Howling is an instinctual way for dogs to communicate and bond with you, who they consider part of their
. It may be that they are simply responding to the noise or they are anxious, but it’s usually just for the fun of joining in with you.
We’ve all witnessed a four-legged friend throw back its head and let out a long howl, whether it was in our own homes or on the internet. The people nearby the dogs can enjoy and laugh at this behavior. Sometimes, if the howling continues for too long, it can also cause annoyance.
Numerous variables affect howling’s causes and prevention. To learn everything there is to know about howling, keep reading this article.
Canine species communicate with one another in the wild by howling. Individuals and packs communicate with one another about their locations and potential dangers. Although your dog’s life is very different from that of its wild relatives, howling is a genetically inherited trait. Additionally, your dog’s hearing is acute and sensitive enough to pick up distant howls from other dogs.
It’s basically a form of doggo telephone. Your dog is communicating with you by howling loudly: “I’m right here.” Where are you?”.
Most of the time, when prompted to howl by a passing siren, a soulful song, or another howling dog, your dog is merely announcing their presence. When your dog’s howling doesn’t fall into one of these categories, there are other things to take into account.
We can look to wolves to understand the basics. Sometimes, there are underlying issues that could be at play. Your dog might be howling because of issues like:
Howling is a very common symptom of separation anxiety in dogs, so are you concerned that your dog experiences anxiety when you leave the house? It’s usually accompanied by other anxiety symptoms such as:
Injury or illness should also be ruled out as a potential cause of your dog’s howling. Your dog may howl for extended periods of time if they have experienced an internal or external injury. If you think your dog might have a medical problem, take them to the vet to be thoroughly examined.
However, it’s also possible that your dog is howling because they discovered that it works well for attracting attention. Thousands of videos of dog owners training their dogs to howl for the camera can be found by performing a quick Google search.
While initially entertaining, howling can often become a nuisance to both the owner and their neighbors. To learn how to stop your dog from howling, continue reading.
Despite the fact that all dogs are direct descendants of wolves, some breeds are more prone to howling than others. It’s crucial to be aware of this when deciding which breed to bring home because some breeds of dogs simply have a stronger natural desire to “sing” than others.
Huskies are famous for their howling tendencies. Owners of huskies will attest that their pets enjoy singing it aloud and proudly to the moon, background noise, or a passing siren through the neighborhood. When huskies are gathered in a pack, they will howl together to produce an exquisite yet melancholy canine song.
Additionally, hound breeds are renowned for their heartfelt and loud howling. Hounds have been bred by humans for their capacity to spot and warn hunters of prey. They are therefore predisposed to howl naturally to alert their owners when they notice something.
There have also been a few instances of Labradors singing. Although howling is less common in labs than it is in huskies, your lab puppy may develop into a frequent howler.
In all breeds, it’s normal for puppies to howl. Small puppies have been known to howl to let their family know where they are when they feel threatened or alone. Thus, their parents can easily find them and bring them back to safety.
There are some ways to reduce the behavior, even though some breeds are more likely to howl.
What to Do About Excessive Howling
If your dog howls in response to a sound, such as another dog howling or a nearby siren, he will likely stop when the sound is no longer present. The majority of the time, this type of howling isn’t excessive—unless, of course, the triggers happen frequently. If they do, you can teach your dog to be quiet by using desensitization and counterconditioning (DSCC).
Systematic Desensitization and Counterconditioning Sometimes teaching a dog a different behavior, like fetching a toy instead of howling, isn’t enough when the issue stems from how the dog feels about a particular thing. Instead, it is most effective to alter his motivation and feelings, as these are what originally caused the behavior issue.
Two popular therapies for fears, anxiety, phobias, and aggression—basically, any behavioral issue that involves arousal or emotions—are systematic desensitization and counterconditioning. When attempting to solve issues with animal behavior, it is frequently most effective to combine these two techniques. Please refer to our article, Finding Professional Behavior Help, for information on how to find a board-certified veterinary behaviorist (Dip ACVB) or a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) in your area if you believe that a systematic desensitization and counterconditioning plan might benefit your dog. A Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) is an alternative you can choose to hire if you are unable to locate a behaviorist nearby. Find out if they have professional training and a lot of experience using desensitization and counterconditioning, but make sure to do so. Since CPDT certification doesn’t require this level of expertise, it’s crucial to ensure that the CPDT you hire is qualified to assist you.
