What Do A Dogs Barks Mean?

Updated: September 18th, 2023

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It’s true that dogs communicate with body language mostly but they’re far from a silent species. So what do a dogs barks mean?

They can make a variety of different barks, growls and whines and with a little knowledge of what these different sounds they make might mean, and combining this with some knowledge of canine body language we can make a pretty good guess at how they’re thinking and feeling.

This article discusses how a dog varies the sound they make depending on what they’re trying to say and what we should listen out for when we’re trying to figure out what their barks mean.

In What Ways Can Dogs Vary The Sound Of Their Bark?

There are three different ways in which a dog can vary their bark. They can change the pitch, the frequency and the duration. Generally speaking:

The Pitch Of A Bark Changes…

To show how welcoming and friendly a dog is feeling.

High pitched barks are usually happy and welcoming, low-pitched barks can show aggression and a warning to stay away. So the higher pitched a bark, the less you need to worry, the lower pitched a bark the more likely a dog is feeling aggressive and threatened.

The Frequency Of A Bark Changes…

To show the urgency a dog is feeling in a situation.

A rapidly repeating sound shows a dog feels the situation is highly important and urgent, where single barks or a series of barks spaced out with long pauses shows a dog isn’t really too bothered with what’s happening.

The Duration Of A Bark Changes…

Depending on how consciously the dog is deciding to be vocal.

This is a bit of an odd sentence I admit. Let me try to explain better…

Let’s take two dogs faced with the same threatening situation.

Dog 1 is bold and confident and he makes a low and very long continuous growl as he’s made a conscious decision to tell the threat to back away. He has decided to stand his ground and is deciding to continuously say so. It’s likely he will not back down and could show aggression if pressed further.

Dog 2 is a little nervous and far less confident. He will make shorter lasting periods of growls and barking that aren’t held for long. This shows how the dog is a little scared, not confident in the situation and hasn’t made the conscious decision to face the threat down. It’s likely they’ll concede and move away from the threat if pressed further.

Interpreting The 11 Most Common Barks You’re Likely To Hear

We don’t yet know everything about canine communication. We’ve come a long way, but we haven’t got to a point where understanding dogs is an exact science.

Sometimes the same bark can mean very different things depending on the particular situation that it’s being used. So you cannot rely on a description of what a bark means 100% of the time.

But knowing what the following barks USUALLY mean, combining that with reading canine body language and factoring in the situation your dog is in, you’ll be able to make highly educated guesses on how your dog is feeling and be correct a very high percentage of the time.

So let’s go through a list of the 11 most common barks and what they actually mean:

1. Rapidly repeated barks in runs of 2 to 4:

The classic alarm bark that all dogs offer when an intruder is approaching or they wish to warn their pack of something of interest that’s perhaps threatening.

2. One or two middle to high-pitched barks, short and sharp:

The dog is saying hello! It’s the bark they make as a greeting when they see another dog or person they are friends with.

3. A medium pitch stuttering bark:

This is the bark of a playful dog, asking another to join in. For example they will bark like this when they want you to throw a ball, or for another dog to join in a chase.

4. A very quick, very high, short sharp yelp:

This is the sound made for a sharp pain. For instance the sound made by your dog if you accidentally tread on their tail. No long-lasting pain, but short and a surprise.

5. Long sequence of high-pitched, short and quick yelps:

A dog continuously yelping in a high-pitched way is likely in continuous pain and quickly needs some help.

6. One low to medium pitched, loud but short bark:

This is the sound of a dog saying: “Stop that! Go away!” The dog is annoyed at another animal or person who should stop what they’re doing and back off.

7. Single barks with long pauses between, going on for hours:

This is the noise made by a dog who is lonely and is asking for some company. Usually the type of bark a neighbor will complain about from dogs home alone for most of the day.

8.Howling:

This can be one of two things.

If kind of ‘yap, yap howl’, then it’s usually a dog feeling abandoned, sad and lonely, calling out for company.

But if just a long drawn out ‘hoooooooooooowl’, then it’s a dog who’s simply communicating over long distance like they would in the wild. Not signalling sadness or loneliness, just something that a few dogs do and nothing to worry about (until the neighbors complain, haha.)

9. Whining:

Loud, high-pitched whining is the sound of a dog who wants and is asking for something. Often heard when a dog wants food or a toy they can’t get at, or to come inside from the yard to be with their family.

The louder the whining and the more often it occurs, the more urgent a dog really wants or needs something.

10. Whimpering:

Whimpering is the sound of a dog that is really hurt or suffering in some manner. Not so painfully that they’re yelping out in pain, but they’re feeling some suffering and are likely very frightened.

It sounds a little like whining, but quieter, softer, and a dog will likely be lying low, looking sad, cowering and somewhat hiding away. Whereas with whining, they will be upright and alert.

11. Growling then a low-pitched bark:

When a dog sounds out a low-pitched, grumbling growl followed by a loud and low-pitched bark, they are annoyed, confident and ready to fight.

This will be accompanied by body language such as staring, hair on end, ears pricked, looking as big as possible and weight forward trying to look menacing.

Also sounded when a dog is asking their family for help to deal with a situation but are standing their ground in the face of a threat nonetheless.

If you hear this, it’s time to back off slowly and defuse the situation if aimed at you!

Conclusion

This article describes the most likely meaning of the most familiar barks that dogs offer.

By combining these with reading your dog’s body language you should in most cases be able to accurately determine your dogs thoughts and feelings and what they’re trying to say.

But you can never be 100% accurate as emotions are complex, communication is complex and there’s still loads that we don’t understand.

Truly understanding your dog will come from observation and practice at trying to read their body language and deciphering their vocalizations. The old adage that ‘practice makes perfect’ certainly applies.

But if you do practice and learn to understand them, you can take into account how they feel in any moment and adjust your behavior to suit.

This will make you a better owner and your dog will love and respect you so much more when they can truly sense that you understand them and communication is a two-way thing.

Further reading

For more information on this subject, please see the following highly informative articles:

From ‘Psychology Today’: What Are Dogs Trying to Say When They Bark?

From ‘PetSafe’: 10 translated barks.

From the ASPCA: Barking

And here is a list of our top recommended Anti Bark Collars

Adapted with permission from an article first seen on LabradorTrainingHQ.com: What Do Different Dog Barks Mean? Learn What Your Lab Is Saying!