30/09/2022
WHY DOES MY DOG HOWL AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
SEPTEMBER 30, 2022
Why Does DOG Howl And What Does It Mean?
Dogs are highly intelligent, regal creatures that are favored around the world for their loyalty, love, strength and athleticism. They are also social animals and are very intuitive and at times itâs almost as if they can communicate through their body language and vocalizations.
If youâve spent any time around a dog then you know they make a wide range of sounds. Itâs common for them to have a variety of barks, such as a warning bark, an alert, a playful yap, and even desperate âI have go outside right nowâ yip.
They will also growl for different reasons. The most serious growl is their fierce warning growl. But they also will growl to communicate pleasure, such as during a nice back scratch, or growl to get attention, or they may growl when they want to play. Each growl has a different pitch and the accompanying body language should be really easy to read.
Another sound that dogs make is the HOWL. Howling is more common in dogs like Serbian husky, German shepherd, Frenchie and others. The howl is easily the most hair-raising sound that they make. The wolf-like sound canât be missed. Itâs a sound that comes naturally to them and they do it for many reasons, such as:
â Triggered by sounds, such as sirens, trains, the television, or music.
â When communicating with other animals, think about how all the neighbor dogs will howl together.
âAlerting to nearby wildlife or mimicking coyotes.
âWhen sick or injured or in trouble
âDuring times of loneliness
âDue to separation anxiety
âTo get attention
HOWLING DUE TO A TRIGGER:
Most of the time, their howling is simply harmless communication that ends as quickly as it begins. You might notice it when the fire department drives by with sirens blaring, or a certain commercial comes on the television, or during part of a particular song.
This howl can be fun and is comical to watch. The dog is usually in a good state of mind and not stressed out about anything thatâs going on. They seem to enjoy their howling time and then move onto their normal dog business.
HOWLING AT OTHER DOGS OR WILDLIFE:
If their howling becomes more frequent, it is usually due to the neighborhood dogs howling or even nearby wildlife making animal sounds. This type of howling is usually easy to identify because there is an entire chorus of dogs howling at the same time. The dog may be relaxed or tense depending on what is going on or if they are howling in an attempt to alert their owner.
HOWLING TO GET ATTENTION:
Dogs might also howl to get attention. This usually happens when they are separated from their pack or their owners in another room, crate, outside, or even at another location, such as the vet or while boarding. If this howling becomes a problem, itâs important not to give the dog what it wants (to be in, out, etc) as this will reward the behavior and cause it to happen more frequently. However, if youâve forgotten your pup and they howl for attention, by letting them in or out its doubtful youâd be creating a bad habit. For all other times though, itâs best to just ignore them and avoid giving them positive or negative reinforcement or attention.
HOWL AS A FORM OF BEGGING:
The begging howl is less common but it can happen in a way similar to a begging bark. In this case, the dog is also howling to get attention and beg for what it wants, such as a toy or treat. Never give the begging dog the treat or attention while they howl unless you want it to become a habit. Some dogs are super smart and once they realize their howling will work in their favor, theyâll use it to get what they want all the time.
HOWLING DUE TO SEPARATION ANXIETY:
Sadly, dogs especially puppies will sometimes howl when they have separation anxiety. This howling happens when their owners are away from home and can go on for hours. Puppies with separation anxiety usually exhibit accompanying behaviors such as destructive chewing, pacing, panting, inappropriate elimination, stress, depression, escaping, and more. Separation anxiety is a serious problem that needs to be addressed for the health and wellbeing of the dog. Itâs best to talk to your vet and an animal behaviorist if you need help managing your dogâs separation anxiety.
HOWLING DUE TO ILLNESS OR INJURY:
If youâve spent any time in an animal hospital youâve heard the heartbreaking sounds of howling sick or injured dogs. If a dog begins to howl for no apparent reason, especially when accompanied with a behavior change, it could be a signal that they need medical attention.
Some signs to watch for include change in appetite, change in bowl habits, licking one area of the body, alienating themselves, becoming needier, avoidance of touch, change in gait, holding the ears back, panting, vomiting, fever, and hiding are all big signals that the dog is in some sort of distress and needs to be examined by a vet.
UNLEASHING THEIR INNER WOLF:
Most of the time howling is just a dog channeling their inner wolf and letting some of their ancient lineage out. They enjoy howling and it can be entertaining to listen to them yowl. Howling is a totally normal dog behavior that many breeds enjoy, some more than others.
In some cases, howling can be a signal that something more serious is going on. It could be an alert or a sign of distress. In these cases, their body language and the entire situation that is going on at the time must be looked at to determine why they are howling to determine if they need some sort of help.
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