Animal Behaviour Essentials: Vocal Sounds

We all love our pets so much, it can be difficult to remember they are a different species from us—they seem so much like our best friends, we’re certain we understand their every need and want. But what exactly is your pet saying to you? They may not be able to speak your language, but they’re definitely talking to you in many ways. The question is, do you know how to listen?In this fun The Pet Project blog series, let’s take a deep dive into what your pet is telling you with their sounds and body language. Have you ever wished you could read your dog’s mind? Well, this blog series will help you get a little bit closer.

Let’s begin with the most obvious of dog communications: vocal sounds.

Barking

Dog communicate through a range of vocal communication. Pre-school teaches you that a dog “barks”, but in truth there are many kinds of barks, and there are also growls, whines, and yelps. Barks are rich and complex forms of communication, and they hold a wealth of information in them. A bark differs according to the context or situation, but the pitch and frequency of the bark can also tell you a number of things.

For instance, one bark could indicate your dog is annoyed or irritated. Two or three barks in a row—or prolonged barking—can reveal that your dog is worked up and genuinely agitated. There are also playful barks, where dogs bark when they want to get your attention so that they can play. Dogs also bark when excited. But barking can be a sign of fear and loneliness, and it is up to you to interpret the situation and the tone to listen for what your pet is telling you.

Don’t worry—guessing what your dog means is more or less instinctive. A study published in 2005 in the Journal of Comparative Psychology found that humans tend to be good at guessing what kind of bark their pet is emitting and what it could mean.

Growling

Growls are usually warnings. When your dog growls, they’re telling you: keep doing what you’re doing and I may be provoked into violence! Growls are most often saved for strangers or anyone your pet may consider a threat. It is basically your pet’s way of telling you that something is making them uncomfortable.

Dogs also have the happy growl. This is more of a deep rumble of contentment in their throat. They tend to happy growl when they’re happy. Kafka, for instance, usually rumbles his approval when he’s being petted to his satisfaction.

Howling, Whimpering or Yelping, and Whining

Chances are you read the title of this section and knew exactly what each of those sounds mean. See—we told you it is instinctive! But let’s talk you through them anyway. Dogs howl when they encounter a high-pitched sound. Howling is very much like the howling you find in those werewolf movies. It is dramatic and loud, and there’s a definite reaching for something. They’re not reaching for you, however. Nor are they reaching for a moon, don’t worry. Howling is usually a way to communicate with the pack. Dogs can howl when they’re lonely or distressed. So if you’re leaving the house and they’re howling, then they are howling for you. You’re their pack member and they’re worried you’re going to disappear.

Whimpering is usually a sound made when a dog is distressed or in pain. Yelping is the most common sound a dog makes when they encounter sudden pain. Whimpering is not always a sign of pain though: there is excited whimpering but it is usually low key. Excited whimpering is the sound your dog greets you with when you come back from vacation. It is also the sound puppies make when they’re haplessly trying to understand the world around them.

Finally, whining! Ah, we all know what whining means. Whining means your beloved canine wants something and, more often than not, it is that potato chip you won’t share with them or a bite of your chicken. Of course, your dog whines for urgent reasons too—like when they desperately need to go for a walk or need to be taken outside. And who hasn’t heard their pet whine at the end of a leash? After all, that leash is the one thing holding them back from sprinting after an exciting squirrel or cat.

Learning to understand the various vocal sounds your dog makes is the first step to understanding what they are thinking and feeling. In Part II of Animal Behaviour Essentials, we will move on to another clear indicator of your dog’s state of the mind: the tail. Stay tuned!