When your dog barks or vocalises, what do you think he or she is saying?

Question

My big dog (standard poodle / american buldog cross) only barks when she percieves a threat to the house. I believe she's shouting "Get away, Get away from my house or I'll have you". She does this and then turns to me and vocalises in a tone that sounds almost questioning, as if she's saying "Daaaaad, come and look. There's people and they're near our house. Do something".

My jack Russell on the other hand runs round at random (not continually, just at random moments) barking. I think he's got Tourettes and he's shouting "f*ck off, f*ck off, hey you, f*ck off".
If you talk to him or sing to him, he will vocalise and hold a conversation with you sayng "wowooowowooowwwow".
I like to think he's telling me stories about his canine prowess and the things he, my wife and my other dog got up to while I was out at work.

Yes, I know this makes me sound mental.

Answer 1

My dog makes loads of different noises like when he's pleased to see me, if he wants attention, if hes being cheeky, if wants to go out, if wants his tea he will pick his bowl up and launch it across the room, if hes heard a noise outside, if he feels really threatened, yes they do communicate with you, your not mental you just understand your pet which is good. I sing to my dog too he loves it I forget in summer that the windows are open and feel a right div if the neighbours are out.

Answer 2

When my Golden Retriever barks clearly and loudly he is saying, hey, whats that, theres something going on out there and it might be a threat, come and check it out dad.
When he does squeeky yappy barks he is whinging about something - generally because I've left him alone and he doesn;t like it.
When he does this funny groany thing like owoooooweeeeeeurrmmmmm hes telling me about all the stuff hes een doing or about something that is troubling him like the cat or my other dog trying to steal his food and bones.
When my Rhodesian Ridgeback barks its always because he is really excited about something and it explodes in a bark. He doesn't make much other noise except when he gets snapped at by another dog and then he WAILs like EEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAWWWWWWWW and its so pitifull . He is a wimp.
Your jack russel sounds really funny.

Answer 3

Well I don't think you sound mental at all, thank goodness someone else thinks there dogs are saying stuff when they bark, my golden retriever barks ma/da get your coats I wanna go to the park at 5.30 pm every single day, I swear she is barking get out of my yard when someone knocks on the door, glad you love your dogs so much and see what they see when their barking.

Answer 4

when theres a knock at the door, an all 3 of my dogs jump up and bark.. i reckon they are saying "for godsake cant a dog get any sleep around here, without someone banging on that thing that blocks the hole in the wall, i have doggy dreams to get on with now F_)(* the F^%$ Off

Answer 5

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Answer 6

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Answer 7

I think that when a dog barks at a threat, they are not only warning the threat to go away, but also telling you that there is a threat. My dog barks because she wants approval from me.

Answer 8

We tend to think of dog training as a series of steps for teaching particular behaviors. To teach a dog to stay in a particular position, you reward her as she remains in place for gradually longer times, at gradually greater distances, with gradually increasing degrees of distraction. Read more https://tr.im/7q5sH

Now, this is fine, training does involve teaching dogs specific behaviors with a step-by-step approach. This week, though, I’m going to discuss three mental habits that will not only enable you train more effectively but also make life pleasant for both you and your dog.

Answer 9

My mum pointed out her talking poodles - which they really do, when I call home (I live in Australia and Mum in the UK) I talk to them on the phone, the little black one can say Mum's name and apparently looks as though he's listening to me, then talks back. I on the other hand have a talking beaglier. She has a routine, when she's comfortable in bed, she lets off a groan (reminds me of my father when he sits down in the sofa and makes that "ahh that's better" noise, when she gets a biscuit she runs around the house, mumbling something I think would translate to "Your mine, and I'm going to enjoy eating you." When my fiance comes in from being outside, she goes crazy, mumbling away to herself "Yes he's home, can I piddle in excitement now? Can I Can I pleaseeee?"
The way human bond with their dogs really prove that fact that they are mans/women's best friend, and for those people who think us dog owners are daft because we think our dogs are talking to us - try and get yourself a dog, and love it like a child, then who's the daft one?

Answer 10

You can buy a book called, How to speak dog,by Stanley Coren. This tells you what all the different facial expressions, woofs, tailwags etc mean.