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DOG BEHAVIOUR: WHAT DOES BARKING MEAN?

Pawsh-Magazine-understanding-dog-barks-3Trying to figure out what your dog ‘saying’ when they bark can be as tricky as trying to solve a Sherlock Holmes’ case! So today we’re going to spend a little time learning how to be better listeners for our canine friends. Here are a few insights into what a dog’s barking really means — and why trying to shush them may not always been the best idea.

1. Very fast, non-stop, serious sounding bark
Rory is notorious for this type of bark. She’ll hear ‘something,’ leap to her furry feet and bark, bark, bark, bark, bark for what sounds like forever, punctuated by some growling. Most behaviourists agree that this type of barking translates to something along the lines of “Alert! Alert! There is danger approaching!” In other words, your dog is raising the alarm to put the family on guard. (Does your dog ever do this in the middle of the night and it makes you jump out of your skin?)

2. Drawn out, continuous barking with longish pauses
Growing up, one of our neighbours had a hound who would bark this way all summer long. It usually is a form of self-entertainment or complaining: “I’m bored. I’m lonely. Is there anybody out there?” Making sure your dog gets frequent and regular exercise and has all sorts of fun toys to play with when alone can help address this particular barking issue.
Pawsh-Magazine-Understanding-dog-barks

3.  Strings of serious barks with small pauses
This is Lucy’s barking style at the moment. She’ll offer a few little ‘woofs,’ pause, look around, tuck her tail and then ‘woof’ a little more. Unlike bark #1 above, it is usually safe to say that this bark means “I think there’s something coming? I’m not quite sure, but I think there might be? Can somebody come with me to check?” They are trying to raise the alarm, but aren’t quite sure.

4.  Series of yelps
This is a no brainer (or at least, it should be). If a dog makes this sound, they are in pain or are very afraid.

5.  Uneven, high-pitched, frequent barks
This type of ‘voice’ can be heard at any dog park. It’s the “I’m so excited! I can’t believe it! Oh my gosh, a squirrel! A treat! A ball! A Frisbee! An empty water bottle! A new person! My tail!” exclamation. Most dogs have something that they get really super-duper excited about and some pupsters simply cannot contain their joy. Little Lucy, for example, gets this way whenever she hears the kibble bag rustle (we’re working on it).

6. One or two short, sudden low pitched barks
This sort of vocalization is a little more serious sounding and usually means “Stop that!” It’s a warning to be sure and is frequently heard between older dogs telling off little pups. Rory, for example, has been doing this lately teaching Lucy that jumping on her mid-nap is not cool.
Pawsh-magazine-understanding-dog-barks-27. A loud, high-pitched, non-continuous bark
A high-pitched bark, that is not a yelp, but not their usual ‘alert’ bark, is often a sign of “Let’s play! Wanna play? I wanna play! Playing is FUN!” Of course, to be sure, one should be mindful of a dog’s body language too. If the body language is loose, if the tail is wagging and you see some play bows happening, fun is the name of the game! This bark is similar to the human voice jumping an octave when the person gets excited (I am definitely known for this whenever I answer the phone and it’s someone I love!)

Barking outside of the box
It is important to keep in mind that sometimes a dog will develop its own unique barking habit. For instance, one of my relative’s dogs, a mastiff mix, will always growl and bark very low when she plays rough house with her owner.

If you didn’t know this dog, you would swear it sounds like an angry interaction, but she LOVES the game and is bouncy, wagging her tail, flipping over for belly rubs. Similarly, Lucy has a little ‘wookie’ noise she makes quite frequently and while at first I thought it was a sound of protest, it is actually a sound of excitement and she makes it whenever she is really into a game, a toy or an ear scratch.

In short, while the above dog bark key is a great guideline, ultimately it is up to each individual owner to listen to each individual dog so that they may understand each unique voice.

