My Friendly Pets

All dogs bark. Some bark more than others and there have been many a neighborhood rift over barking dogs!!! So why do they make all that noise? To be honest, I truly missed hearing my dog bark after he was gone. I kind of expected it when people came to the house, as it was his way of greeting family or strangers. Some breeds are known for more barking than others, but an any rate, there is not a hard and fast rule about barkers because there are some breeds that are not known as barkers but have been heard lound and long by many.

So why do our dogs bark? They are communicating!!! With whom and about what is the question. There is what is commonly known as the territorial bark. This is the bark that lets others know there is someone near. The bark can either be a welcome territorial bark, meaing, “I know you’re here and come on in.” or it could be a warning territorial bark that says “Go away, or you might get hurt.” Many people are thankful for the dog who has the territorial bark as it alerts them to people near the home whether friend or foe.

There is also the play bark. This is usually a higher pitched bark from your dog saying, “Come on, lets go have some fun” or “Throw it again, throw it again, I’m having a really great time.” Once you know your dog well enough and you are playing, you’ll be able to tell the difference in all of their barks and the play bark is truly entertaining, as its almost like a little kid wishing for just a bit more time before bed!!!

Remember we said dogs bark to communicate. Its just stands to reason then that some of their barking may be aimed at getting attention or stating a request. Most of us are very happy when our pooch barks at the door to let us know they have to go out, avoiding any indoor accidents. However, the barking dog can get demanding. When your dog barks at his bowl to let you know they want food, you are now the one who is trained, not the dog.

As in any type of dog behavior, barking or not, can be trained and it is to the advantage of any dog owner (and their neighbors) that the barking habits of your canine be a major component of any dog training program.

For some great Spring thoughts and garden practices, check out fellow blogger, Susan Walsh and her blog, the Earthly Garden.