doodlebarks

Fact sheet · updated

WHAT THE RESEARCH SAYS

Every bark
says something.

A bark is not just noise.

Decode a bark
A medium-sized dog sitting at a front window, ears up, watching the street outside
AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

LISTEN FIRSTthen look for the cause

Researchers who recorded thousands of barks found that dogs sound different at the door, when left alone and at play, and that people can often tell which is which.

At a glance

4,672 barks

Barks analysed from 10 dogs

Yin and McCowan recorded six breeds at the doorbell, alone and at play. Barks differed by situation even within the same dog, and each dog could be identified by its bark.

BARK SPECTROGRAMS · UC DAVIS

43%

Barks sorted to the right situation

A computer trained on more than 6,000 barks from six situations sorted unknown barks by situation 43% of the time, which the authors called highly above chance.

MACHINE LEARNING · ELTE BUDAPEST

TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING

Barks carry
real information.

One study measured barks by hand,
another taught a computer to sort them.

People do well too: a 2005 study found listeners could categorise the situation of recorded barks high above chance, whether or not they owned a dog. Dogs can tell barks apart as well, by situation and by which dog is barking.

WHY IS MY DOG BARKING?

Match the bark
to the moment.

Pick a situation to see what the research and RSPCA advice say. The bar shows how much it is worth looking into the cause.

Based on Yin and McCowan (2004) and RSPCA advice on barking. General information, not veterinary advice.

Bark check

Choose a situation
The doorbell ringsNormal alert

Doorbell barks in the study tended to be harsh, low and rapid. The RSPCA says a dog that feels threatened may bark to tell somebody to stay away.

During a gameExcitement

Play barks were more tonal and higher-pitched. The RSPCA lists excitement among the normal feelings dogs bark to express.

At people passing byManage the view

The RSPCA suggests reducing access to windows or the garden and using treats or toys to distract your dog, ideally before barking starts.

When left alonePossible distress

The RSPCA says eight out of 10 dogs experience stress when left alone, and barking can be one sign. It suggests ways to help, and a specialist if needed.

Much more than usualSee the vet

A sudden rise in barking can be a sign that something is wrong, such as a hearing problem. The RSPCA says to speak to your vet.

Sources: Yin and McCowan, Animal Behaviour (2004); RSPCA, Barking dogs: what can I do?

THE SHORT ANSWER

Different moments,
different barks.

A study of 4,672 barks found clear patterns.
Here are the three situations it compared.

DISTURBANCE

Someone at the door

When a stranger rang the doorbell, barks were more often harsh, low-pitched and fast-repeating, and each bark lasted longer.

Decode a bark

ISOLATION

Left on their own

Shut away from their owner, dogs gave more tonal, higher-pitched barks. The RSPCA says barking alone can be a sign of distress.

When it gets too much

PLAY

In the middle of a game

Play barks were also higher and more tonal than doorbell barks, which is why a happy bark and an alarm bark rarely sound alike.

See the numbers
Two dogs playing on a grassy park field, one in a play bow with its mouth open
AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

FOUR STEPS FROM THE RSPCA

Less barking,
a happier dog.

The RSPCA says barking is completely normal. When it becomes excessive, the advice is to find and treat the cause rather than the noise.

  1. Rule out health problems

    If barking has increased, speak to your vet, for example about your dog's hearing.

  2. Keep a daily routine

    Meals, play and exercise at around the same times each day help a dog know what is coming next.

  3. Beat boredom

    Dogs are active, social animals. Enough exercise, things to do and company can mean less barking.

  4. Get expert help

    A clinical animal behaviourist can work out the cause and put a treatment plan together.

WHEN THE NEIGHBOURS HEAR IT

An odd woof is fine.
Constant barking is not.

The RSPCA says the occasional bark is usually not a problem, but owners may not know their dog barks while they are out. Its advice is to speak to the owner first, and then contact the local council.

In England, GOV.UK says councils must look into noise that could be a statutory nuisance, and barking dogs are one of its examples. If a council agrees there is a nuisance, it must serve an abatement notice requiring the noise to stop or be restricted.

A dog standing alert behind a wooden garden gate, mouth open mid-bark
AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

Questions

Questions people ask

Do dogs bark differently in different situations?

Yes. A 2004 study of 4,672 barks found doorbell barks were more often harsh, low and rapid, while barks when alone or at play were more tonal and higher-pitched.

Can people tell what a bark means?

Often. In a 2005 study, listeners categorised the situations of recorded barks high above chance, and owning a dog made almost no difference.

Can I recognise my own dog by its bark?

Less reliably than you might think. A 2006 study found human listeners mostly did not reach the threshold for reliable discrimination between individual dogs from barks alone, though a computer could tell dogs apart.

Why does my dog bark when I go out?

The RSPCA says barking when left alone can mean a dog is in distress, and that eight out of 10 dogs experience stress when left alone. Its advice includes a special toy, a dog-sitting service or specialist help.

What can I do about a neighbour's barking dog?

The RSPCA suggests speaking to the owner first, as they may not know. If that does not work, contact your local council; in England councils must investigate noise that could be a statutory nuisance.

Sources

Where the facts come from

  1. Yin and McCowan (2004), Barking in domestic dogs: context specificity and individual identification, Animal Behaviour
  2. Pongrácz et al. (2005), Human listeners are able to classify dog barks recorded in different situations, Journal of Comparative Psychology
  3. Molnár et al. (2008), Classification of dog barks: a machine learning approach, Animal Cognition
  4. RSPCA: Barking dogs, what can I do?
  5. GOV.UK: Noise nuisances, how councils deal with complaints

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