The most fulfilling aspect of being a pet owner is undoubtedly getting to the point of communication with your pet. Unlike with humans where we can say what want, puppies may only say what they want by using certain gestures. Some of the common modes of dog communication include barks, yelp, growls and whines.
Understanding the different dog barks
Barking is the most common and simplest communication method of dogs. To be able to understand the exact meaning of a bark, pay close attention to its pitch. For instance, low-pitched sounds resembling a growl mean that the dog is likely agitated or indicating a threat or possibility of aggression.
Barking for a prolonged duration also has its unique meaning. The length of the sound indicates the seriousness of the reason for the bark. In this case, where the bark is prolonged, the dog is likely foreseeing real and imminent threat.
On the other hand, sharp, short barks of either middle- or high-range pitch are an indication that your puppy is excited. In fact, dogs will let out such a bark when greeting their owner.
How to get you and your dog communicating
The first step to getting your puppy to talk to you is forming a bond. This bond may be established by simply creating time to spend with your pet puppy. The dog should get used to your scent so that they can get comfortable with you. This trait is borrowed from watching how dogs interact among themselves. They will always be attracted to other dogs by their scent.
Secondly, avoid staring hard into your dog’s eyes — especially with puppies, as it may make them feel inferior. Instead, approach the puppy slowly while giving off calming signals.
When talking to your dog, use a calm and low-pitched voice. Avoid shouting or using a high-pitched voice no matter how angry you may be at the moment.
Essentially, the secret to effective communication between you and your pet puppy is to listen and learn their different gestures.
3 common puppy communication mistakes
More often than not, pet owners want to extend their gestures of human affection to the pet. However, some of these gestures are wrong when used on your puppy.
First, avoid treating your puppy like a child. Whereas you may want to cuddle and kiss and show them all that baby love, this is not advisable. Research has shown that treating your puppy as a child will lead them to treat you like an animal.
Second, avoid giving your puppy a lot of freedom. Instead, it is prudent that the puppy is under regular supervision. Puppies actually feel more loved when they are restrained as opposed to when they are always let loose.
Third, do not be hesitant to discipline your pet when they go against the behavior you have taught them. It is more loving when the puppy knows that there are limits that should not be crossed. However, when disciplining your puppy, make sure you exercise restraint and do not go all out.