養狗的人會知道，狗有時候會對著空蕩蕩的地方（也可以說是空氣）無緣無故地汪汪叫。這真的很挑戰狗主人的神經，狗這樣汪汪叫的時候到底在想什么呢？

A dog can be a person’s best friend, or so the theory goes. But that relationship can be tested when a dog begins barking at an empty corner of a room, at a door, or anywhere where there doesn’t appear to be any activity at all taking place. Is the dog hallucinating? Is it communicating with interdimensional beings? Or does it simply want to drive its owner to the brink of sanity?

從常理上來講，狗是人類最好的朋友。但是當一條狗對著房間里空蕩蕩的角落、對著門或對著任何一個沒有動靜的地方汪汪叫，人與狗的友情可能就要面臨考驗了。這是狗出現幻覺了嗎？還是狗正在和跨維度空間的生命交談？亦或是狗只是想把主人逼瘋？

According to the American Kennel Club, the most common explanation for unprompted woofing is that it’s not really unprompted at all. Instead, it’s likely that humans are simply unable to perceive whatever visual, aural, or olfactory cues the dog is sensing.

美國養犬俱樂部稱，對于毫無來由的汪汪叫最常見的解釋是它可能并不是真的無緣無故，只不過人類無法察覺到狗能感知到的視覺、聽覺和嗅覺線索。

Dogs are, obviously, equipped with superior hearing, including the ability to detect sounds that are higher in pitch. In theory, a dog could be reacting to a noise that a person nearby wouldn’t be able to hear—possibly a far-off vehicle siren.

顯然，狗具有超級敏銳的聽力，能聽到更高音調的聲音。理論上，狗可能是在對某種聲音作出反應，可能是遠處車輛的鳴笛聲，而狗身邊的人聽不到這個聲音。

If a dog barks seemingly unprovoked at night, it might be because ambient noise is lessened and they’re more attuned to the various howling and barking of other dogs. Because dogs are territorial, one dog barking can turn into many.

如果一條狗在夜里似乎無緣無故地叫起來，這可能是因為四周的聲音減弱了，讓狗可以聽到其他狗的叫聲。因為狗是有地盤意識的，一只狗汪汪叫會引發很多只狗都開始汪汪叫。

Dogs are also able to see better in the dark than humans thanks to their ability to get more light into their retinas. If a dog is reacting to what looks to you like an empty backyard at night, it’s possible that something has caught their attention, be it a wild animal, a leaf, or a serial killer.

狗在黑暗中比人看得更清楚，這是因為它們的視網膜能吸收更多光線。如果一條狗對著夜里在你看起來空蕩蕩的后院汪汪叫，那么可能是它們注意到了某樣東西，也許是一只野生動物，一片葉子，或一個連環殺手。

That’s not to say that dogs only bark when their canine senses are triggered. Some dogs might bark spontaneously out of boredom, in which case more exercise or playtime is probably needed. They might also be trying to get their owner’s attention.

這并不是說狗汪汪叫都是因為它們的感官察覺到了什么。有些狗可能是因為無聊才自發地叫起來，這時候意味著它們需要更多運動或玩樂時間。它們也可能是在試圖引起主人的注意。

The AKC recommends that owners avoid scolding their dogs for barking, since they’re simply trying to remain vigilant. Instead, you can try reassuring the dog to let them know you’re aware of their concern. If they tend to bark while gazing out a window, you can also try to manage their vantage point with curtains. If you suspect the source is an audio cue, some white noise, like a television or radio, can help.

美國養犬俱樂部建議，狗主人盡量不要在狗汪汪叫的時候訓斥它們，因為它們只是保持警覺而已。你應該試著去安撫狗，讓狗知道你已經了解它的擔憂。如果狗總是一邊望向窗外一邊叫，你可以試著拉上窗簾，讓它們看不到窗外的事物。如果你懷疑狗狗是因為聽到了某種聲音而叫，你可以播放一些白噪音（比如打開電視或收音機）來蓋住這種聲音。

Less often, chronic barking might be a sign of cognitive issues. If barking is persistent and no fugitive is hiding out in your bushes, then you might consider a trip to the vet.

盡管不太常見，但長期汪汪叫也可能是狗出現認知問題的信號。如果狗不停地叫，而灌木叢里又一無所獲，你可能要考慮帶狗去看看獸醫。

英文來源：Mental Floss

翻譯&編輯：丹妮

審稿：潘一僑、齊磊