Clubs Offering:
Have you ever cranked up the radio during your favorite song or played a piece on the piano, only to have your dog seemingly sing along? It’s not uncommon to hear dogs howl along to music. In fact, YouTube is filled with videos of dogs showing off their vocal prowess. But why do they do it?
One reason for howling is the modern dog’s connection to his ancestor, the wolf. In the wild, wolves howl to communicate with one another. They do it to let other pack members knows where they are or to warn off other animals encroaching on their territory. They also do it to assemble the pack and assert a group identity. It’s similar to the domino effect that happens when one dog in the neighborhood starts to howl, and every other dog joins in. Your canine companion may not even know why he’s howling, but the behavior is deeply buried in his genetic code.
In fact, research suggests that canines actually have a sense of pitch. For example, as more wolves join in, each one changes its tone, and recordings have shown that each wolf is howling a different note. Your dog, too, can differentiate pitch and tone. Dogs also pick up higher frequencies than the human ear, so they may be howling along to something you can’t even hear. Your dog may deliberately join in at a completely different pitch or note just to individualize his howl.
Some people think dogs howl along to AC/DC or a Bach flute sonata because it hurts their ears, but if your dog was in pain, he’d most likely run away from the sound, hide, or cover his head.
Do dogs prefer certain types of music?
Deborah Wells, a psychologist at Queens University in Belfast, set out to discover if dogs, like humans, have musical preferences. She exposed dogs at a shelter to different types of music and monitored their responses. Wells used popular music (including Bob Marley and Britney Spears); classical music (including Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons,” and Grieg’s “Morning”); and heavy metal (like Metallica).
The dogs responded very differently to the three types of music. Pop music produced no noticeable effect. Heavy metal, however, created a bit of canine pandemonium. The dogs became very agitated and started barking. Classical music, on the other hand, caused the dogs to stop barking, become calm, and even settle in one place.
“It is well established that music can influence our moods,” Wells says. “Classical music, for example, can help to reduce levels of stress, whilst grunge music can promote hostility, sadness, tension, and fatigue. It is now believed that dogs may be as discerning as humans when it comes to musical preference.”
If your dog has a favorite type of music, it doesn’t hurt to let him join in on the fun. You might find that you’re in perfect harmony. https://www.akc.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php Get Your Free AKC eBook
Why do dogs howl?Howling as a means of vocal communication has been studied in the Canidae family for many years.Canids like the wolf, coyote, jackal, and dog communicate socially through howling.A classic study from the 1960s found that wolves are most likely to howl when they are isolated from the rest of their pack.One recent
What other sounds cause dogs to howl?
These arent the only sounds that can trigger a dog to howl; youll find that they can howl at your cell phone ringing, an ambulance siren, televisions, and other things, which can cause them confusion.
If youre a fan of reggae, Motown, pop, and classical music, your dog may also be a fan of these genres. A study was conducted by Bowman et al., which showed dogs became calmer, less stressed, and had a decreased heart rate after listening to music.
If you hear your dog howling and you think its music, be cautious; the sound could be too high and could hurt its ears. They may not also be howling due to music. Listen carefully after the music stops, as they could continue howling.
If this is the case, you will want to assess the situation further. Your dog could be lonely, in pain, or just nervous as they also howl when theyre experiencing these feelings. If you feel your dog could be howling because of this, we recommend seeking help from a vet.
Dogs are unique animals; they descend from wolves and, at times, display similar characteristics to their ancestors. So why do they howl to music? Well, as mentioned above, it comes down to two things.
Often dogs will bark at sounds with high pitched frequencies as they are often confused, thinking its another member of the pack nearby. Similarly, they also do it as a way to bond with humans.
Overall, dogs are awesome. They can detect certain sounds that we cannot hear ourselves. If you have a dog, be cautious of high pitched sounds like sirens, cell phone ringtones, horns, and other things that can cause them to bark.
Some research has shown they also become calmer to certain types of music. Do you have a dog? Have you noticed how it howls to music? Dont hesitate to leave a comment with your story below!
Alex Wrigley is a professional writer and blogger who loves travel, technology and dogs. She is originally from the UK but currently lives in Nepal with her three dogs: two pugs and a golden retriever.
