. 

Dog Body Language- What to Look For

The truth is dog body language is very nuanced.  There are subtle movements happening all over the dog’s body from the eyes, ears and mouth to the fur and the position of the tail. But what’s most important is the overall picture of the dog’s body.

When a dog is open to meeting, they will appear loose.  The dog’s body will be positioned forward. Their eyes will appear soft, the mouth is likely to be open. The tail is likely to move in wide motion, like windshield wipers.

A dog that isn’t interested in meeting will appear stiff.  The dog’s body will be positioned backwards. Their eyes will appear hard, even starring, and the mouth is likely to be tight or closed. The tail may be tucked, or it could be moving but ever so slowly.

Many people think that if a dog is wagging their tail, then the dog is friendly.  This is not always the case.  This common misconception about tail wagging is dangerous.

Remembering what a friendly dog’s body language looks like is easy; simply think about your own body, arms, and when you are open to meeting a new person versus your appearance when you are unsure. When we are open to meeting new people, we advance forward possibly extending a hand or leaning in for embrace, our arms drop to our sides, and we smile very wide.  In situations where we are unsure, we lean back, our arms fold and we may smile but only half-heartedly.  When we just focus on one body part, such as the smile we are unable to clearly access the situation.

Dog Barking- What Sounds to Listen For

The key to knowing what your dog is saying is listening because central to canine communication is barking. Barking is a natural form of communication and shouldn’t be dismissed as noise. 

We must learn to be empathic about a barking dog rather than feeling frustrated.

Turid Rugaas, Dog trainer and Behaviorist, Barking: The Sound of Language

The Sounds of Barking

1. Excitement barking is a high pitch consistent bark, that pet dog owners witnessed with activities the dog perceives as good or fun.  Dogs that bark excitedly are usually moving, wiggling with their whole body. This behavior is associated with acts like an owner returning home, guests visiting, going for a car ride, or seeing another dog. 

2. Warning barking indicates there is threat or danger coming. If it’s a safe situation, do your best to calm your dog. Show your dog you have control of the situation. First, place yourself between your dog and the sound they are orienting at, then show your dog the back of the hand, finally move your dog to safety so they can return to calm state.

3. Fear barking is rooted in panic and escape; its also associated with anxiety. To address fear-induced barking consult with a certified fear-free trainer. They can assist in creating a personalized training plan to help your dog cope with their anxiety.

4. Frustration barking is rooted in boredom and restlessness.  To ease frustration barking check out all of the enrichment ideas on our blog to keep your pooch mentally stimulated.

5. Learned barking, or demand barking, is where a dog continuously barks to get what they want. This is an attention seeking behavior which Easy to recognize from other types of barking because the dog will periodically stop to look around, then bark again.  Common examples of demand barking will include barking for at the dinner table or for scraps or barking at a guest until the dog receives pets.  The secret to solving learned barking is to not give into your pet’s demands; although for many, easier said than done.

How To Get Your Dog to Stop Barking

To decipher what your pet is saying, ask yourself what that barks sound like.  For example, does your dog sounds like they are happy, like they want something, or like yelling?  Surely if your beloved pet is scared you wouldn’t want to respond by yelling back; similarly if your pet is excited then wouldn’t you want to celebrate alongside in a happy dance.

The compassionate and best way to remediate a barking problem is to identify the root problem and eliminate it.  Using a bark collar is inhumane because it’s completely natural for a dog to communication their emotional state through barking.  The next time your dog barks, listen closely so you can provide an appropriate response for your beloved pet, deepening your understanding and bringing you both even closer.

Beyond Cartoons, Real Life Talking Dogs

Dog communication aside, we have imagined dogs talking just like us for decades. From crime stopper Scooby to wise-cracking Brian Griffin, these pop culture icons have a special place in our hearts.   And now, fantasy is quickly becoming reality as scientists are exploring how our non-verbal animals can express themselves in our language, through the “They Can Talk” program.

Using pre-recording buttons, dogs are being taught English so they can communicate freely.  The process is no different than training your dog to understand the meanings to common activities or things such as outside, ball or stuffed toy.  Bunny, The Talking Dog has millions of followers on social media with video demonstrating how she can string together words to let us know how she feels or what she wants to do. 

Canine Communication Unlocked

Whether you choose to use your powers of observation and listening to understand your dog’s natural forms of communication, or you jump at the task to teach your dog to talk through buttons, you have solutions to get more joy and less stress out of your dog relationship, resulting in a happier companion.

We hope this article has helped you better understand the ways in which your dog communicates with you and other dogs. If you still have questions about your dog’s communication style or want help decoding what your pup is saying, feel free to reach out to us. We love helping people learn more about their furry friends!

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