Babies cry, dogs bark. It is their way of communicating to us their needs and wants. Babies cry when they are lonely, sad, hungry, bored, sick or when their diaper need to be changed. Dogs will bark for many of these same reasons, well, with the exception of the whole diaper thing. But they may bark when they need to go out. Learning the meaning of your dogs bark takes time, but eventually you will begin to develop an understanding of what your barking dog is trying to tell you.
To understand why your dog barks, you have to run through a mental list of what your dog is telling you. Is your dog hungry or hurt? Are they in need of a walk? Are they trying to announce a visitor or worse an intruder?
The first thing to realize is that dogs do not bark for no reason. Barking is a dog behavior that at times may seem unrelated to anything, but the truth is when a dog barks there is always a purpose and a reason.
Often times your dog will actually point with his or her nose in the direction of what is so concerning him or her. If you are studying the dogs behavior you will notice this is often their way of communicating. If your dog starts non-stop barking this means that your dog has a need that is not being met. Be sure to watch their other means of expression and communication in hopes to determine what exactly it is that they need. Some barking requires meeting easy needs like providing water, food, or simply a visit outside. . There are other reasons for barking behavior such as separation anxiety, fear, or dominance issues that are more complex. While these situations require more attention, time and specific training, it is very important to address this barking as overlooking it could potentially progress to aggression or destructive behavior.
Once you understand the reason for your dogs bark then you will be able to fulfill or correct the behavior
Barking dogs not only act similar to crying babies, they can also act like a defiant teenager. If your dog barks back at you after being disciplined, you have a "typical teen" on your hands. This dog is in need of a refresher on who is the boss or alpha.
Regardless of what your barking dog is trying to convey to you, it is always important to remain patient. Remember, your dogs goal is to please you and at times they are just trying to express their needs and wants.
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