Dogs are extremely intelligent creatures who use their body language to communicate with others. The best way to know how your pup feels is by paying attention to their body, facial expressions and tone.
A happy dog will often vocalize their bark in a way that sounds like they are singing! This is their way of letting you know they are in a good mood.
Bark
A dog's bark is a powerful tool for communicating with their owner. It can indicate a range of emotions, from happiness to fear.
Barks are made based on a combination of three factors: pitch, frequency (or repetition rate) and duration. This combination determines whether it's time for play or alerting you to something important going on.
One type of bark, called reactive barking, is often an alarm when a dog has spotted or heard something new and unexpected. They bark to let you know that something isn't quite right and needs your attention, like a car or someone who doesn't belong.
Whine
Whining is a dog’s way of asking for something, such as food or attention. It’s a common behavior, but it can be annoying when it happens too often.
It can also be a warning sign that they’re feeling anxious or scared about something. It’s important to know what’s making them whine so that you can take them to the vet for a checkup.
The word whine is derived from the Old English hwinan, which means “to rush, to whizz, to squeal, to whistle.” It’s related to Icelandic hvina, Norwegian hvine and Swedish vina.
When a dog is whining, they may be hoping to get what they want or they might be trying to let you know that they need more exercise or food.
Whining is a submissive behavior, like how wolves bow their heads and put their tail between their legs to apologize when they’re shunned from their pack. It’s a good idea to acknowledge the apology and give them some praise, so that they feel welcome again.
Singing
A dog’s vocalizations are a natural, instinctual part of their daily lives. Barking, whining, and howling are all ways that dogs communicate with their owners and other animals in their environment.
Singing is an additional way that dogs communicate with their owners. It can also be a means of strengthening the bond between you and your pet.
In some cases, you might hear your dog sing if they’re feeling anxious or need your attention. They may be trying to let you know they need a treat or want you to play with them.
But, if they’re singing a lot or in an annoying way, you might need to take a closer look at what’s triggering their behavior. If your dog is constantly howling or singing, it could be a sign of something more serious like an illness or anxiety. If you can’t figure out what’s going on, you should seek professional assistance. Your vet will be able to give you some guidance on the best way to manage your dog’s vocalizations.
Eye Gaze
Eye-gaze technology provides individuals who have severe physical disabilities and complex communication needs with opportunities to participate in the digital and social worlds. It can help them access computer software, write, compose music and paint.
It can also be used to operate a television, telephone and music through remote control, enabling people with limited mobility to live independently. It can also be used as a speech generating device for those who cannot speak.
Using eye-gaze control devices has helped many individuals with significant disabilities to become more independent, including patients diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), cerebral palsy, strokes, and multiple sclerosis [6,7]. The devices give users control of a computer by focusing or dwelling their gaze on desired menus, keys or icons for a set duration of time, often called a ‘dwell’, allowing them to click on what they are looking at when the dwell time is over.
However, studies on the use of eye-gaze controlled computers for this population are limited. They primarily concern people with ALS or other progressive conditions.
