I have a dog (who became a teenager this year) and she absolutely loves to bark, particularly in the early morning hours (1 or 2 am). I do not mind this at all. Why? Because it is her way of communicating, even if I can’t understand the language she speaks.

I’ve noticed a number of dog owners do not like to hear their (or other peoples’) dog barking. Some act embarrassed by it and try to shush the dog, while others will be downright abusive or cruel and physically harm the dog. Needless to say, I find such behavior very intolerable.

While we may not be able to understand every bark, woof or growl, it does not make their words any less important. Some of the reasons a dog may bark include:

• A warning or call of alarm (such as a strange animal or person intruding in their territory)
• A need (such as for food or to go outside)
• A playful bark (they want some attention!)
• A spirit encounter (animals are particularly sensitive to the presence of ghosts and other things we may not see)

Personally, I encourage my dog to bark when she wants to. In some cases, dealing with that is more tolerable than the nagging and bickering that comes from people; and it usually will stop sooner than later (also unlike people who can drag on talking about nothing for hours).

The bottom line is, if you have a dog or are considering getting a dog, be prepared for it to bark, especially at times you don’t want it to. Abusing the animal in any way is uncalled for. If you don’t like dealing with barking dogs in your neighborhood, move elsewhere. Above all else: if you have a dog and can’t stand the barking, you should have gotten a cat or fish instead.

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