Dogs bark. It's what
they do. But they make a wide range of other sounds.
Whining
The first form of vocalization is the whine. Puppies
whine to gain the attention of their mother. Adult dogs do this
insistent, rather nagging, high pitched sound to get your attention.
Whining can also indicate that the dog is nervous, frightened
or anxious.
Whimpering
When whining changs to the more pitiful sound of whimpering,
it can be the sign of more serious distress - dogs often whimper when
they are in pain. Otherwise, it could simply be the dog's way
of intensifying or heightening the plea of whining, particularly when
it is accompanied by pawing or nudgeing.
Yelping
A sudden yelp is a cry of pain. If you accidentally
step on a dogs paw or tail, he'll yelp to let you know that it hurts.
A simple 'sorry' and a pat on the head will reassure the dog that
you didn't mean any harm.
Growling
The growl is the dog's key warning sound. But it
is also an important part of the way puppies play. Play fighting
is how puppies test the waters, see how far they can go and how strong
they are, and growling often goes along with it. When older dogs
play with each other, they revert to this puppyish behaviour and may
growl at each other without intending to communicate aggression. When
your dog plays with you - he may also emit a wavering growl. It
is not meant in aggression, it's just part of the mock battle you are
playing.
When a growl is deep and sustained, it's a clear warning
to back off. This is the sign of impending aggression The dog
may feel threatened or under attack and is giving you or another dog
the chance to retreat and avoid further trouble before it's too late.
Snarling
When the warning given by the growl goes unheeded, the
vocalization escalates. The growl goes up a level in intensity and
vibrates a little, becoming less sustained. The lips are up
and the teeth are bared. Snarling indicates that aggressive action
is imminent.
Howling
Many people interpret the long mournful tone of the howl
as a sound of distress. While it's true that dogs will often
howl if left alone too long - 'where are you, my human pack'- howling
doesn't necessarily indicate unhappiness. The howl is the biggest
sound a dog can make and it carries over long distances. In the
wild, it is used to signal a dog's presence to others or to ward off
predators. Some dogs are more prone to howling than other breeds.
Dogs will also howl in response to the bark or howl of another dog.
And of course, we all know that some dogs like to howl along to the
piano, no matter how well you are playing. They also can howl at
the ring of the telephone if they consider you have taken too long in
answering it.
Groaning
Many dogs make a low, throaty, murmuring groan, moan or
growl when they are being stroked. This indicates bliss and
pleasure.
Barking
Barking is a really important part of dog communication.
Depending on the context, it has a variety of meanings. Barking
can be used to sound an alarm or warning; it can be a call for attention;
or it may be simply indicating that the dog is excited. Dogs
bark to signal their presence to other dogs that may not be able to see
them - that bad dog on the other side of the fence, for example. They
also bark in response to barking or to mark their territory. And,
of course, they bark when they are bored and isolated. While excessive
barking may indicate a problem, it is very important that dogs should
be able to bark from time to time. It's wrong to expect a dog to
spend his life in silence.
When they are very young, puppies do not bark. Timing
varies, but in most cases a puppy will have started to bark by the
age of two months. Some breeds also bark more than others. Maltese
dogs are pretty vocal and so are Shelties. Dachshunds are also
predisposed to bark, for good reason. They were originally
bred to go down holes after badgers and to bark when they found them
so that hunters could identify exactly where the badgers were (the
breed name means 'badger dog' in German).
