Dogs vocalize through barking, growling, and whining in order to communicate. Understanding this language helps you understand how your dog is feeling and what he's trying to say.
Dogs communicate with the world around them in all kinds of ways. An especially important aspect of canine communication to understand is how they vocalize, which includes barking, growling, and whining. While a dog’s reason for vocalizing in these ways may vary, it's crucial to understand how and why dogs communicate. This makes it easier to understand a dog's needs and address any behavior issues that might have arisen.
Barking
Dogs bark for all kinds of reasons – out of excitement, fear, stress, and boredom. Some breeds and breed mixes are more vocal when they communicate, such as hounds, herding breeds, and terriers. For dogs that bark excessively, the first step is to understand the root cause of the barking, as you may need different strategies to address the issue. If the barking is due to fear or because the dog is continuously exposed to something in the environment that alerts him, more activity or exercise might not decrease the barking. If your dog is understimulated or exercised, then barking can become something he does to release tension, even if he’s not anxious or worried.
Once you determine the cause, you’ll need to both treat the underlying issue and create a training plan that ensures that your dog is comfortable in his surroundings, teach your dog what to do instead of barking, and reinforce him for choosing quiet.
One thing you don’t want to do is resort to punishment or aversive training. While quick fixes like citronella collars, ‘bark’ collars, and shock collars might suppress your dog’s barking in the moment, these devices can increase a dog's stress and anxiety, leading to more barking in the future.
Learn more about why your dog barks and how to modify the behavior if your dog is barking too much.
Growling
Dogs might growl in a few different contexts, including when they are nervous, defensive, warning that they are uncomfortable, or during normal and appropriate play. Although it can be frightening when a dog growls or bares his teeth at you, a growl is essentially a warning. Most dogs that growl are actually trying to prevent biting, as it is a warning of discomfort in order to avoid more conflict or confrontation. Good positive trainers always appreciate when a dog growls because it means he is inhibiting his bite. If your dog is growling at you, he is likely trying to warn you that something you’re doing is making him nervous or uncomfortable.
Except during play, a dog who growls should be given more space and carefully and safely removed from whatever situation he is in. He should never be punished for growling. Punishing a dog for growling increases the chances he will not warn you next time he is uncomfortable and will go straight to bite. That doesn’t mean you should continue to put your dog in situations that cause him to growl; quite the opposite. You should keep your dog out of those situations while you address whatever stress or issues make your dog uncomfortable.
Some dogs are more vocal than others and growl during play with other dogs or with people. This is often normal for the dog. If you are concerned about your dog’s growling, consult a positive trainer to help you determine if the growling is appropriate, excessive, or a sign of a bigger issue.
Whining
Whining is a vocalization that dogs practice from a young age to express their need for a resource or attention. Some dogs might whine when left alone, when they can’t greet their dog friend from across the street, or to try to get you to toss some tidbits from the dinner table. Dogs may whine because they are:
- Hungry
- Thirsty
- Bored
- Lonely
- Need to go outside
- In pain
- Uncomfortable or stressed
- Uncertain
While the sound of a whining dog can be irritating, try to remember that your dog is trying to communicate with you. Make sure your dog isn’t in pain, that his needs are met, he has learned the appropriate life skills, and has other things to keep him busy. If you still have ongoing concerns about your dog’s whining, consult a positive trainer to help guide you.
