Growling:
A growling dog is a warning. It alerts those who hear it of an impending attack. Growling is a definite form of communication for dogs, not unlike hissing in cats. Your dog is trying to alert you of their unhappiness, and may be expressing a number of things. This behavior may be coupled with baring of the dog’s teeth.
- Fear
- Dogs have been known to growl when they are afraid. This can be directed at strangers or other things that cause the dog to feel threatened. It’s a clear message: “Back off.”
- Possession Aggression
- Other canines will growl over their things: food bowls, toys, and such. When you approach your dog while he is eating or chewing on a toy, the growl he makes is a warning to stay away from his possessions.
- Pain
- Dog growling may also occur due to the pain of an injury or illness. Very often their pain or illness is followed by veterinarians poking and prodding. This means on top of the pain, dogs are experiencing a great deal of confusion. The dog may associate the people trying to help him with the pain and fear.
- Territorial
- Another reason for growling is guarding their space. This could mean their yard, their house, even their crates. When a dog sees someone in his space who he think’s shouldn’t be there, the growling begins.
Barking:
- Anxiety
- Like purring in cats, barking may signify that your dog is trying to calm himself down. It’s usually a high-pitched sound that’s followed by whining.
- Warning/Alert
- It’s natural or a dog to bark at the mailman or even at someone just passing by on the street. This type of barking is a warning, a way of saying, “Don’t mess with me”. This bark can also alert you to dangers such as a house fire.
- Excitement
- Most common in puppies, a bark like this is indicative of play. It generally sounds upbeat or musical. Some dogs will bark like that when they know they are about to go on a walk or car ride.
- Attention-Seeking
- When you hear this bark, it isn’t hard to tell what it means. It is specifically tailored to attract your attention.
- Boredom
- The bark of a bored dog sounds like a dog that barks just to hear her own voice. Though it tends to be annoying, it is also kind of sad. Bored dogs often bark to release excess energy, and sometimes bark out of loneliness.
Tail Wagging:
- A wagging tail does not equal a dog that is friendly or wants to be petted. Dogs use their tails to communicate strong emotions such as agitation, annoyance and anger as well as happiness. A person can get bitten by a dog that's wagging his tail because he read the signs incorrectly.
Licking:
- For the most part, it’s a sign of affection. From the day they were born, their mother licked them to clean and stimulate them. Licking is connected to their earliest social bonds, so it’s a significant part of their social signals. People aren’t exaggerating when they call it puppy kisses: a dog who licks you is showing you love. It’s why your dog licks your hand happily when you walk in the door, and why many dogs will lick you after you’ve been petting them. They’re returning the friendly gesture.
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