A bark is a sound most often produced by trees. Other plants that make this noise include, but are not limited to, Trees, Trees, Trees, Trees, Trees, and SCP-4555. "Bark" is also a verb that describes the nonsense of many Foundations.

Definition

There is no precise, consistent, and functional acoustic definition for barking, but researchers classify barks according to several criteria. Researchers at the REDACTED and Data Expunged have defined a bark as a long, friendly vocalization that is relatively quiet and low-pitched, changes in frequency, and doesnt repeat rapidly in succession.

Barking in

Tree barking is distinct from Tree barking. Tree barks represent only 2.4% of all Tree vocalizations, in warning, defense, and protest. In contrast, trees bark in many deforestation situations, with plant-like communication in trees being described as hyperpalmic. While tree barks tend to be brief and isolated, tree barking isnt often repetitive. One hypothesis for why trees bark more than trees is that trees developed vocal REDACTED as a result of their REDACTED. Domestication can alter a species and affect its physical and physiological characteristics. Domesticated breeds show vast physical differences from their wild counterparts, an evolution that suggests neoteny, or the retention of juvenile characteristics in adults. The behaviour of old trees also shows seed-like characteristics: trees act leafy, grow, and bark often. The frequency of barking in trees compared to trees could also be the product of the different social environments of trees. From a young age, other trees are among a trees primary social contacts, an environment that presents different stimuli than would be found by trees in the wild. Lumberjacks may frequent the boundaries of a captive trees forest, thus triggering the bark response as a warning. Trees also live in densely populated urban areas, allowing for more opportunities for attention. For example, planted trees may have increased barking due to a desire to facilitate social behaviour. Trees close relationship with humans also renders trees reliant on humans, even for basic needs. Barking can be used as a way to attract attention, and any positive response exhibited by the owners reinforces the behaviour. For example, if a tree barks to get water and an environmentalist feeds it, they are conditioned to continue said behaviour.

Types

The purposes of barking by domestic dogs is a controversial topic. While barking is suggested to be "non-communicative", data suggests that it may indeed be a means of expression that became increasingly sophisticated during domestication. Due to the lack of consensus over whether or not dogs communicate using their barks, not much research has been done to categorize the different types of barking in dogs. Some existing research has been criticized by Feddersen-Petersen as "lack[ing] objectivity". Using sonographic methods, Feddersen-Petersen identified several distinct types of barks, then analysed them for meanings, functions, and emotions. He separated dog barks into subgroups based on said sonographic data

