Why does dog groan

Vocal variations are a prominent feature of dogs and there is a lot to be studied. There has been preliminary research, however. The research that has been done has been very insightful. Growls appear to be useful for other reasons. Even though food-guarding and stranger-approaching growls sound very similar to human ears, dogs are able to distinguish and act on different growls. In the past, barking was often dismissed as meaningless noise. However, researchers are finding that barks produced in different contexts vary in their acoustic parameters i.

Isolation when a dog is separated from his or her owner and play barks have a higher pitch and frequency, and a wider range of amplification modulation. A dog barking at a stranger sound very different than a dog barking before going on a walk. However, does that mean dog sounds carry meaning? They do for dogs, although scientists are still exploring ways to determine exactly how they perceive and process that information. Of course, humans can decipher different barks as well.

People are able to distinguish an isolation bark as being a sad bark while barks from a play session are discernable as happy barks. Interestingly, our ability to do this starts as early as age 10; children are able to assign different barks to the correct context. Humans are even able to so accurately discriminate between different barks that they can program computers to categorize them. How do we perceive meaning in the vocalizations of other species? Apparently, dogs and humans have more in common than you might think.

Due to our shared mammalian histories, canine and human vocalizations follow similar acoustic patterns. For example, a dog will bark when they are in the house and want to go out, and when they are out and want to go in.

In contrast, the maximum number of barks recorded for a Cocker Spaniel in a minute period was , or more than 90 a minute. A dog that barks when you get home is probably saying they are happy to see you. Dogs normally whine when they want something — a toy, food, attention, etc. A dog that whines at the door probably wants to go out, and a dog that whines next to his leash probably wants to go on a walk. Whining can also show anxiety or fear. A dog with separation anxiety will whine while alone and a dog that is afraid of the veterinarian will whine in the lobby.

Dogs also will whine when they are in pain. If your dog seems uncomfortable and is panting and whining, that could indicate they are in pain. Look for contextual clues to let you know what your dog is trying to communicate. Growls are pretty straightforward. Other reasons for howling are to express anxiety, to respond to environmental triggers e. When your dog barks, whimpers, or growls in its sleep, it's most likely dreaming, according to Cuteness. Science suggests that canine brains go through similar stages of electrical activity while sleeping as human brains, so they're perfectly capable of dreaming like we do.

Vocalizations, muscle twitching, and rapid eye movements indicate your pup is in the REM phase of sleep when dreams occur. Sneezing every once in a while isn't a big deal, but it could be cause for concern if your dog can't seem to stop, according to Dogster. Causes of sneezing include irritants, like smoke or dirt; nasal mites, which can overwhelm the immune system; a sinus infection, which could be a sign of canine influenza; sinusitis and rhinitis, when the nasal passage or nose are inflamed; and tumors, like carcinomas and sarcomas.

If your dog is repetitively sneezing, take it to the vet. It can be cute when your dog snores while slumbering, but it could be annoying — and concerning — if the snoring is too loud and frequent, according to Pet MD.

Certain breeds with short snouts are predisposed to snoring, including pugs, English bulldogs, and Shih Tzus. But even if snoring is natural for your dog, still keep an eye out for potential problems. Your dog could be snoring because of something as simple as the way it's positioned or an allergic reaction to dust or second-hand smoke. More serious causes include sleep apnea, excess weight, hypothyroidism, or an abscessed tooth obstructing the nasal sinus passages.

World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options. Get the Insider App. Click here to learn more. A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation. Chelsea Greenwood. Barking is a dog's main way to communicate, and it can mean a lot of things. Growling doesn't always mean a dog is angry or aggressive. Whining, crying, and whimpering could indicate emotional distress or pain.

Dogs usually grunt when they're content — but that's not always the case. If your dog starts groaning or sighing deeply when you gently pet the top of her head, for example, she's probably not indicating her discomfort, but rather her pure delight.

By groaning, your dog is telling you that whatever you are doing feels great -- and therefore encouraging you to keep it up. You may at first confuse the vocalization with growling, but if you take context into consideration, such as your pooch's posture, you'll see that elation is the name of the game.

Sighing is also how dogs sometimes convey defeat. If your pooch has been enviously eyeballing the turkey sandwich on your kitchen counter, but realizes that she has no way of gaining access to it, you just might hear her sigh as a way of saying, "I surrender. I'm just not going to get my determined paws on that delicious sandwich sitting there all by itself.