Reasons Your Dog Howls When You Howl
Howling is an instinctual behavior in dogs that date back to their wild ancestry.
In the wild, wolves will howl to communicate a wide variety of information to each other across far distances, from their own locations to potential prey and rival wolf packs.
Despite common myths, wolves do not howl at the moon. In fact, they rarely howl for any reason other than to communicate with other wolves.
This instinct to howl to communicate with their pack lingers on in domestic dogs that we know today.
When you howl, you trigger this instinct in your dog to howl alongside their pack, just like they would have done thousands of years ago.
Feeling the impulse to howl is one thing, but howling when you howl is typically a sign that your dog is bonding with you and reassuring both you and everyone else within earshot that you two stick together.
You’ve probably seen similar behavior in humans when the audience at a sports game erupts into their team’s chant or on New Year’s Eve when everyone attempts to muddle their way through the lyrics of Auld Lang Syne.
Making noise, especially rhythmic noise like music or even howling has been shown to reinforce social bonds.
Or your dog may howl when you howl simply as a way of mirroring. Mirroring is a behavior that both humans and dogs have been proven to show.
When you start howling, your loving dog may “mirror” your behavior by howling too for the sole purpose of doing the same behavior. It’s been proven that personality and action mirroring are ways of endearing one another.
Keep in mind that howling is a deeply doggy behavior. It’s one of only a few specific vocalizations that dogs can make besides barking, growling, and a handful of other noises.
When you take it upon yourself to start howling, you’re using a communication tool very familiar to dogs, even ones that don’t often howl of their own accord.
It shouldn’t surprise you then that your dog would attempt to meet you by using the form of communication that you’re using by howling too.
What exactly dogs communicate when they howl still remains a mystery to us. After all, knowing exactly what a dog is trying to communicate when they do any of their communication behaviors would require mind-reading.
However, howling is often used as a way of getting attention or alerting those around of their presence.
When you howl, it’s very likely that your dog believes you are trying to communicate with someone far away, so they start howling to help send the message.
Your dog is trying to alert you to danger
Your dog may also howl to indicate something they suspect is a danger to you, “kind of like a dog alarm system,” Dimit says.
You may hear your dog howl at strangers walking near your house, for example. In this instance, your dog is trying to protect its home and howling is its way of signaling to intruders that they arent welcome on your dogs territory.
What to Do About Excessive Howling
Howling in response to sounds. If your dog howls when they hear a high-pitch sound from an emergency vehicle, they are telling everyone that they hear the sound and are ready to respond. Itâs their instinctual way to say that theyâre aware of their surroundings.
Desensitization and counterconditioning. If the howling is based on how your dog feels about a situation youâll need to change their motivation and feelings. This isnât easy to do, but can be accomplished through consistency and perseverance.Â
Desensitization and counterconditioning are common treatments for fears, anxiety, phobias, and aggression. The goal is to get your dog to change their mind or feelings about a certain trigger. If you are having trouble with the treatment, a licensed Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) can assist you. Â
If your dog howls, whines or barks to get your attention. Some dogs will pick up on the fact that they can get your attention by howling. They may be trying to alert you to perceived danger, or just get you to fill their food bowl. Either way, they are trying to communicate with you. It may seem cute at first, but when it persists you may need to train them to redirect their intentions.Â
Persistent howling can be annoying to you and your neighbors. Try to ignore your dogâs attention-seeking howl and make them feel invisible. This technique tells your dog that their howling doesnt work. Another training tactic is to reward quiet behavior. When your dog is being well-behaved and not responding to outside sounds or triggers give them a treat or special toy. Itâs difficult to notice your dog doing nothing, but rewarding this behavior shows them the right way to get your attention.Â
It may also be helpful to teach your dog to make sound when you ask them to. For instance, you can train your dog to bark or howl when you say, “Speak!” and to quiet down when you say “Quiet!” Offer your dog praise when they obey your commands, slowly adjusting your standards to push them to stay quiet for longer stretches of time before you give them a treat.Â
Spend time with your dog. Excessive howling may indicate that your dog is lonely. Dogs are mans best friend because they are social, just like us! If your dog is left alone for many hours, they may get anxious and sad. When you return home, give your dog plenty of love and attention. Take them on walks, work on tricks or training, and let them spend more quality time with you indoors. Playing with them strengthens your bond and alleviates their stress.
Finding help. Donât be afraid to reach out to a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) if you cant get your dogâs howling under control. If you think your dog is reacting to strangers, other dogs, or family members in a negative way, it may be time to contact a specialist. They can assist you in finding the right treatment for your dogs howling.Â