Why is my dog barking? What’s he trying to say? If I only knew. There are many useful and valid reasons for a dog to bark, but when it becomes constant, often we’re left frustrated and perplexed. Think of a parent holding a crying newborn all night. Is she sick? Is she acting spoiled? Like any concerned parent we would search until the answer was found. Unfortunately, as doggie parents, we’re not always as persistent. Too often owners blame their dog, calling him “naughty” or buying shock collars in desperation. But dogs don’t bark for the sake of barking. Our job is to play detective, dig deeper, and find out why!