The site was last updated on

24 Aug 2000

Dogs make many kinds of sounds. Most of them we might say its joy, happiness, angry etc.
These voices that the dogs make, are their only way to communicate with other dogs, people or other animals around them. If you will listen very carefully to the dog's barks, you'll notice some changes from one to the other.
There are few signs that we use to understand the dog's meaning in his bark;
*Level of bark
*Speed of bark
*Long of barks

Barks

Few barks, medium lever: "call the pack! there might be a problem! someone came into our territory!"
Few barks, slower, barks' lever lower: "The invader  is very close (or the danger is very close) watch out!"
Fast barking with 3-4 barks each section, with stops between each section to another: "I'm afraid there is a problem or someone is near our territory. I think the leader should check this out."
Few barks with long stops between them, medium level: "Is there anyone out there? I'm lonely and need company." This is usually the reaction of a dog that have been in a cage or left alone for a long time.
A hard short bark, 1-2 barks, medium level: "Hello!" This is usually the bark when the dog meat another.
One single hard short bark, medium level: "Stop that!" Usually when a bitch is teaching her puppies, or when you wake your dog up after its been asleep, or even when you brush his hair and hurt him.
Single bark, hard and short, high level: "What's that?!" or "Huh?" that's a surprised voice. If it's changing from bark to bark it means "Come and see this!", calling the pack for a new interesting thing. The same kind of bark but not so hard and short mean "Come here!", many dogs use this bark by standing by the door when they want to go out. Same kind, but medium level and comber, means "Great" or "How wonderful" etc.
Bark-cry or a very short bark and very high level: "Ouch!" That's the usual reaction for suddenly pain (many times at the vet while having the shot).
Few cryings: "I'm in pain!" or "I'm very afraid", that's the usual reaction on a very frightening situation or a very painful one.
Unclean barks, medium level: If we'll say that the dog's bark is "Rap!", then the bark will sound like "arrrrr-rap!" and it's used for pulling a game.
 Up going lever bark: Its really hard to describe this bark, although when you hear it, you know its the one. It starts with low lever barks, then higher and up to high lever barks. Used usually at  "War Games" and might be meaning as "This is fun!".

Growls

Soft growl, low level: "Watch out!" or "Go away!" Used for threatening and that make the other side to back off and the dog more place.
Growl-bark low level: This is THE growl that means "I'm angry and I will fight you!", in this growl, if the dog won't be left alone, it will attack.
Growl-bark medium-high level: "I'm worried (or afraid) but ready to watch my self", in this stage, the dog is not confident of himself and will attack if not be left alone.
Up and down growling: This growl starts low and ends in a high level when ends with a short bark. Means "I'm scared. If you'll come closer I might fight you and I might run away". This is the voice of a scared dog which is not confident in himself.
 Loud growl without teeth: "This is a great game!" "I'm having fun!". Usually used while playing and sometimes its in the unclean barks. Usually is used while playing a game which the dog concentrate in it, like pulling a rope.

Other voices

Low crying: "I'm in pain", "That hurts", "I'm afraid". That's the usual "vet bark", when the dog is in a scared situation and its the usual puppy crybark.
Long high level howl: "Give me..." or "I want it". Usually when the dog is waiting for food or when you attach the leash to his collar or when want to be noticed.
A sigh: This voice that's being used when the dog is lying down with his head between his front paw, might be two things. If his eyes are half closed, it means "I'm happy here and that's the way it stays". If his eyes are open wide, it means "O well, that's too bad but that's life".
A howl: That is the known voice of the hound dogs while hunting. Usually it means as "Follow me!", "Let's get him!" or "All together!".
Bark-howl: This voice start's with some short barks and end's with a long high lever howl. Usually means as "I'm lonely", "I feel banded" or "Is there anyone out there?".
Wolf howl: "I'm here" or "This is my territory!", "I can hear you out there!". A dog very confident in himself will howl this way to sign others that he is there. This howl is used as well when the dog hears another dog howling. Its a much nicer howl for us, and we usually call it as the wolf howl.
Agitation: This is a very short voice and sound's like "Arr-wo-wo". This voice means happiness as "I'm exited!" or "Come on, let's go!". Usually the dog agitate when something he likes is about to happened.
Panting voice: "Wow". Used usually when dog is exited.

Dogs can also learn barks, many people are convinced that their dog welcome home with an "Hello" bark, is really might sound like the word it self, the dogs do have the ability of learning how to "talk".