Canine howling is a strongly rooted behavior. Dogs that howl, like that of wolves, is a long, sad wail. Dogs produce a variety of vocalizations, including barking, whining, and howling. Barking, on the other hand, is expected and is usually brief and explosive. But do all dogs howl?
While all dogs howl at some point, certain breeds are more inclined to howl than others. However, several hound breeds, such as Beagles, Dachshunds, Bloodhounds, Alaskan Malamutes, Siberian Huskies, German Shepherds, and the American howling retriever are more prone to howl.
Why dogs howl?
Dogs howl to get people’s attention, make eye contact, and announce their presence. High-pitched sounds, such as emergency vehicle sirens or musical instruments, can also cause certain dogs to howl.
Alarms and sirens
When dogs howl in response to certain high-pitched noises, like a nearby siren or scream, this is called “alarm howling.” This type of dog howl is thought to have evolved in canines and they do this in order to warn their packmates of potential danger.
Alarm howling typically will continue until the sound stops.
Some dogs howl when they are happy, such as when they see their owner come home. When a dog feels lonely or afraid it may howl.
Isolation
If a dog is feeling isolated or suffering from separation anxiety, they might start howling in an attempt to reach out to other dogs.
There are a few different reasons why dogs might howl. Dogs are social creatures, and howling is one way of communicating with other members of their pack. Also, a dog’s howl could help the pack find them.
Emotional dog howling
Dogs also howl as a way of expressing their emotions. Dogs that are happy and content might start howling out of sheer joy, while dogs that are sad or anxious may howl as a way of communicating their feelings.
Dogs in pain might also start howling, as this is often seen as a way of asking for help. When you hear these types of dog howls it will often sound like a mournful cry.
How to get your dog to stop howling?
Dogs that howl may be doing so for attention, even if it’s negative attention. If your dog is howling and you do not want him to, try teaching him a different behavior to get your attention instead, such as playing a game.
Dogs will continue to howl until they get attention, no longer hear the sound that influences them to howl, or become distracted.
Your dog may be howling for other reasons, besides wanting more quality time with you. If your pup howls consistently for other reasons such as boredom or anxiety, you may need to consult with your veterinarian or an animal behaviorist.
What’s your dog trying to tell you?
If you have a dog that howls, pay attention to the context in which the howling is happening.
If your dog howls when you leave the house, he may be trying to tell you that he’s feeling lonely and scared.
If your dog howls while you’re playing with him, he may be trying to tell you that he’s having a great time!
Howling dog sounds
Dog howling can make a variety of sounds, depending on the breed and the individual dog.
A dog that howls can make an eerie, mournful sound that can be quite unsettling. The howling can vary in pitch and intensity, and often seems to come from out of nowhere.
Dog howl sounds can be pretty loud, and they can sometimes be annoying to humans.
A dog’s howling sound wave
Dog howls are capable of producing a wide range of vocalizations, and their howling can be impacted by sound waves in various ways.
For example, if a dog is howling and it hears another dog howling in the distance, the sound wave from that other dog’s howl may impact the way its own howling sounds.
What to do about your dog’s howling excessively?
Dogs with excessive howling may be doing so out of boredom or loneliness, and this behavior can be frustrating for owners.
If you have a dog that Howls excessively, there are a few things you can do to help reduce the behavior.
Try exercise
First, make sure your dog is getting enough exercise and stimulation. Dogs that are bored or cooped up are more likely to Howl. provide your dog with plenty of toys and opportunities to run and play.
You may also want to try training your dog with positive reinforcement – rewarding them when they Howl less.
Seek help
Finally, if your dog’s howls are due to separation anxiety, you may need to work with a behaviorist or certified professional dog trainer to help them overcome this issue.
A dog’s howl can be annoying, but with a little patience and effort, you can help reduce the behavior.
What dog breed howls the most?
Although all dogs can howl, some dog breeds are more prone to it than others. For example, the Husky, Alaskan Malamute, Beagle, Redbone Coonhound, and Bloodhound are more likely to howl, while some dogs go their entire lives without howling.
Overall, working dog breeds are the ones who howl the most. They like having a job and howling contributes to that. If you want a dog that howls, start looking for a hunting dog, herding dog, sled dog, etc.
What Are the Top 5 Dog Howling Breeds?
Alaskan Malamute
It’s no surprise that the Alaskan Malamute enjoys howling, given its wolf-like colors and characteristics. They are, however, frequently far too friendly to be effective watchdogs.
The Alaskan Malamute is one of the few canines noted for howling rather than barking. They are, nonetheless, experts in the howl. If you get two of them in the same room, you’d best acquire some earplugs since they’ll keep a howl going for quite some time.
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky is a dog that pulls. They were bred to pull sleds for the Chukchi people of the north thousands of years ago. However, one dog isn’t powerful enough to pull for an extended period of time. This necessitates the use of a pack.
The howl of Siberian Huskies has a significant social component to it. With their powerful and piercing howl, they can express enthusiasm or delight, but they may also grieve the loss of a comrade.
Bloodhound
Bloodhounds are large, powerful dogs that were bred in medieval France to track down boar and deer. These boisterous and energetic hunters are highly loving as well as howly, single-minded and persistent trackers.
Bloodhounds are a bright and energetic breed that requires a lot of activity and will hunt scent if they are not on a leash. They are also well-liked for their lovely and sensitive personalities, however, they can also be quite stubborn at times.
Bluetick Coonhound
The Bluetick Coonhound is a large hunting dog descended from the Grand Bleu de Gascogne in France and the English Foxhound in England. When they’re out hunting, they have a long, drawn-out howl that they love letting out.
The Bluetick Coonhound loves humans and may make an excellent family dog, as seen by the adorable puppy dog eyes. Note, however, that due to their hound-like tenacities, they must be trained with patience and persistence.
Dachshund
Though many people think of the Dachshund as a cute, adorable companion, they were initially bred to chase badgers and other tunneling animals. Some owners even hunted wild boar with groups of Dachshunds.
As a result, Dachshunds may be difficult and boisterous at times, with a lot of howling. Nonetheless, because of their adaptability and sociability with children, they can also make great family dogs.
What is the Difference Between a Bark and a Howl?
The difference between a bark or howl is that a bark is a brief, loud, explosive sound made by the vocal cords, but a dog howl is a loud, long, melancholy sound or cry made by dogs and wolves.
When dogs howl, it functions as a warning signal. Dogs may scream to alert you to anything they want you to pay attention to. It may be a guest, a different sound, a misplaced toy, or anything else that catches their eye.
Summary
Dogs howl for a variety of reasons, including to communicate with other dogs, to express their emotions, and to get attention.
If your dog starts howling, it’s important to try to figure out why. When a dog howls excessively it might be trying to tell you something, and if you can’t figure out what it is, it’s a good idea to take them to the vet for a check-up.
Some examples of howling dog sounds include the baying of a hound, the mournful howl of a wolf, and the high-pitched yapping of a small dog.
