To understand what your four-legged friend wants to communicate through barking, you need to observe the dog's behavior over a period of time and also know the reasons for this behavior.
The dog senses danger
A dog can sense an impending danger that threatens itself or its owner. Instincts kick in, and the dog begins barking loudly to ward off the threat, whether it's a human or an animal. Barking can indicate that someone has entered the yard or is trying to break into the apartment. Barking accompanied by a bared snarl also warns of an attack if the danger doesn't go away.
The media is replete with stories of pet dogs saving their owners by warning them of a fire or other threat. This happens very often, so don't underestimate or ignore such "messages."
Sometimes a dog is overly restless. Any rustling or noise outside the apartment door or on a walk triggers barking. In this case, the owner must determine whether the danger is significant or nonexistent, and whether the safety of the home and its inhabitants is threatened.
They communicate
Animals have their own language for communicating with each other, and dogs are no exception. They communicate using various vocalizations.
The most common sound used in communication is barking. Dogs display their behavior and "speak." Barking indicates aggression, alertness, or fear. In this case, barking indicates a negative attitude.
But barking can also indicate a dog's good mood. It can express joy and delight.
An animal barks when hunting or to attract attention. It also communicates its needs and "asks" for them to be met.
They greet you
When the owner returns home, the playful, bounding pet barks cheerfully, greeting them. It's believed that this is the dog's way of expressing its love and affection for its owners.
When a dog greets its owner with a bark, it means it wants to "tell" them something. But this isn't an expression of love. The pet is communicating that it's lonely, missing their owner, and regretting that its natural needs aren't being met. Meeting its owner is a release of pent-up energy, pent-up throughout the day. It's unfortunate, but animals aren't naturally inclined to show emotion the way humans do.
The dog is in pain.
Dogs don't get sick the same way people do. They have a fairly high pain threshold. They'll try their best to hide their discomfort because they're naturally wired not to show weakness.
But when a dog is in pain, it will bark more often than usual. It may also become angry and growl at the sore spot.
When sick, your pet may simply lie down and whine or sit and bark incessantly. And when you try to pick them up, they'll whine and squeal.
Some dogs, even when healthy, can make sounds that accompany their actions. A dog barks when happy or whines when begging for something. This is quite normal. But if a dog makes more sounds than usual and accompanies these sounds with unusual behavior, the owner should pay attention.
They are defending the territory.
Many people who live in private homes have dogs that protect the property from intruders. Constant barking and threatening humming are the best ways to scare off suspicious people.
All of the above reasons indicate that a dog will never bark without a reason. Therefore, before giving a command to stop barking, it's worth understanding the motives behind this behavior.
