Your When a dog howls does it mean death? Here’s the Answer

The Origin Of The Superstition

Movie writers didn’t coin the belief that dog owls are a bad omen out of nowhere.

For centuries (if not millennia), people have associated canine howls with death. Here’s a look at what different cultures believe in this aspect.

In ancient Egypt, people believed that Anubis – the god that watched over the dead had a head resembling that of a dog. So when death was looming, a dog would howl to call Anubis to come for a soul.

For a section of Nordic countries, the god of death, fertility, and magic was known as Freyja. When a dog made a high-pitched voice, it meant that Freyja was on her way with her chariot pulled by two cats. The chariot was believed to move across the sky to collect souls. Since dogs naturally don’t like cats, they would howl at the sight of the felines pulling on the chariot.

The superstition originated from Ireland as well. Here, dogs howled when they saw a pack of hounds leading riders across the sky as they hunted for souls.

Although it doesn’t seem like it, the United States once also believed in the link between canine howling and death. Some people back in the day (perhaps even today), hold the opinion that dog owls imply death. For this group, the number of dogs howling is thought to be significant. If a man is about to die, two dogs will howl in close succession. Three howling dogs mean the impending death of a woman. Also, the direction the dog faces when howls indicate who is about to pass away. If the dog faces you, luck is not on your side. The opposite is also true.

Is dogs howling a sign of death?

When the howl of a dog breaks the silence of night, it’s an omen of death. If a dog howls for no reason, it means he sees unseen spirits. If a dog howls outside of the window of a person who is ill, that person will die. Especially if the dog was driven away, then returned to howl again.

Egypt – The God Anubis

In another account of superstition associated with howling, the Egyptians revered Anubis as the god of mummification and afterlife.

As a matter of fact, Anubis safeguarded the dead person’s tombs and their souls.

Also, when dogs howl, it’s believed that they are welcoming Anubis.

When a dog howls does it mean death?

It is often difficult to watch a dog pass away and the experience can be unsettling. Whether it is a sudden death or a prolonged medical condition, the experience is still the same and it comes along with a long list of unique sounds that are noted by the dog owner. Keeping this in mind, you may be wondering, why did my dog howl before he died?

A dog may howl before dying as a way to attract another dog or human’s attention. This is common in situations where the dog requires assistance and has been injured. It is also a form of communication displayed by certain dogs depending on their surroundings similar to barking.

In situations such as these, it’s recommended to spend time being close to the dog and making sure they are aware of your presence.

If your dog was howling before dying, it means they were likely attracting your attention. This is often the goal with a pet dog that is on the verge of passing away.

These details are going to impact how the dog behaves before dying. Some dogs will whimper, others will go quiet, and then there are specific dogs that will start howling or barking.

This is normal behavior as each dog is going to be unique when it comes to how they react to their fading energy and other associated symptoms.

If you are wondering, “Why did my dog howl before he died?” take the time to go through this article to learn more about the phenomenon and why it occurs.