If you ask any dog owner for the one thing she wishes she could do with her dog, the answer would probably be to understand what it’s trying to say. Just think about it – If there were a way to finally understand what all the dog barking sounds, growls, and whining truly meant! Consider this article your best bet toward interpreting dog sounds. It might not be perfect, but it’s the closest thing you’ll probably find. Enjoy!

Barking

Dogs bark to vocalize a threat, an intruder, a need for some attention, or boredom. They also make dog barking sounds when they're excited. Certain breeds make barking dog sounds more than others while other breeds make dog sounds that don't resemble barking at all. The Basenji for example makes a yodeling sound. To keep barking to a minimum, you must keep your dog busy. Bored dogs will bark all day long if they're allowed to, and if you live in a quiet neighborhood, you'll get some unwelcomed complaints about your dog's constant barking.

Some breeds prone to excessively bark are the:

Berger Picard

Finnish Lapphund/Swedish Lapphund

Puli

Shetland Sheepdog

Large Munsterlander

Spinone Italiano

Sussex Spaniel

Basset Hound

Dunker

Treeing Tennessee Brindle

Whining

Dogs mostly whine for attention, when they're scared, or when they're in pain. But they also whine when they want something really bad. This could be a treat or a table scrap, or it could be to go outside in the yard, to come inside from the yard, or a get access to a toy. What can make whining a bit confusing to understand is that dogs whine when they're excited or frustrated too.

Howling

Dogs howl as a way to assemble a pack or respond to a howling pack call. Rarely will a lone dog howl all by itself. Howling is usually a group event with one dog initiating a response from other dogs nearby. You might even get your dog to howl by emulating the sound yourself, or by playing a wind instrument. Anything that sounds like a howl in fact may encourage howling, including police or fire truck sirens. Should it become a problem, you can discourage it with background television or radio noise.

Baying

Baying is a hound trait and it sounds like howling. Hounds bay when they're on a scent and when they want other dogs in the area to follow the scent too. Hunters listen for baying so that they know a dog has picked up on prey.

Back Talk

Back talk is a low bark and growl combined. It's a dog's way of arguing with its owner and often witnessed right after a dog is disciplined. But submissive dogs will back talk to a dominant dog as well. (Kind of funny – but not tolerated.)

Growling

Dogs generally growl to warn others to stay away, but they'll also growl when playing with another dog. It can be difficult to distinguish a friendly playful growl from a serious growl, so unless you're roughhousing with your pet, it's wise to back off from a growling dog no matter what the situation. All growls signal stress. If pushed, a growling dog may jump in to a full biting attack.

You can't train a dog not to growl, but you can train a dog to reduce growling at things that aren't threatening via desensitization. Whatever it is that causes your dog to needlessly growl, gradually introduce the object and use positive training when the dog accepts the object without a growl.

Yelping

Dogs yelp when they're hurt or suddenly frightened.