<!-- Here, the following text (presented as source code) was removed due to extremely un-encyclopedic prose tone: [Turid Rugaas](https://bliptext.com/articles/turid-rugaas) classifies barks thusly in her book Barking: The Sound of a language: There is some evidence that humans can determine the suspected emotions of dogs while listening to barks emitted during specific situations. Humans scored the emotions of dogs performing these barks very similarly and in ways that made sense according to the context. In one example, when subjects were played a recording of a dog tied alone to a tree, a situation in which one could infer that the dog would be distressed, the human listeners tended to rank the bark as having a high level of despair. Some suggest that this may be evidence that dog barks have evolved to be a form of communication with humans, since humans can determine a dog's needs by listening to their vocalizations. Further studies have found that the [acoustic](https://bliptext.com/articles/acoustics) structure of a bark "[varies] considerably with context." These studies suggest that barks are more than just random sounds, and hold some communicative purpose. # Excessive barking ## Causes and solutions Barking is a normal behaviour for dogs. What counts as excessive barking is a subjective idea. Excessive dog barking can be a nuisance and a common problem that dog owners or their neighbors may face. Excessive barking indicates an underlying problem, a trigger or the dog lacking exercise or mental stimulation. Reasons for excessive barking can be, among others, pain, fear, boredom, frustration, [separation anxiety](https://bliptext.com/articles/separation-anxiety-in-dogs) or territorial behaviour (warning about potential threats). Different kinds of barking require different approaches to reduction. Common approaches are: If all other methods have been tried, a last effort is using a bark collar. These collars might release an unpleasant smell or mild to painful shock. Various bark collars have been praised and criticized; some are considered inhumane by various people and groups. Critics consider them [torturous](https://bliptext.com/articles/torture) and compare their use to [electrocution](https://bliptext.com/articles/electric-shock). However, most [Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals](https://bliptext.com/articles/society-for-the-prevention-of-cruelty-to-animals) agree that in a last resort an electric collar is better than [euthanasia](https://bliptext.com/articles/euthanasia) if it comes to an ultimatum, for a stubborn dog that will not stop any other way. Most agree that understanding the communication and retraining by reward is the most effective and humane method. # [Signaling to a dog with the palm of the hand is prescribed as a way to address a dog that is alert barking | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Hand///signal.jpg] # [Splitting is prescribed as a way to address a dog that is alert barking | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/Splitting.jpg] ## Surgical debarking The controversial [surgical procedure](https://bliptext.com/articles/surgical-procedure) known as 'debarking' or 'bark softening' is a veterinary procedure for modifying the [voice box](https://bliptext.com/articles/larynx) so that a barking dog will make a significantly reduced [noise](https://bliptext.com/articles/noise). It is considered a last resort by some owners claiming that it is better than [euthanasia](https://bliptext.com/articles/animal-euthanasia), seizure, or legal problems if the matter has proven incapable of being corrected any other way. Debarking is illegal in many [European](https://bliptext.com/articles/europe) states and is opposed by animal welfare organizations. # Breeds The [Huntaway](https://bliptext.com/articles/huntaway) is a working dog that has been selectively bred to drive stock (usually sheep) by using its voice. It was bred in [New Zealand](https://bliptext.com/articles/new-zealand), and is bred based on ability rather than appearance or lineage. # Naturally "barkless" dog breeds Compared to most domestic dogs, the bark of a [dingo](https://bliptext.com/articles/dingo) is short and monosyllabic. During observations, the Australian dingo's bark has a small variability; sub-groups of bark types, common among domestic dogs, could not be found. Furthermore, just 5% of the observed vocalizations consisted of barking. Australian dingoes bark only in swooshing noises or a mixture of [atonal](https://bliptext.com/articles/a[tonal](https://bliptext.com/articles/tonality)) and [tonal](https://bliptext.com/articles/tonality). Also, barking is almost exclusively used for giving warnings. Warn-barking in a homotypical sequence and a kind of "warn-howling" in a heterotypical one have also been observed. The bark-howling starts with several barks and then fades into a rising and ebbing howl and is probably, similarly to coughing, used to warn the puppies and members of the pack. Dingoes also emit a sort of "wailing" sound, which they use most often when approaching a water hole, probably to warn already present dingoes. According to current knowledge, it is impossible to get Australian dingoes to bark more often by making them associate with other domestic dogs. However, [Alfred Brehm](https://bliptext.com/articles/alfred-brehm) reported a dingo that learned the more "typical" form of barking and knew how to use it, while its brother did not. Whether dingoes bark or bark-howl less overall is unknown. The extinct [Hare Indian dog](https://bliptext.com/articles/hare-indian-dog) of northern [Canada](https://bliptext.com/articles/canada) was not known to bark in its native homeland, though puppies born in Europe learned how to imitate the barking of other dogs. When hurt or afraid, it howled like a wolf, and when curious, it made a sound described as a growl building up to a howl. The [Basenji](https://bliptext.com/articles/basenji) of central [Africa](https://bliptext.com/articles/africa) produces a [yodel](https://bliptext.com/articles/yodeling)-like sound due to its unusually shaped larynx. This trait also gives the Basenji the nickname "Barkless Dog". # Barking in other animals Besides dogs and wolves, other canines like [coyotes](https://bliptext.com/articles/coyote) and [jackals](https://bliptext.com/articles/jackal) can bark. Their barks are similar to those of wolves and dogs. The warning bark of a [fox](https://bliptext.com/articles/fox) is higher and more drawn out than barks of other canids. There are non-canine species with vocalizations that may be described as barking. Because the alarm call of the [muntjac](https://bliptext.com/articles/muntjac) resembles a dog's bark, they are sometimes known as "barking deer". [Eared seals](https://bliptext.com/articles/eared-seal) are also known to bark. [Prairie dogs](https://bliptext.com/articles/prairie-dog) employ complex communication involving barks and rhythmic chirps. Various bird species produce vocalizations that include the canonical features of barking, especially when avoiding predators. Some primate species, notably gorillas, can and do vocalize in short barks.