Why Do Dogs Howl？

You are woken up in the middle of the night by the sound of your dog howling.

Many dog owners wonder, is it because of the full moon? But the moon has nothing to do with it—nor is it ominous.

There are many reasons why dogs howl, but the main ones are distance communication, territoriality, loneliness, and injury.

Like barking, howling is just another standard form of communication.

What does barking mean?

Like a human waving at a football game, a dog's howl can simply express ancestral enthusiasm as they join a chorus.

Your dog's howl may be an autonomous response, recalling their shared lineage with wolves. Just like howling wolves, domestic dogs can start an entire noise with just one howl.

As soon as the other dog hears it, all the nearby dogs join in and the spread can cover a lot of territory!

Most of us are aware of at least one contagious incident of dog howling. But unlike wolf howls in horror movies, your dog's howl doesn't mean something terrible is about to happen.

Animal behaviorists believe that dogs howl to:

1. Warn potential predators of encroaching territory (you know, like a postman or a doorbell)

2. Call home packet loss member

3. If they get separated, help them find them

4. Call others when the prey is cornered. Hounds like basset hounds, foxhounds, and beagles were bred to enhance this instinct.

Done well, Howl can perform many functions at once. At the end of the day, it's a healthy bonding activity that is typical for pack animals like dogs.

siren

We might assign various human reasons for dogs howling at fire trucks or police cars.

Do they have a sixth sense for danger? Do they know someone is in trouble? Does the sound hurt their ears?

It turns out—though in many ways their hearing is better than ours—the most likely reason is that they mistook the siren for a howl.

As dogs age and their senses decline, they may make this mistake more often. This is why older dogs often howl more at sirens than younger puppies.

Why do dogs howl when they sleep?

Just like you or me, dogs can dream. During their most active sleep phase, it's not uncommon for them to twitch, "walk" their legs, roll their eyes, and even howl.

Unless your pet is showing other symptoms of a sleep disorder, howling at night is nothing to worry about. To learn more about your dog's dream life, check out this article on dog dreams.

Pain: Body and Soul

Another reason a dog howls has to do with physical and emotional needs. These may include:

1. Blind or deaf due to aging

2. Canine Dementia

3. Pain or injury

4. Disease

5. Separation anxiety

In older dogs, some loss of ability coupled with anxiety, pain, or confusion can lead to excessive vocalization.

If you think about it, it makes sense for an older or more vulnerable dog to howl in this way, because a howling dog can summon their wolves to find and protect them, just as they howl to help stray wolf pack members get home safely.

Occasionally, abnormal vocalizations can be a sign of physical discomfort that requires special attention.

Have your dog checked for pain or irritation, and schedule a veterinary visit to confirm what's going on.

Why do dogs howl when we leave?

Dog lovers know that each furry friend has unique attributes and personality quirks. Some people may want more attention than others, or just howl for the sake of complaining.

Dog behavior can be confusing, and it helps to remember that dogs see human families as members of the group.

Dogs form strong social bonds and prefer everyone in the pack to stick together.

Your dog's howling before or after you're outside may be a sign that they're nervous about your leaving. This could be a way to call you home or alert others to their loneliness.

For dogs who may be prone to nervousness and separation anxiety, it's important to feel when the leader leaves.

If you think your dog's howling is a concentration or anxiety problem, read about Separation Anxiety and Common Treatments for Dog Anxiety. Scheduling some social time at a doggy day care center each week can also help ease these feelings of loneliness and even boredom.

If you think howling is a behavioral problem that requires more training, consult a trusted dog trainer on how to deal with unnecessary howling.

Of course, if your dog's barking isn't too much for you or a problem for your neighbors, you can always take a video and enjoy.

After all, howling is in their nature and sometimes it's so cute you can laugh and howl next to them!