Most dogs can learn to howl, although some breeds take to it easier than others. For example, Huskies, Malamutes, Beagles and Basset Hounds are examples of breeds that just love to get their howl on. On the other hand, many quiet breeds may present more of a challenge.
Dogs make a wide variety of sounds to express themselves. Barking is the most common one. They bark when they are happy, sad or feel threatened. But one sound in particular stands out as being unmistakable: the howl. Most people find themselves wondering why their pets howl because the cause seems somewhat different to them.
However, there is nothing cuter than a howling puppy. Even as an adult, your dog may occasionally howl to express a particular desire, need, or emotion. Additionally, you can teach your pet how to communicate specific emotions. It might be difficult to learn how to teach a dog to howl, though. There are various approaches, and the good news is that you do not require a dog trainer to do it.
How to Teach Your Dog to Howl
Below, we’ll attempt to walk you through the fundamental steps involved in teaching your dog to howl. Just keep in mind that some dogs may require more effort to teach this skill than others.
The good news is that you’ll have more time to spend with your dog as a result.
Expert Q&ASearch
Be aware that not all breeds of dogs howl. If you’ve never heard your dog howl—even when other neighborhood dogs are howling, or when a firetruck drives by—your dog may not be a howling breed.[11] As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy! Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
Breeds that frequently howl include Beagles, Dachshunds, Coonhounds, Foxhounds, Hounds, and Huskies.[12] As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy! Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
If you’d like confirmation about whether or not your dog’s breed can howl, ask your veterinarian. As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy! Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
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Why Do Dogs Howl?
There are several inborn reasons why dogs (and their relatives who live in the wild like wolves, painted dogs, and dingoes) howl. In the simplest explanation, howling is a form of communication.
The following is a list of some of the most typical causes for canine howls, along with explanations for some of them:
Communication with conspecifics (other members of the same species). Groups of wild-living dogs howl to make sure everyone is safe and together.
Protection of territory. Howling can be used as a warning system to alert others when protecting their territory or to warn group members of a potential threat.
Distress or anxiety. Dogs may howl when they’re sick, injured or frightened to either express a need for help or to communicate pain.
Howling at loud noises. Some dogs are sensitive to loud noises and these can be a source of stress. Anxiety can cause some dogs to howl, and loud noises can trigger these vocalizations.
Isolation distress. Dogs who experience anxiety about being left alone may also howl. If your dog is left alone at night in a kennel, this may cause her to howl more during the night than during the day. Or, you may just notice it more at night.
Alert Signal. Hunting dogs, such as bloodhounds and beagles, are known for their howl. They have been selectively bred to howl in order to alert each other or their humans when they’ve located their prey.
Attention. Sometimes boredom can manifest as howling. Your dog may howl to get your attention (which you likely give her in some form or other) and she learns that howling gets her what she wants.
Responding to another dog. I had a dog who would howl when he heard the coyotes howling at night. There was less background noise at night, and the howling sound was pretty clear. Regardless, our dogs’ hearing is significantly more sensitive than ours. Even if you don’t hear anything unusual, your dog probably can!
FAQ
How do I make my dog howl?
Here’s 5 ways you can make your dog howl:
Sing/Howl yourself.
Play a musical instrument like the harmonica.
Play siren or alarm sounds.
Whistle for your dog.
Play videos of dogs howling (see examples below)
Is it OK to make my dog howl?
Let your dog howl if it doesn’t bother you or your neighbors. You are well aware that in your living room, your dog is nothing more than a wolf. He is bred to howl for a few canine reasons that are good for dogs.
What triggers dogs to howl?
Dogs howl to get people’s attention, communicate with people, and let people know they’re there. Some canines will also howl in response to loud noises, such as those made by musical instruments or emergency vehicle sirens.
Do dogs instinctively know how do you howl?
Dogs naturally howl, a trait they inherited from wolves, who were their ancestors. Long-distance vocal communication in the wild is a natural way to do it.