Dogs bark for a variety of reasons, but when humans imitate a dog’s bark it can sound confusing or threatening to them. There are a few key reasons why dogs may react strongly when humans bark at them.
They don’t recognize the sound as coming from a human
Dogs have extremely sensitive hearing and can pick up on sounds and tones that humans can’t. When a human barks, it likely sounds unfamiliar to the dog. They hear the sound as coming from another dog, but when they look around they can’t find the source. This contradiction is alarming and can cause anxiety.
It violates their communication norms
For dogs, barking has specific meanings and purposes. It’s how they communicate fundamental information and signal to other animals. When a human barks out of nowhere, it defies their expectations. It’d be like if someone just started meowing at you – it would seem bizarre and out of place.
They perceive it as threatening
Some barking indicates aggression or danger in the dog world. When a human barks aggressively at a dog, they may interpret it as a warning or threat. This triggers their fight-or-flight response, making them afraid, anxious or even angry. They may bark back to try and scare the human away.
They think you’re joining in
If there are other dogs barking, a human barking can add to the noise and chaos. The dog assumes you are barking along with the pack, adding to the chorus. This riles them up further, feeding into group barking behavior.
How dogs perceive barking
To understand why human barking disturbs dogs, it helps to know how they perceive barks in general. Here are some key facts about how dogs interpret barking:
Barking triggers instinctual responses
Dogs are wired to react instantly to barking, even before conscious thought kicks in. It taps right into their primal neural pathways. This allows them to quickly sense danger or communication.
They recognize who is barking
Experiments show dogs can identify other dogs just by their barks. They also respond differently based on if they recognize the dog barking. So a bark from an unfamiliar human can put them on alert.
Certain pitches and tones convey meaning
Subtle differences in pitch, frequency, and volume change a bark’s meaning. For example, rapid high-pitched yaps signal playfulness. Low pitched, constant barks communicate aggression. Dogs detect these cues automatically.
Barking grabs their attention
The sharp, sudden nature of a bark triggers dogs’ attention far more than human speech. Even if asleep, barking will immediately catch their interest. Human barking hijacks this instinctual response.
They sense emotional information
Beyond precise meanings, dogs hear the emotional content of barks. Happy barks, angry barks, lonely barks – they can read those cues instinctively in other dogs. A human can’t replicate that accurately.
How a dog’s brain processes human barking
Given a dog’s innate wiring to respond to barks, here is what likely happens in their brain when a human barks:
Step 1: Orienting response
The bark captures the dog’s attention instantly. Their ears perk up and they become alert, sensing something important.
Step 2: Confusion
They look around for the source and don’t see another dog. This violates expectations and creates uncertainty about where the sound came from.
Step 3: Analyzing pitch and tone
They process the specific pitch and tone of the bark and try to discern the meaning or emotional content. But without precise dog-like nuances, the message seems unclear.
Step 4: Fight-or-flight reactions
Not finding a clear meaning, they default to assessing threat level. Aggressive barks trigger defensiveness. Distressed barks create concern. The unpredictability adds further stress.
Step 5: Response
Finally, they react according to their interpretation of the perceived threat. This may include aggressive barking, submissive behaviors, or running away.
Common dog reactions to human barking
When a human barks at a dog, some common doggie responses include:
Aggressive barking
Interpreting the bark as threatening, the dog barks back ferociously. This is their way of scaring off the “other dog” (human).
Submission
Sensing danger, the dog reacts submissively to avoid conflict. They may cower, tuck their tail, flatten their ears back or even urinate.
Confusion
The dog cocks their head quizzically, unable to comprehend why this strange sound is coming from a human’s mouth.
Startled reaction
Spooked by the odd sound, the dog leaps up or jumps backwards when the human barks.
Seeking comfort
Stressed by the barking, the dog comes over to their owner for pets and reassurance.
Joining in
The dog perceives the human as either barking along or barking at them. They join in the cacophony of barks.
Key factors that influence dogs’ reactions
Dogs don’t react the same way to human barking every time. Here are some key factors that influence their response:
Barking context
Barking while playing elicits different reactions than aggressive barking during a dispute. The same bark can mean different things.
Barking style
Short, repetitive barks are more alarming than a drawn out woof. Higher pitched yaps attract more attention than low barks.
Relationship with the human
Dogs are less threatened by barking from trusted family members. But they may resent barking from strangers.
Personality and breed
Timid dogs spook more easily than bold dogs. Herding breeds like Shepherds are sensitive to unusual sounds.
Past experiences
Dogs associating barking with negative experiences react more fearfully. Those with positive associations may be less perturbed.
Their current state
Barking at relaxed dogs gets more reaction than distracting them when already riled up or playing.
Are dogs the only animals that react to human barking?
Dogs aren’t the only animal that find human barking bizarre and alarming. Here are some other animals that dislike it when humans try barking at them:
Wolves
Wolves communicate with highly sophisticated howls. Human barks sound unnatural and put them on alert.
Cats
Cats are easily spooked by loud unpredictable sounds. Strange barking often makes them dash away or puff up in fear.
Horses
Horses are prey animals wired to detect threats. They’re likely to shy away or become vigilant if barked at.
Birds
Sudden loud barking can frighten birds and trigger them to fly off. They have no frame of reference for why a human would bark.
Rodents
Rodents like hamsters interpret barking as an aggressive sound, making them scurry away or freeze up.
Livestock
Cows, pigs and other livestock are accustomed to their own sounds. Human barking elicits confusion and nervousness.
Ways to reduce dogs’ negative reactions to human barking
If you want to bark at your dog without triggering anxiety, here are some tips:
Use a playful tone
Mimic a lighthearted, high-pitched “yip” to signal friendship not threat.
Pair it with positive cues
Bark while engaging your dog in play or offering treats so they associate it with good things.
Bark sparingly
Don’t overdo it. An occasional silly bark is less worrisome than frequent unpredictable barking.
Give affection after barking
Gently pet or speak to your dog after a bark to reassure them.
Stay relaxed yourself
Dogs mirror human emotions. If you stay calm, they are less likely to be disturbed.
Respond to their reaction
If your dog seems very distressed, stop barking and comfort them. Don’t exacerbate their fear.
The uniqueness of human-dog communication
At the heart of dogs’ puzzlement with human barking is the fascinating uniqueness of cross-species communication between people and their canine companions. Dogs have lived alongside humans for thousands of years, and we’ve come to understand each other remarkably well. But we remain different species with different ways of understanding the world. There are always limits to how accurately we can interpret each other’s behavior. Human barking draws attention to the complexities of how two unrelated species coexist and connect. While we need to be sensitive to causing dogs undue stress, dogs can also learn to understand silly human quirks, like our urge to sometimes just bark for fun.
Conclusion
In summary, dogs react negatively to human barking because it sounds weird, threatening, confusing or overstimulating to their instincts around bark communications. But with some adjustments like using a gentle playful tone, giving affection afterwards, and reading your dog’s comfort level, you can enjoy the occasional silly bark without causing too much disruption to your furry friend. Just be sure to respect their boundaries and remember that some things get literally lost in translation between a person and their beloved pooch. That’s part of the magic of cross-species friendships!