A Look At The Most Common Sounds That Dogs Make And What Each One Means

First of all, if you you hear Fido sounding a rapid string of three or four barks with pauses in between, know that he is not in a state of alarm, aggression, or attack.

There is most likely something happening around him that is causing him to stay alert. His interest is piqued, and he is merely alerting the other dogs of what he has sensed.

His body stance is alert, with his eyes and ears forward. His body will also lean forward.

He is most likely saying, "There seems to be a problem," or "There's something intriguing going on." At this point, there is no sign of panic in his demeanor.

Most of us think that when dogs feel lonely, they will hunch down low in a corner and whimper.

And while your dog may indeed show such signs, one of the most common ways to sense a dog's isolation is if you hear him emitting a long string of solitary barks, with pauses between each one.

He feels sorrow most likely because he is confined, or isolated from a larger group.

His body stance will indicate that he may be both anxious and nervous — with his tail hanging low and ears turned backwards.

He is most likely saying, "I am lonely, and I need someone to be here."

Stutter barks in a midrange pitch really is the combination of a breath growl, "harrr," and a single short bark, "ruff."

This bark is used to initiate playtime, and can be read as an invitation. The pooch is saying, "Come here — let's play," and usually is holding both front legs flat on the ground. The rear will be held up high, and the tail will be wagging. This is most commonly nicknamed the "play bow" position.

Often, dogs will transition from the stutter bark into the rising bark. Their gentle growls will change into bark yelps, which signal excitement during rough-and-tumble games.

Some emotions are undoubtedly harder to decipher. For instance, how will those who are unfamiliar with your dog know when he is feeling irritated?

This feeling usually manifests as a soft, low-pitched bark. Most often, the sound will be emitted by a dominant dog, who is signaling that others should move away from him.

These barks will sound like they are coming from the chest, and will mean, "Back off!" or "Beware!"

Many times, they may coincide with single, short barks. Instead of signaling general annoyance, these barks signify annoyance when disturbed from sleep, or when the fur is pulled on, and other similar situations.

Do you know what sound a dog makes when they're prepared to run away? Click "Page 2" to find out!

Dogs will make threats in various ways, and through many different vocal indications.

But when a dog feels frightened, and happens to not feel as confident as he thinks he should, he will emit a higher midrange pitched growl bark. It will sound like a "Grrr…ruff!" noise.

He is saying, "You kind of frighten me, but I will defend myself if I have to. I am prepared to fight!"

While not entirely in a courageous state, he will definitely use aggression if he faces a pressing situation.

To announce his presence to other dogs, or to indicate that he is located in his territory, a dog will often sound out a prolonged, resonant howl.

Fido uses howls to establish a dialogue with neighboring dogs that are in the vicinity. Although these howls may sound quite sad on the surface, the dog is usually quite content. Remember, he is doing this solely to socialize, and to notify others of his presence.

Often, your dog's howl will be given off in response to another dog's yip-howl — evidently, they're having a back and forth.

When a dog pants, this can mean several things. For one, they don't sweat the way we humans do. Panting is their way of cooling down when they're feeling overheated. You'll see this often particularly during warmer months, and right after the dog has had strenuous physical activity.

However, panting can also be a simple sound that indicates anticipation, stress, or excitement. Often, the sound will be coupled with an "excited" body stance — a fast-wagging tail, and a forward-leaning body that looks like it's ready to pounce.

In this situation, your dog is saying "I'm ready!" or asking "When do we start?"

Sometimes, it's hard to identify the sounds made by a frightened, unsure dog who is feeling both fearful and aggressive.

The most noted vocalization is an "undulating" growl. It's a growl that goes from low midrange to high midrange, and has a higher pitched semi-bark added at the end.

The dog is saying, "I'm terrified. If you come at me, I may fight, or I may run."

Most often, the dog is standing in a nervous and frightened stance, with his tail half tucked and his ears flattened. He will be leaning back, and the front portion of his body may even be crouching.

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