If Your Dog Whines, Howls, or Barks to Get Your Attention Some dogs discover that howling can help them get people’s attention. If this is the case, your dog will typically howl in your presence when he needs your attention, food, or desired objects. You need to teach your dog two things if he howls to get your attention or to “ask” you for things he wants, like food or toys, in order to successfully stop his behavior. He must first realize that howling does not work (even though it once did). He also needs to learn that being quiet will work. Your dog will quickly learn to control his vocal behavior if he understands that howling always makes him invisible to you and that remaining quiet earns him your attention as well as all the wonderful things he desires.
Ignore your dog’s attention-seeking howling
Reward your dog for being quiet
You could also try training your dog to remain quiet when requested. First, shout “Speak!” and make an effort to get your dog to howl or bark. (Knocking on a wall or door usually works well. When your dog begins to make noise, praise him but refrain from giving him a treat or toy. Then say “Hush” or “Quiet. When your dog stops barking or howling for a brief period of time, immediately congratulate him and give him a tasty treat. Continue doing this to gradually extend the amount of time your dog must be quiet before receiving a treat. At first, he can get a reward for keeping quiet for one second. Increase the time to three seconds once he has mastered that move. If he succeeds once more, extend the time to five seconds, then ten, then twenty, and so on.
Getting Help Because howling problems can be difficult to handle, don’t be afraid to ask a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) for assistance. Many CPDTs offer group or one-on-one lessons that can greatly assist you and your dog with howling for attention. To find a CPDT in your area, please refer to our article Finding Professional Behavior Help.
Spend Time With Your Dog Some dogs howl out of loneliness, especially if they are left outside for long periods of time or are kept alone. Like people, dogs are highly social creatures that require regular interaction with their human families. You may need to spend more quality time with your dog if he howls frequently when left alone. More frequently, bring him inside, engage him in games, and go for walks. Bring him to a enjoyable training session that emphasizes rewarding good behavior. Give your dog plenty of toys and appealing chew items to enjoy on his own whenever you must leave him at home alone for a period of time longer than a few minutes.
Why Is My Dog Howling? What Does It Mean?
These are a few of the most typical causes of dog howling.
When you hear a dog howling, it’s usually because they want your attention. Nothing catches the attention of pet parents as quickly as an eardrum-bursting howl.
People automatically react to loud noises, so you might be unintentionally reinforcing this. As a result, when your dog howls, you respond, and the dog realizes that their howling was successful in getting your attention.
Because many pet parents find their dog’s howling amusing or entertaining, a dog may interpret it as a way to attract favorable attention from humans.
The most effective way to prevent howling for attention is to use a behavior conditioning technique called reinforcement.
If your dog starts howling, you must ignore them completely. When your dog stops howling and becomes calm, you can give them attention as a form of positive reinforcement.
During a howling episode, avoid correcting or rewarding your dog because doing so will only make the behavior worse.
Another cause of a dog’s howling is anxiety, particularly separation anxiety.
If your dog starts to howl every time you leave the house or when they can’t get to you, that may be a sign of separation anxiety.
The best course of action for dealing with dogs with separation anxiety is to seek help from a veterinarian that specializes in behavior issues. Visit the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists to find a behavior specialist near you.
I would advise going to your neighborhood veterinarian if you don’t live in a region with a behavior specialist.
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FAQ
Does howling cause dogs stress?
It’s connected to stress and more frequent than we initially thought. Many dogs constantly howl, and although we don’t know why, we assume that they do so out of anxiety
Is it cruel to make your dog howl?
No, forcing your dog to howl is not cruel unless you do it in some other way, like by punishing them if they don’t. Similar to their wolf ancestors, dogs howl as a common mode of communication and for a variety of reasons. Dogs who are lonely, bored, or in pain may howl.
What do dogs feel when howling?
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.