Translating How Dogs Speak with Renowned Dog Trainer Bash Dibra!
The Bark Says—
- A loud, repeated bark, sometimes accompanied by a growl or snarl: conveys aggression or dominance. (“Get away from here or I’ll bite you!”)
- Sharp, short barks: alert to intruders or danger (“What? What? What?”)
- A light, high-pitched bark: an invitation to interact or play. (“Come on out and play!”)
- A low moaning-type bark: signifies anxiety. (“Who’s out there?”)
- Short, high-pitched yips: excitement, eagerness, friendliness, or curiosity. (“Hi! Hi! Hi!”)
The Growl Says—
- A deep, low growl emanating from the chest and progressing to a snarl: conveys aggression (“I’m warning you!”)
- A low, assertive growl: indicates dominance. (“Get out of my yard!”)
- A low, whining growl: shows worry or fear. (“Please don’t come any closer!”)
- Soft, low growling: a play signal. (“I’ve got the ball. See if you can take it!”)
The Howl Says—
- A long, sustained rising howl: usually conveys fear or anxiety, as with a dog left alone. (“Where are you? Come back!”)
- A short, happy howl: indicates an emotional greeting. (“Wow! It’s great to see you!”) This howl is common with northern breeds such as huskies.
- A “bay”: the howl of a hound at chase (“We’ve spotted the fox!”); a victorious howl (“Come on! We’ve found it!”).
- A sustained howl in unison with the sound of a siren (“Must be something to wail about.”) or a musical instrument or a choral pack response. (“For we are jolly good fellows!”)
The Whine says—
- A long whine, rising in pitch: indicates anxiety or fear. (“I’m scared!”)
- A low whine: serves as an alert. (“Listen, something’s out there!”)
- A short, worried whine: can take place during flight. (“Leave me alone, leave me alone!”)
- Low, worried whining: indicates submission or subordinate rank. (“Don’t hurt me. I surrender.”)
- Short, eager whines: curiosity, excitement, or an invitation to play. (“Come on! I can’t wait!”)
- A screaming whine: used when a dog is being beaten by a dominant dog. (“Please! I can’t take any more!”)
- A loud, screaming whine: indicates pain or injury. (“Stop! It hurts!”)
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