Talk to your dog ??

Mick · 14-03-2005, 16:40

The book of barking

Anyone who has ever wanted to communicate with their canine friend will be able to refer to a dog dictionary after the publication of a new book next week.

Author Stanley Coren's How to Speak Dog hits the shelves in bookshops across the country on March 21st and could become a tool dog-lovers are unable to live without.

Coren delves deep into doggy diction to come up with a guide to what the various whines, growls and barks that emit from your pet's mouth actually mean, as well as the meaning behind their body language.

The man who also brought us canine classics such as How Dogs Think: Understanding the Canine Mind explores what he calls the "Doggish" language, as well as "Doggerel", which is the language we use to communicate with dogs.

"It is probably the case that virtually every human being has, at one time or another, wanted to be Dr Dolittle, or to own King Solomon's ring, so that he or she could understand and talk with animals," Coren begins his latest book with, before taking us on a journey of animal speak that also includes a chapter on why cats and dogs often don't understand each other.

He concludes the book with a visual glossary and a Doggish phrasebook, which includes some of the following pearls of wisdom:

Barks

Continuous barking in a slow manner at a low pitch: Danger is close.

Single, loud and short bark at a high pitch: Stop that and back off.

Stuttering bark: I want to play.

Whines

Whine that drops in pitch at the end: Hurry up I want to go now.

Whine that increases in pitch at the end: I am in need of something.

Tail signals

Tail between the legs: I'm scared and think you might hurt me.

Tail up and curved over back: I am very pleased with myself, thank you very much.

Wagging tail: I am here, what are we going to do? Or, I like you.

luke orourke 1988 · 14-03-2005, 16:45

Rubbish you cannot talk to a dog. how can he know what woofs and whines mean to a dog. its impossible to know who does he think he is dr dolittle. the best way to talk to a dog is by using body language.