What to do if a dog barks too much?
Barking is a natural part of dog life. They are going to do it. But sometimes a dog’s excessive barking can become an issue, especially if it bothers neighbours. However, there are positive-reinforcement methods to train a dog not to bark that you can try at home or you can speak with a professional dog behaviourist or certified trainer to help you get a handle on your canine chatterbox.

Whatever your dog’s barking habits are, keep an ear open for their little nuances and subtlties to help you better understand what they are trying to tell you.

(Illustrations by Deidre Wicks of Water In My Paint. Be sure to check out her links below for your very own custom watercolour pet portrait!)

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Water In My Paint Custom Pet PortraitsWithout question our pets are an essential part of our lives. They help us heal from heartbreak, comfort us when we’re sad, make us laugh uproariously and help us burn off that extra chocolate chip cookie. Why not immortalize your beloved pet in watercolour with a custom painted portrait? You can request accessories that illustrate your animal’s personality or choose a more traditional portrait. And they make the perfect gift!
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MODERN DOG PHOTOGRAPHY: MEN & THEIR DOGS

men-and-dogs-1Father’s Day is this weekend and to mark the occasion we’ve rounded up a handsome batch of the cutest men and their adorable dogs! The leading image (above) is by Laci Davis Photography. Aren’t this pair absolutely delightful? They even sort of look alike!
men-and-dogs-2“I want to hold your haaaaannnnd.” (image via)men-and-dogs-2A“Let me look into your soul my friend.”
“Back atch’ya buddy.”
(image via)men-and-dogs-3Are there even words to aptly describe this heart-warming moment? (image via)men-and-dogs-4Snuggle buddies! (image via)men-and-dogs-9Always there for a shoulder to lean on. (Image by Pawsh Studio)men-and-dogs-5AThe best of best men. (Image by Eclectic Images via Elizabeth Anne Design)men-and-dogs-6A lifetime of joy and shenanigans. (image via) men-and-dogs-6AGotta love a man who loves walking the pups! (image Jones New York print ad)men-and-dogs-7“Who are you kidding? I know all of your tricks, sir. ALL of them!” (Image by Hayley Witson/The Kennel Club)men-and-dogs-8The best sidekick in the world. Paws down! (image via)

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Thanks to all the great dog dads out there! Have a wonderful weekend celebration everyone!

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SLOW DOG FEEDER: THE GREEN DOG FEEDER REVIEW

Green-Feeder-In-Use-2
green-feeder greeninteractiveGreen means GO! At least, green means go at dinner time! Last year we reviewed this smashing slow feeder called (you guessed it!) GREEN from Company of Animals. Find out what we think about it here! And today we’re giving one away!
Designed to encourage dogs to ‘sniff out’ their food instead of simply gobbling it down in one gulp, GREEN provides mental stimulation at dinner and helps fast eaters to slow down.

For your chance to win one of these extraordinarily innovative dinner dishes, all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post telling us how your dog behaves at supper time!

The contest closes Sunday, June 15th, 2014 at midnight and the winner will be announced/emailed on Monday morning! Good luck everyone!

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CUSTOM DOG PORTRAITS: BETH WHITLOW PET PORTRAITS

dog-portrait-1-Beth-Whitlow dog-portrait-2-Beth-Whitlow dog-portrait-3-Beth-Whitlow dog-portrait-4-Beth-Whitlow dog-portrait-5-Beth-WhitlowI recently discovered these incredible pet portraits by Beth Whitlow and I must say they are a delightful breath (or brush) of fresh air in the animal artwork world. Bright, vibrant and bursting with quirky mannerisms, each commission is a beautiful oil on canvas, gallery wrapped for ideal hanging in your home.

Give me a dog in a hat any day and I will be completely in love! But what I adore most about these pieces are that they could hang in a home forever and age gracefully with the changing times while still looking stylish.

I would highly recommend visiting Beth Whitlow`s website for even more amusing pet portraits. Seriously, pour a cup of tea and spend some time browsing her galleries — I dare you not to smile!

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