Does Your Dog's Bark Annoy You? If So, Here's Why

Researchers at the Ethology Department of the Elte University in Budapest found that particular kinds of bark were more irritating than others because they invoked an emotional response. Since earlier barking studies have shown that high-pitched barks are typical of dogs left alone, and deep, pulsing barks tend to be territorial, the team concluded that barks emitted by distressed dogs are more irritating for humans. The sound of a distressed dog barking is particularly difficult to listen to because it demands a response in a similar way to a baby’s cry, scientists explained.