Their "FUNNY" reaction is a trauma response
If you missed the TikTok #barkatyourdogchallenge, it's exactly what it sounds like: a person barking at their dog. The purpose of the challenge is to record a video of your dog reacting to you barking at them in their face.
The dogs' shocked reactions are meant to be amusing, but animal specialists say their expressive eyes and expressions are actually signals of stress and dread. Here are some reasons why you should never bark at your dog (or any dog).
What happens if you yell at your dog?
- The "funny" emotions, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC), are essentially ones of stress and anxiety. Here are several examples:
- "Whale's eye" (where they open their eyes and make them extra big)
- Body and face characteristics that are stiff
- Ears pinned back
- Barking or vocalizing in response to the human
- They are licking their lips
- displaying teeth
- Attempting to flee
Other reactions are more evident, letting you know that your dog is not a fan of you barking in their face (or whatever else you did to startle them). According to the AKC, they might include:
- Barking
- Lunging
- Snapping
- Biting
Of course, every dog is different, but the AKC suggests avoiding this challenge to be safe.
Why do dogs get agitated when people bark at them?
What precisely is a dog thinking when a person yells at them?
"When dogs bark, the tone and body language may suggest everything from 'play' to 'I'm afraid,' and even defensive "stay away" veterinarian Dr. Jo Woodnutt told Pets Radar. "In this trend, people are barking at their pets without consideration for their body language or tone, which might be misunderstood."
Along the same reasons, Woodnutt observes that the TikTok challenge involves two other human behaviors that make dogs uneasy: invading their personal space and making eye contact with them—both of which dogs regard as dangerous. "By reading the dogs' body language, I can see that many of them are already worried about the circumstance and aren't sure what's going on—they're on edge" Woodnutt says.
#Dogs #Barking #ScaredDogs #barkatyourdogchallenge
SOURCE: lifehacker
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