Why do dogs bark? – Top 10 barks explained

Written by Colin Seal

05/09/2014 Dog Bark Collar, Barking Dog Collar

Find out what your dog's bark means.
We love our dogs, we love what they do and we love how special they are. Like with any relationship, communication is the key to understanding and loving them. You need to figure out and understand what your dog is trying to tell you and they do this with different types of barks.

Why do dogs bark?

Our dogs communicate by barking and if you’ve noticed, they are all different. Your dog’s bark is different for every situation. Your dog might be saying he’s hungry, excited, greeting his master or he’s simply bored. Sometimes it’ll mean they’re scared or confused. With time, and the will to understand your dog, you will be able to know what they are telling you and help them achieve what they want or need. Remember that there is always a reason why your dog barks so understand them and you will both have a good relationship.

Top 10 Barks and What They Mean

1. Rapid Succession, Continuous, Mid-Range Pitch – This usually means that your dog is calling for backup from the pack (His family). It means there is a problem or a stranger is trespassing.
2. Series of Screams – This means your dog is feeling pain or is afraid of something.
3. Short Single Bark, Low to Mid-Range Pitch – This is a strong bark that’s telling you to stop it as if your dog is annoyed or angry.
4. Stutter, Mid-Range Pitch – This is commonly from a playful dog asking you to play with him.
5. Single High Pitched Scream – When your dog feels an unexpected pain or shock.
6. Rapid Barking with Pause, Mid-Range Pitch – Similar to 1, but is more like telling you to go check on something that he suspects to be a problem.
7. Single Sharp Bark at Mid-Range Pitch – This is a sign of confusion as if your dog is saying “what’s this?” If he repeats the same bark several times, it’s telling you to check it out.
8. Long and Incessant Barking with Moderate to Long Intervals – This is a sad call asking for someone to be with him.
9. One or Two Sharp Barks – This is a greeting saying hello.
10. Rising Bark – This means that your dog is having fun.

Too Much Bark is Bad

Now that we’ve talked about the types of barks and what they mean, when do we draw the line for too much bark? If you’ve been listening to your dog, you’ll know when his barking has become a nuisance. When you think your dog just barks for no reason or barks at something irrational, this is when barking becomes a problem.

In Australia, you could be facing fines for your dog’s nuisance barking and a bad look from the neighbours or worse, you may have to give up your dog. Nobody wants this to happen to them and the only solution is to train your dog to cut down on nuisance barking.

Here at The Dog Line, we offer several types of dog barking solutions designed for all types of breeds with different personalities. We have the most common bark control collar that corrects your dog for barking by giving him a static stimulation. We also have products that correct your dog with citronella, vibration stimulation and ultrasonic sound. All of these products have been proven effective for a lot of people and have prevented dogs from being given away. Lastly, for those who aren't just ready for an investment yet, we have a Rent-Try-Buy program just for you.

With proper training and care for your dog, you will be able to reduce, or in most cases, eliminate your dog’s nuisance barking and enjoy your relationship together.


Here for you and your dog
Colin Seal