Here's why it's a bit tricky:
* Dogs have different types of barks: A "ruff" is usually a deep, throaty bark, but dogs also have other types of barks, like yips, howls, and whines.
* Dogs bark for different reasons: The meaning of a bark depends on the context. A "ruff" could mean a dog is warning, playing, or even greeting you.
So, while we use "ruff" to describe a specific type of bark, it doesn't have a single meaning in dog language.