Welcome to our Peculiar Pet Facts series, where we investigate the quirks of our pets and explore the science behind them.
‘Twilight Bark’ got the message of missing spotted puppies in a famous movie, but could it happen in real life? Can dogs really “talk” to each other? It may not be the same as people, but dogs can communicate with each other.
A sound for every occasion
Dogs certainly make a lot of different noises – and in some cases the same noise is repeated, all night. Vocalizations aren’t the primary form of communication between dogs (see why below), but all those growls, howls, barks, and yelps usually mean something.
A high-pitched bark can mean either good or bad, depending on the circumstances. A happy, energetic pup playing with his friends at the dog park may let out a high-pitched bark of excitement. But if that high-pitched sound is more of a yelp than a bark, it may be due to pain or surprise when playtime gets a little too hard. A loud bark is usually a warning to others to stay away or stop what they are doing. Recess is over.
Grunts can also be good news or bad news (for example, grunts during recess compared to this is My food). Moan usually means your dog Really needs something, like letting his hiking friends know you’re not getting them out of the car fast enough. And if your dog needs to get his message across long distances, howling is his best bet, although most dogs don’t actually howl (at other dogs or at the moon).
Their body speaks the most
Body language is the main language that dogs use to “talk to each other”. Happy, playful dogs will have loose, relaxed postures and movements, while dogs that stand at their full height with their front legs straight and leaning forward project dominance and possible aggression. A dog’s facial expressions can also tell other dogs how they are feeling. We have listed what some of these facial signals can mean in this article.
A dog’s tail can help convey friend or foe feelings to other dogs. If their tail is slightly raised and gives a great thrashing, they are excited and happy. A stressed and worried dog will probably have its tail between its legs. And if you see a dog with a high, stiff tail that wags quickly and his other body language matches that sign of aggression, it’s time for your dog (and you) to back off.
The Reason Dogs Sniff Each Other You-Know-What
The other way dogs can “talk to each other” is through smell. By stopping and sniffing the fire hydrant, tree, lamppost, grass, etc., dogs can possibly tell if their neighborhood has been visited by a male or female dog, young or old dog. and whether the dog was healthy. And they get the same information by sniffing another dog’s nether regions during a greeting (the dog equivalent of a first impression for people). So unless either dog is showing signs of aggression or stress, it’s a good idea to let your dog greet another dog with a sniffle – it’s a natural behavior.
Dogs may not use the same methods of “talking” to each other as humans do, but they can use woofs, wags, and puffs to communicate with other dogs. We can also use these signs (except smell, of course) to try to figure out what our dog might be telling us. But remember that every dog is different and each sign should be read in context with the other signs. And the situation.
RELATED ARTICLE: Could translating animal language into English become a reality?
