We’ve
written at length about the things to do to keep your dog from barking all the time, but it’s worth considering what
that bark actually means.

As Cesar
Milan notes, dogs don’t lie. The bark is a window into their
personality; into a set of needs and preferences.

Scratching
your head? Here are a few of the possibilities in play.

Often, a
bark can be a sign that a dog is overindulged.

A dog at
the center of a manic household is a dog that’s likely to be badly behaved.
Just like spoilt children, dogs whose owners bend to their every whim will use
noise to command power.

If you own
a dog, by rights you’re the pack leader. And as a pack leader it’s your
responsibility to exert calm, assertive control.

Neglect
this responsibility and it’s amazing how fast a dog will adopt a higher
position in the hierarchy.

Often, a
bark is a sign that a dog needs stimulation

Barks canbe a social cue; a way of saying hello. But long, drawn out volleys of
noise indicate a “degree of urgency”, says dog psychologist Stanley Coren.

Often, the
problem at play is boredom. An unstimulated animal is an unhappy animal – and
especially when it comes to our canine friends. As we noted in a previous post on the topic, plenty of exercise paired with a
toy or two should help the situation.

Often, a
bark is a sign a dog is scared

Rescued
pups often develop psychological trauma and then take this trauma into
adulthood. A dog that cowers and/or barks at strangers is essentially telling
you he’s scared. Animals like this will often end up retreating and finding a
place to lie low.

The mistake
is to try and coax him from this position, as coaxing him with food – the
default play – only rewards the behavior.

Always pay
particular attention to your energy. If you are hesitant to approach, and
offering food in a meek manner, you’re almost fueling the idea that you’ve got
a difficult animal on your hands.

A far
better approach? Play the authoritarian leader. As Cesar Milan aptly puts it:
“‘You just have to bring him out and get him out; bring him out and get him
out. Then he sees he doesn’t have a choice.’”

Often, a
bark is a sign that we’re stressed

Dogs can
read our energy amazingly well. They’re very sensitive to the way we’re
feeling. So if you’re presiding over an unsettled household, chances are your
dog will feel the strain.

In fact,
some canine psychologists believe it’s the smell of fear that dogs react
to. Our bodies release pheromones when we’re under duress.

Sometimes, it’s wise to look inwards first.