Why do dogs howl

To express their desires, needs and feelings, dogs make different sounds, but the dog’s howl cannot be confused with anything else. Does a dog howl for no reason or does it have a reason? Experts understand.

Why a dog howls: reasons

Howling is a deeply instinctive behavior. A dog’s howl is similar to a wolf’s – it is a loud, drawn-out, plaintive cry. It is different from barking, which is usually short and explosive.

A dog can howl for the same reasons as wolves. However, as dogs have evolved and become closer to humans, the reasons for their howls may have also changed somewhat. A few reasons why a dog may howl:

• Pack signal. Like wolves, dogs howl to help pack members find their way home, according to Dogster. This applies not only to wild dogs that really move in packs, but also to pets who consider their owners and those who care for them to be their pack. This is one of the reasons why a pet howls at home when there are no owners.
• Scaring off predators and declaring their territory. With his howl, the dog announces to rivals and potential opponents that the territory belongs to him and they should stay away from him. Perhaps this is why one howling dog can make all the dogs in the area howl – each of them wants to tell the others who is in what territory.
• Noise response. The dog may howl in response to the sound of a siren, musical instrument, television, or the owner’s singing. Such a howl can mean both protest at the noise and delight caused by the fact that she likes the sounds she hears and wants to join.
• Expression of emotional pain. Dogs may howl to express fear, anxiety, or sadness, or to ask for comfort. Pets suffering from separation anxiety often howl when left alone by their owners.
• Expression of physical pain. Similarly, animals in physical pain or discomfort may howl to signal to their owners that something is bothering them. If the reason why the dog howls is not clear, you need to check if he is showing signs of pain. If after some time it was not possible to establish why the dog howls for no reason, you need to contact a veterinarian.

When making this sound, the dog likes to lift its muzzle up to the sky. There are many speculations about the reasons why dogs throw their heads up, but there is little information about why exactly they can “howl at the moon.” Many believe that this is due to the desire to straighten the vocal cords, increasing the flow of air from the chest to get more volume. Others speculate that this allows the length of the sound waves to be extended and to let more dogs and other animals know of their presence.

Which dogs howl the most

While howling is common with all dogs, some breeds are more prone to it than others, Dogster reports. These breeds include the Dachshund, the Beagle, the Basset Hound and the Bloodhound, as well as the Husky, the Alaskan Malamute and the American Eskimo Dog.

As Rover writes, dogs often begin to howl more as they age, especially older animals whose minds are confused due to decreased mental acuity or loss of vision or hearing.

How to wean a dog howl

Since dogs can howl for a variety of reasons, training methods will also differ accordingly. If the dog is howling in pain or direct exposure to noise, there is no need for training. But to wean a dog howl in the absence of the owners is a more difficult task. If she likes to join the chorus of howling neighbor dogs at night, training will most likely be required. Howling is a form of behavior, so it may take longer to wean a pet from a bad habit. Don’t punish your dog for howling, the extra stress will only make things worse. Instead, you should reward him for good behavior – in this case, when the dog stops howling, you need to praise him and sometimes give him a treat. You can also switch her attention to something more interesting.

If the dog began to howl, the reason can be any – there are a lot of them. However, one thing seems obvious: if the dog howls, he most likely just wants the attention of the owner!