As a responsible dog owner, you probably want to understand your dog’s behavior the best way that you can. However, that is not always an easy task, especially for new dog owners. Howling is a form of communication in dogs. So, why do dogs howl? Should you let your dogs howl as much as they want or should you correct this behavior? Let’s find out in this article.
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Superstition Behind Howling Dogs
Many cultures attribute howling of dogs to different things. However, most of these superstitions about howling dogs are believed to be about death or bad omen. In earlier years, most dog owners would frantically stop their dog from howling due to their belief in these superstitions. Nowadays, due to scientific explanations to most of the things happening around us, these superstitions behind howling dogs are slowly being invalidated.
Forms of Communication in Dogs
Dogs are very intelligent animals. In addition, they are able to communicate with other dogs and sometimes, with other animals, too. Here are the audible forms of communication in dogs as recognized by the American Kennel Club:
- Howl – A loud and sustained vocalization of both dogs and wolves.
- Bark – This is the most common sound that we hear from dogs which is short, yet loud.
- Bay – The sound created when transitioning between a bark and a howl or vice versa. Bay sounds deep with prolonged tones.
Why Do Dogs Howl?
Despite being domesticated, dogs still retained their ability to howl. Dogs howl because it is an important part of dog to dog communication. Wolves, the wild counterparts of dogs are able to hunt effectively because of their good communication with each other which is also a combination of howling and other gestures or sounds. On the other hand, dogs communicate with other dogs and people by barking, other vocalizations, and non-verbal cues.
Some dog breeds tend to howl or make funny noises more than other breeds. Top examples are Siberian huskies and the Catahoula Leopard, which is known for making lots of strange noises during playtime.
Howling dogs might want to tell something to other dogs and people. But, of course, we don’t really speak dog language, so we can only guess from a list of reasons why dogs howl. However, as dog owners, we have to keep in mind that howling dogs are trying to tell us something. It is important to understand the cries of dogs to address a problem that your dog might be experiencing.
Separation Anxiety
Dogs may express how they feel by their vocalizations. In addition, separation anxiety is one of the most common causes of dog vocalizations. Separation anxiety may cause your dog to howl for a prolonged period of time until they exhaust themselves or until their owners come back. It is important to address separation anxiety if you want frequent, unwanted howling behavior to stop.
Pain
When in pain, dogs vocalize to communicate with pack members or their owners that they are in pain. Moreover, pain might be caused by different health problems. If your dog is howling more frequently than usual or when you touch specific parts of its body, your dog might be in pain. Illnesses may cause pain in dogs. If you suspect that your dog is howling frequently because it is experiencing pain, you may consult your dog’s veterinarian to address the health issue which might be distressing your dog.
Loneliness
Dogs are very social animals. However, when left alone for an extended period of time, they are unable to cope up with the loneliness very well. To express their loneliness, dogs would usually howl. But, this type of howling might also lead to a chorus of howling from other nearby dogs who might feel the same way.
When dogs are lonely, they might even howl during their sleep because even in their dreams, they might be lonely. To prevent loneliness in dogs, toys and positive reinforcement may help entertain your dog during the time that you are gone. In addition, companionship might really be helpful if your dog is lonely. You may add another dog of the same gender or add a spayed or neutered companion to your dog if you don’t intend to breed them.
Dog Communication
Dogs are very intelligent animals which is capable of communication. Howling is a simple form of communication in dogs to express their feelings or to alert other members of the pack about something that looks suspicious to them. In contrary to the common superstitions which attribute howling dogs to death or ghosts. People often misunderstand howling dogs because of these superstitions. However, dogs howl to communicate. If you do not like the howling behavior of your dog it can be minimized or effectively discouraged. But, keep in mind that some breeds really howl more frequently than others.
How to Prevent Howling in Dogs?
Howling in dogs is feared due to the superstitions behind it. However, in your dog’s mind it is just a harmless form of communication to let their owners and other surrounding dogs know how they feel during that time. Nevertheless, howling might be unwanted behavior in your household or neighborhood, so might want to control this behavior in your dog. Whether your dog is a small or big breed, howling noises might be bothersome to you and other people. Moreover, howling dogs in apartments are often frowned upon by other residents. Here are some ways to effectively manage your dog’s howling behavior:
- Address separation anxiety
- Train your dog to respond to noise correctly
- Use of training collars
- Train your dog using voice commands to prevent howling
- Teach calmness to your dog
- Provide positive reinforcement
- Prevent boredom in dogs by giving them entertaining toys
- Enough exercise and stimulating activities
Conclusion
Therefore, why do dogs howl? Howling is just normal dog behavior, despite all of the superstitions linked to howling dogs. However, there are specific dog breeds which howl more than others since they retained more of these traits from their wolf ancestors. If you dislike howling behavior in your dog, you may address this behavior by identifying the root cause, before proceeding with measures to prevent it.
