Mary Allen
Does the dog howl when the master leaves? Or does your dog howl in its sleep? Here we clarify questions about howling and what you can do if it gets the upper hand.
When Dogs Howl: Meaning
When your dog howls, this is a normal dog vocalization and has a communication function. For example, it serves to promote cohesion in the social group: a dog starts to howl, and the others join in. (By the way, this often also works with masters or mistresses!) This can also be a warning sound, for example, if the animal has noticed something threatening and wants to warn its group members. Even when they are scared or stressed, for example by being alone, some dogs howl and howl in the hope of an answer. Territorial defense or contact between a male and a female in heat can also cause the dog to howl.
These are behaviors that were inherited from dogs through wolf descent. Due to domestication and breeding, not all dog breeds show this behavior, in the same way, it is mainly observed in Nordic dog breeds.
By the way: Puppies that have grown up isolated from other people and animals in the first few weeks of life and have not gotten to know enough environmental stimuli tend more often to fear and stress reactions when they then come into a “normal” living environment. This is why getting used to many different things (driving a car, other dogs, different people, being alone) is so important in the first 14 weeks of life.
Dog Howls: What Should I Watch Out For?
Is your dog howling all the time? Pay attention to the situations in which he does this. How does he appear to you, is the elated or stressed? Do the neighbors tell you that your dog howls when he’s alone? Do you feel like he doesn’t handle breakups well? Or does he howl in greeting or even let you encourage him to do so? Did the whine creep in slowly or did it come on suddenly?
If your dog howls in certain postures or situations, such as B. when eating or if you stroke his back, this is a warning sign of severe pain.
Dog Howls: What Can I Do?
If the howling bothers you a lot or you have the feeling that your dog is not doing well in these situations, please consult a specialist as soon as possible. This can be a qualified dog trainer or veterinary behavioral therapist. Often, however, they will first send you to the veterinarian to rule out an organic cause for the discomfort in advance. A thorough physical examination, if an illness is suspected, possibly also a blood test or imaging diagnostics (X-ray, ultrasound) can provide information about the health of the dog.
Dog Howls: Physical Causes
Sudden severe pain can cause the dog to howl.
If your dog howls while eating, dental disease or injuries in the mouth and throat area can be to blame. Dental problems also cause pain when playing, e.g. B. a toy is put in the mouth: The dog suddenly howls when he z. B. grabs the stick, maybe he immediately drops it again or refuses to fetch something because it causes him pain.
Vomiting, a hunched back, tense stomach, shallow breathing, howling, and lack of defecation can indicate an intestinal obstruction.
Is your dog suddenly howling, staggering, and losing control of its hind legs? Is he limping and limping and doesn’t want to be touched on his back? This is an indication of the spinal disease colloquially referred to as “dachshund paralysis”, comparable to the herniated disc in humans. If you see these signs, seek medical attention immediately!
If physical causes for the howling are unlikely, targeted training can help. The quicker you start with it, the better: The new behavior is not yet well-established and can be replaced or reversed more quickly.
Dog Howls: Behavioral Training Helps
Does your puppy howl when you leave the room? Or does your dog howl when you are away or in other situations? Does your dog often hide? If a physical cause has been ruled out, please consult a dog trainer or behavioral veterinarian. Together you will then look for the triggering factors and how you can stop your dog from howling. Be persistent when your dog is howling and you want to put it down. The measures to change behavior must be implemented consistently, otherwise, their effect will fizzle out.
A distinction can be made between howling, which simply bothers you but is not a problem for the dog, and howling, which also bothers the dog because it is stressed. The latter should be taken seriously for animal welfare reasons!
Dog Howls: Conclusion
There are various pathological physical and psychological reasons why dogs howl a lot. Above all, however, it is completely normal behavior with a social function. If it is stressful for you and/or your dog, get help from a veterinarian and dog trainer – a significant improvement is usually possible!