We Are The Cure Blog | Canine Cancer Information

This is one very interesting fact I would like to share with my readers. You won’t believe but I had been actually wondering for quite some time that why do our canine friends bark so vigorously? I came across this revelation in a special edition of ‘Behavioral Processes’.

In a research led by evolutionary biologist Katherine Lord, at the University of Massachusetts, she and her co- researchers found that contrary to human belief, barking is not a way of communicating with humans. They don’t intend to give out any signal like ‘I want to eat, play’, etc. This is rather an indication to flee from its predator. The researchers relate this to an attitude inculcated in dogs around 10,000 years ago since the time they began hunting for food in garbage dumps.

But do you know that this special edition also gives insight into the concept of ‘mobbing’. Lord and her colleagues attribute barking to an auditory signal associated with an evolved behavior they refer to as ‘mobbing’. Dogs invented this behavioral tactic themselves as a protective gear against impending danger.

Researchers believe whenever there is an inner conflict they resort to this weapon. In the olden days they used to fight it out among themselves and the fittest of them always survived. Dogs even resort to this when they want to protect their puppies. The sound of barking draws canine pals closer to each other and this frightens away the enemy.

However, domesticated dogs bark the most since they confront more conflicting situations than their stray counterparts.

Thanks Katherine for your research! My curiosity has been finally put to rest. And I believe many of your misconceptions too have been done away with.