Your canine buddy has been watching you intently. As a result, it’s very likely that he knows much more about you than you know about him.

If you doubt that, tell me how he knows that when you grab your car keys and your wallet you are about to go for a ride.

Dogs can easily detect your emotions. They know when you are sad, cranky, or ready to play with them. They also learn the time and place for family meals and when it’s just about bed time.

So how much have you managed to learn about your dog? Probably not ten percent as much as he has taught himself about you. However, learning about him is fairly easy once you put your mind to it.

Your dog’s bark serves quite a few different purposes. One bark is used to repel others while another bark is used to attract. Can you detect the difference between his “go away” bark and his “Hey, I’m over here – where the heck are you?” bark? All but the most disinterested dog watchers will notice that dogs barking can range from a muted “woof” of thanks to the high-pitched “yelp” of alarm, to the loud series of angry barks that indicate he’s ready for a fight.

Sir John Lubbock, a 19th century British scientist, noted that when a dog barks it is an attempt to mimic the sound of the human voice. He pointed out that wild dogs may howl but they do not bark. The same can be said about coyotes, wolves, and other members of the canine family that have not heard humans speak or the barking of a domestic dog.

There is a world of difference between a bark and a growl. When a dog barks he raises his head leaving the vulnerable throat area exposed. It is definitely not a battle cry. However, when he growls he lowers his head, protecting his throat, indicating that he’s ready for an impending fight.

When you walk up to the front door of a house and the family dog comes charging toward the door barking loudly you are probably in no immediate danger. But… if he approaches you with his head lowered, growling menacingly, then look out – he’s ready to do battle.

If you stand absolutely still with your hands on your chest not one barking dog in ten will actually bite. However, if you make threatening gestures, or if you turn and run, your chances of one or more bites are extremely high. A strange dogs growl should never be disregarded by anyone who values his skin.