Mary Allen
Does your dog howl at night? Of course, he didn’t turn into a wolf!
Although a dog howling and howling sounds very intriguing, you should not encourage the howling.
Because howling is communication, there’s a good chance that neighborhood dogs will join in the yelping or howling. Nothing gives a better sense of community than howling together!
Unfortunately, not everyone finds this behavior fascinating, but rather disturbing and therefore anger is quickly inevitable.
Why does a dog howl? What to do if my puppy howls at night? These are probably the most frequently asked questions about howling dogs.
And that’s exactly why we decided to write this article!
Here you will not only find out the causes, but also the solution: how can you stop the dog from howling.
In a nutshell: why do dogs howl?
Howling is a form of communication. When your dog howls, it can mean a lot. But mostly it’s an attempt to get attention.
It can also be a warning if he has sensed something threatening and wants to tell his pack.
Many dogs also howl and hope for an answer from conspecifics. Dogs that suffer from separation anxiety and experience anxiety and stress as a result try to communicate this by howling and hope for a counter-reaction.
However, it should also be considered that howling is a pain sound!
But since you know your dog and can read, I think you can assess this well.
Now that you’re delving deeper into the subject of howling, does it occur to you, is there more that needs a bit of training?
No problem! Check out our dog training bible! All common problems are analyzed in detail here and provided with a simple step-by-step solution.
Causes of howling and what you can do about it
When your dog howls, there is usually a good reason behind it. The howling can be used to get attention or to indicate a problem. I have listed the 7 most common causes and the right solution for you here.
1. Howl to strengthen cohesion
If a dog starts to howl, it often doesn’t take long for the dogs from the neighborhood to join in the happy howling round.
Everyone in the group feels connected by howling together.
2. Contact howl
Most of us dog owners are probably familiar with this. An ambulance drives by with a loud siren and the dog immediately joins the noise with howls and yelps and sings along?
This has nothing to do with the often assumed volume of the sirens, but is a so-called contact howling.
This means nothing more than your dog joining the loud sound with howls to be a part of it.
Once the sirens have gone, your dog will stop howling.
3. Howling at loneliness
Dogs are not made to live a life of solitude and social distancing.
Dogs that are not used to being left alone often try to call their pack by yelping and howling.
If your dog tends to howl in these situations, then you probably haven’t trained properly to stay alone and your dog is suffering from severe stress or anxiety at this moment.
If your dog howls almost every day for this reason, you should definitely train it with him. Otherwise, there could quickly be big problems with your landlord.
If your dog howls for this reason, I recommend our guide: Leave the dog alone. Here you will find detailed information and above all the complete structure of the training.
4. Howl when you’re heartbroken
Yes, dogs have heartbreak too. Males in particular can express themselves loudly and howling when there is a female in heat nearby.
The male tries to lure the female to him by howling.
Once the heat is over, your male dog’s howling and howling will stop.
However, if you notice that your male dog is under constant stress as a result, please contact your veterinarian. Because then it can be that a dog suffers from the constant stress.
5. Howling in pain
Your dog isn’t normally a howler and suddenly howls?
If none of the above situations apply, please also consider pain or discomfort.
Observe your dog: are external injuries visible? Does he seem dull, has no appetite or even diarrhea and vomiting?
If you notice anything, please make an appointment to be examined by your veterinarian.
Dog howls at night
Have you noticed that your dog barks and howls more often at night? Or he whines at night? This is because the ambient noise tends to be suppressed by everyday life during the day and is more audible at night.
If your dog regularly whines at night, it’s a good idea to provide your dog with a sheltered space.
Boxes, which offer a comfortable place to sleep, are very well suited here. The boundary makes your dog feel safe and secure and not tempted to comment on every sound he hears.
Remember to build boxing training positively! The article Getting the dog used to the crate gives you all the information you need.
Puppy howls at night
If your puppy howls or cries at night, don’t punish him! The little one must first learn to be independent and alone.
Is your puppy howling in the crate? Set up the box near you. This gives the puppy a sense of belonging and does not feel left alone.
Try not to respond to the crying. In time he will learn that he has nothing to fear.
It just helps the little one immensely if he can spend the night in the same room as you.
With patience and consistency on your part, you will quickly break the habit of howling, crying and whining from your dog.
Can all dogs howl?
Yes! Howling is a form of communication, which was still given by the wolves.
Basset hounds, beagles, dachshunds and huskies are known to howl more often.
Depending on your social environment, you may want to consider this aspect before purchasing such a dog breed.
Conclusion
Howling is a remnant of wolves and is used for communication.
Howling can not only indicate pain, but also promotes a sense of community, serves as a warning or as a lure.
If your dog howls out of loneliness when he is alone, this can be reduced very well with the help of training. However, this requires patience, time and consistency on your part.
Do you need input or suggestions for other problems? Then I would like to recommend our dog training bible to you.
Here you will find all common problems including complete solutions, which will enable you to have a successful step-by-step training.