Your dog is minding his own business, lounging in the grass in the backyard, when suddenly, he’s a possessed creature, staring into the distance or barking and bouncing around the yard. He’s heard the call of the wild. Or more specifically, another dog barking.
The video by Buzzfeed perfectly captured that instant dogs hear another dog’s bark, slowed it down to a snail's speed, and turned it into a montage of delightfulness.
So why do dogs bark at one another? As we answered on our sister site, WOOFipedia, in this article, they’re simply communicating. By watching your dog’s body language, you can read between the lines of “bark” and “woof” to get a better idea of what message he’s trying to convey.
For instance, a dog barking in his yard with high, pricked ears, a tense body, and eyes focused straight ahead may be indicating to whomever is approaching that this is his territory. A dog frantically barking and jumping around may be fearful of what he hears and trying (poorly) to assert dominance.
Wondering what to do if your dog’s barking becomes bothersome? Get some tips from Mary Burch, the director of AKC’s Canine Good Citizen program, here.
Canine Body Language- your dog is trying to tell you something
Dogs communicate their wants, needs, happiness and fear primarily through body language. Are you ready to learn what your dog is trying to tell you? Download this e-book to learn more.