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We have all heard our dogs howl and wondered why they are, all of the sudden, channeling their inner wolf. In all reality, while we don’t quite understand it, howling is your dog’s way of communicating outside of barking and shrieking. There are several reasons why your dog may be howling. And while you may find it annoying or worrisome, some of the reasons are very simple:
As harmless as those reasons are, all of your dog’s howls may not be so trivial and could signal a real issue with your dog. The worrisome reasons for your dog to howl:
Howling is a primal reaction that your dog has. Your dog is communicating with you and other dogs around him. Unless it is incessant or urgent, you have a normal dog that just wants to let you know what is going on.
If you think about the origins of the domestic dog, a single wolf approximately 15,000 years ago, it makes sense that dogs do howl, as do wolves and coyotes. One theory is that the dog that howls for long periods of time is either bored or lonely. Another suggests they are searching for another canine or providing a location to a far away pack member. The howl is considered to be a long distance doggie telephone call since the long drawn-out sound can travel for distances of several miles thus alerting other dogs to their location or needs.
Most often today dogs howl when they hear other sounds that they perceive is a canine calling card such as a siren at a nearby firehouse. Perhaps the more recent sirens just didn’t have the right pitch to kick in that ancient instinct to howl in your Poodle like the time in the car. I first observed one of my Norwegian Elkhounds howling because of the siren too. Howling is just another way dogs communicate with each other, just like dogs have different types of barking to communicate multiples needs. There is the “I’m happy to see you” bark, the “stranger in the yard” alert bark, the “I have to go outside to relive myself” bark, and so on.
Besides the howl and the bark, let’s not forget the “bay.” Beagles often bay, which can be described as a sounding alarm that quarry is near or in sight. Below are three definitions from Merriam-Webster’s which really sums up the differences between canine communication nicely:
So whether your dog is howling for friends, barking for fun or baying during the hunt, it’s not so important to ask why they are doing it, but rather to listen what your dog is trying to tell you. https://www.akc.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php Get Your Free AKC eBook
Your dog is reacting to something they hear
Many dogs howl when they become stimulated by high-pitched sounds, like sirens or alarms. Your dog may also howl at music, says Rebecca Greenstein, DVM, chief veterinarian and practice owner at Kleinburg Veterinary Hospital.
These responses to loud noises are an ancestral instinct. Wolves use howling to communicate with each other in the wild. By howling, your dog is trying to acknowledge that they hear the sound and are ready to respond.
This type of howling usually starts when the dog hears the trigger sound and stops when the sound does. While it may be annoying, it usually isnt a cause for concern.
What dog breed howls the most?
Those more likely to howl include several hound breeds, including dachshunds, beagles, basset hounds and bloodhounds, as well as huskies, Alaskan malamutes and American Eskimo dogs.
If you leave your dog at home and hear howling when you step out of the door, it’s a good sign that your dog may be stressed, scared, and have separation anxiety. Separation anxiety usually involves other things along with howling, like destructive behavior, pacing, or clawing at a cage or door.