DOGS HOWL, BUT WHY?
It is impossible to miss the long, powerful howl of a dog from kilometres away. You have likely heard this before, or perhaps your dog is a howler. Therefore, you could be wondering, “Why do dogs do that?”
The howling impulse in dogs is presumably inherited from their wolf ancestors and can be triggered by almost anything. If your dog is howling, chances are good that he or she is trying to tell you something.
IT’S IN THEIR BLOOD
Modern-day dogs may have been raised from a wolf pack, but they didn’t always start off that way. Wolves are social creatures that live in huge packs and utilise howling to relay information across great distances.
Even while domestic dogs don’t howl as frequently as wolves, their possible wolf heritage begs the topic of whether or not dogs howl.
Wolves will howl to communicate with and warn off other members of their pack. Wolves are social animals that form packs, and when one of them goes missing the others will use their howl to call him or her back. It can also be employed as a territorial defence mechanism to scare away intruders.
Wolf packs utilise their distinctive howl to express to one another and other animals that they mean business, whether it’s to form closer bonds among themselves or to send a message of intimidation. But what exactly should we be learning from our dogs? Because they can’t explain why they’re howling if they don’t have anything to defend or anyone to worry about going missing from their pack.
IT STARTS WITH A SPARK
When a dog is provoked, he or she may respond instinctively by howling.
It’s natural if your dog howls in response to the sound of an emergency vehicle siren; after all, that’s probably rather startling for him.
Possibly, your furry buddy is trying to defend you and themselves from the danger they see in the commotion. The fact that dogs will howl in response to a perceived threat lends credence to the idea that howling is an innate behaviour passed down from their wolf ancestors.
A dog’s howl in this context is quite normal, and there’s no need to worry until it’s followed by physical hostility. If your dog howls when prompted, it will likely begin and end its howling in reaction to the stimulus.
Howling could also be triggered by the sight of another animal or even a human entering the premises. There may even be a raging roar awaiting your return. Consider it your dog’s way of saying, “I’ve missed you so much, welcome home!” Even if it’s only been ten minutes since you left!
If you howl or sing to some dogs, they may return the favour. There’s a chance that your dog is howling to join in on the action.
You shouldn’t have to worry too much if your puppy decides to express its wolf-like nature with a howl. If the trigger happens too often, though, it could be a problem.
HOW TO STOP THIS
If your dog seems to be wailing too often, perhaps because it is feeling threatened or nervous, you may want to try to break it of this behaviour.
Your dog’s reactions to these triggers can be improved through the use of a behaviour modification programme, such as desensitisation.
Given that the howling stems from the dog’s emotional reaction to a specific stimulus, you will need to gradually introduce the trigger to your dog at a very low dose. Your dog can be desensitised to an allergen, odour, or noise by gradually exposing them to increasing doses of the substance over time.
ATTRACTING YOUR ATTENTION
If your dog suddenly starts howling from another room in the home, you might freak out, but they’re generally just trying to get your attention so they can play with you.
Dogs may get your attention in a variety of ways, but a loud, sustained howl is the most common.
HOW TO STOP THIS
Your first inclination may be to scold your dog and instruct it to be quiet because of how bothersome this behaviour may be.
Regardless of the form it takes, even a reprimand from you is good in your dog’s eyes. Even if you’ve always paid attention to your dog’s howls, your pet needs to understand that this is no longer the case.
The easiest approach to stop this is to ignore them completely when they are wailing and reward them when they are silent for an extended period of time.
SHOULD I BE WORRIED IF MY DOG HOWLS?
If you do notice your dog howling, first confirm they’re not trying to tell you something deeper and more serious.
INJURY
Even if you’ve never heard your dog cry before, a protracted, melancholy howl could indicate that your pet is in distress. You should take your dog to the vet immediately if you suspect an injury or if you notice any signs of discomfort if you notice your dog acting strangely.
SEPARATION ANXIETY
Unless you have a camera set up, you really have no idea what your dog does when you’re not around.
Every day, you go to work, and maybe one day, an irate neighbour tells you that your dog has been screaming mournfully. Your dog may exhibit separation anxiety, which may come as a surprise if you previously believed he or she was totally content and healthy.
Long exposure to human company, both in their daily lives and in their professional roles, has left most domesticated dogs with an insatiable appetite for companionship. Most canines despise the idea of living alone.
Your dog’s destructive behaviour, accidents in the bathroom, whimpering, and reports of barking or screaming when left alone are all symptoms of separation anxiety. We know that wolves have howled for centuries to signal the return of lost pack members. There’s a chance that your dog is howling at you because it considers you to be a lost member of the pack.
HELPING YOUR DOG’S SEPARATION ANXIETY
Addressing your dog’s separation anxiety, in whatever form it occurs in, is crucial. Even if it means breaking things, complaining, barking, or wailing. It may not have any affect on you, but a dog that is stressed and anxious every time you leave the house is not a happy dog.
It will take a lot of care and understanding to teach your dog that alone time is an opportunity to unwind rather than a cause for anxiety.
If your dog has mild separation anxiety, try leaving them for short periods of time and rewarding excellent behaviour with praise when you return. Gradually increase the time they spend alone.
It’s crucial that you never punish your dog for being destructive while you’re gone. As they demonstrated this wicked behaviour a while ago, they will not know what they’re being chastised for and may start to associate you coming home with punishment.
Always remember to train your dog to be practical. This won’t happen instantly, and some dogs will progress a lot faster than others. It’s also crucial to do all you can ahead of time to ease their fears, such as:
An item like a Kong filled with Pure can keep a dog occupied and stimulate its mind for quite some time.
Providing extensive exercise to your dog before you leave them alone will help tyre them out and make them more receptive to relaxing while you’re gone.
Make sure the room where your dog is left is pleasant (bed, water, toys) (bed, water, toys)
Your dog’s anxiety at being left alone may be incredibly severe and seems hard to solve on your own, so receiving advice from a skilled behaviourist could be something to consider about. To address the issue, a more regimented approach to behaviour management is being considered. For in-depth advice on calming your dog’s separation anxiety, read this post.
Getting a dog sitter may be a good option if you need to leave your dog for long periods of time, such as while you are at work all day.
Your dog needs to learn independence because you can’t be there 24/7. Spending as much time as you can with your dog can help curb destructive, attention-seeking behaviour. Just like us, dogs need to interact with others.
DO CERTAIN DOG BREEDS HOWL MORE?
Yes, some dogs are genetically prone to wailing. Howlers tend to be descended from canines that were employed at some stage. Dogs like huskies and hound breeds are amongst those that are most likely to demonstrate this habit.
Husky howls are the most reminiscent of a wolf’s, and despite the fact that all dogs descend from wolves, huskies are the most wolf-like. Anything that makes you want to howl, whether it be music, sirens, your own voice, etc.
Also notable for their loud howls are hound breeds. There was a time when hounds’ howls would lead hunters straight to their prey.
Common causes of puppy howling include hunger, thirst, loneliness, and the urge to relieve themselves.
SPECIFIC DOG BREEDS MOST LIKELY TO HOWL:
The Siberian Husky
An Alaskan Malamute
AKC Inuit Hound
Hounds of several breeds, including the Beagle, Bloodhound, Basset Hound, and Dachshund
The propensity to howl is something to think about if you’re considering buying one of these dog breeds. Relentless howling might become an issue depending on the how often it occurs and what causes it.
On the other hand, you may think of your dog’s wailing as a charming peculiarity. Or maybe you’d just like to have a little sing-along with your animal pal.