Dogs bark for different reasons.  It’s not just constantly arf, arf, or woof, woof.  Each time your dog barks, it can mean something different from the previous one.  Different barks arise from different circumstances.  If you wish to know the meaning of your dog’s bark, take the time to study the notes of each arf arf, and woof woof.

• Warning bark: you will hear a low grow emanating from your dog’s throat, followed by a growl that escalates in volume and intensity.  Your dog will also exhibit some other signs such as raised hackles, an aggressive stance, and also a tail that is somewhat low but not quite between his legs.  This usually indicates the presence of a potential threat either to his territory or to your safety.  This is often heard when a stranger approaches, or when another dog is seen entering the yard.  If your dog gave birth just recently, expect to hear this growl whenever you approach her in the first 24-48 hours.

• Alarming bark: This type of bark is characterized by short, abrupt barks.  Your dog will bark this way whenever your dog hears a car parking nearby, or whenever the doorbell rings.  An intelligent dog will alert you this way when there’s an impending danger such as smoke from a burning dinner or fire from a sparkling electrical wire.

• Give-me-your-attention bark: when a dog barks incessantly, accompanied occasionally by a howl.  This happens when a highly sociable dog is left alone for a long time without any company.

• Yelp: a series of yelps is your dog’s way of saying he is feeling something painful.  It can be a paw stuck between the flooring of his kennel, or a tail that has been stepped on, or a serious medical condition that needs to be seen immediately.  Your dog may also yelp if he’s been painfully hit either with a stick or from a thrown stone by a naughty neighborhood kid.

• Happy/excited bark: your dog will give short, low pitched, repetitive barking whenever your dog sees you getting his collar, a Frisbee, or a favorite toy.  Or, he may bark this way on his own and continually go around in circles by the door so you can play with him.  He may also do this as a way of saying “welcome home” when you have been gone away for quite some time.

Take the time to observe the way your dog barks, and note what kind of circumstance has led to this manner of barking.  Learning the reason for your dog’s bark will enable to help you do some behavioral modification if you are experiencing some dog barking problems.  Address each situation accordingly so your dog will be trained to stop barking.