Mary Allen
It’s night. The moon is in the sky. In the foreground, you can see the silhouette of a wolf. He howls at the brightly shining celestial body.
You probably have this picture in your head now. After all, it is well known that wolves howl. Howling and howling usually have a mystical touch for us.
Does your dog also show this characteristic? Then you will come back down to earth quickly. Here we get to the bottom of why dogs howl.
What does it mean when my dog howls like a wolf?
Howling is an important part of communication between dogs. Just like howling, whining, barking, or growling.
But your dog doesn’t howl without a reason. Usually, this singing is preceded by a different tone.
Many dogs respond to loud noises like sirens or loud music by howling. And of course to the sounds of conspecifics. But there are other reasons.
All vocalizations of your four-legged friend have different reasons:
- territorial behavior
- pairing
- stress
- pains
- contact howl
- boredom
Not all dog breeds howl
Our domestic dogs have differentiated themselves from wolves over the overtime targeted breeding. Despite this, some behaviors have persisted to this day. One of them is howling.
Your dog will tilt its head back to howl. The muzzle points upwards. The canine singing can begin.
Not all dogs howl, although they could. Known for this idiosyncratic vocalization is the Husky, the Bassett, the Beagle, and the Dachshund.
Dogs communicate by howling
Dogs have much better hearing than humans. We can hear the frequency range between 20 and 20,000 Hertz. Dogs can even hear frequencies in a range between 15 and 50,000 Hertz.
They turn their ear cups and improve their hearing again. This allows you to determine a noise source with some certainty.
Dogs are therefore much more receptive to noise. Long before we hear it, they recognize sounds. Church bells, sirens, or certain musical instruments can trigger the howling
With this, your dog wants to warn the pack of potential danger. If conspecific howls your dog howls to demonstrate solidarity. It’s part of the dog language.
How to defend territory
Howling can also be part of your dog s territory marking. Otherwise, the four-legged friends cark with feces and urine where their territory begins. And where it ends.
Some quadrupeds add an acoustic trail to this scent trail by howling. This gives your dog a clear indication that it is his territory.
Mating behavior
But does your unneutered male dog suddenly howl? Then a bitch in heat can be nearby.
Howling is a sign of readiness for mating Your male will draw attention to himself and attract the bitch.
If a bitch in heat is around your non-neutered male dog. Then you should be careful not to leave the two together. Keep your male dog on a short leash. And avoid the coveted lady if possible.
Howling when stressed
A negative reason for your pet crying is stress. Caution is advised here.
Perhaps you have already had this experience. Your dog should stay at home alone. There he begins to howl so much that the neighbors sound the alarm.
Many dogs experience tremendous stress when left alone. Howling is nothing more than drawing attention to yourself. Your dog wants to alert his pack and explain his situation.
Pain as the cause of howling
Another negative reason for crying is pain. Dogs suffer quietly. This behavior also comes from the wolves. If they whimpered, enemies would take notice.
Most of our four-legged friends have retained this behavior. However, if the pain becomes too great, there is a chance your dog will howl.
What do I do if my dog howls?
Dogs howl at completely different volumes and pitches. This mainly depends on the shape of the head and neck. Also on the size of your animal.
Some dogs start howling as puppies. Other animals howl for the first time when they are already fully grown.
Does your dog howl because it is in pain? So you need to take him to a vet urgently. However, dogs usually show long beforehand that something is wrong.
So keep an eye on your animal at all times. And react immediately if things are different. If your dog howls in pain, the situation is more than acute.
Trust and stay alone
Does your dog howl because he has to be alone or because he is bored? Then you have to work on it. Your dog has to learn to be left alone.
As a pack animal, he always needs his family around him. He must understand and learn to trust. Not every dog can stay at home alone.
Utilization against boredom
If your animal howls from boredom, you need to make better use of your dog. Be aware of your pet’s breed and needs.
Some dogs respond better to physical exertion, while others respond better to mental exertion. A balanced mixture of both is usually ideal.
Optimal exercise will help your dog learn to be left alone.
Bottom line: Allow your dog to howl
However, neither dog nor wolf howls at the moon. This behavior comes from fairy tales or mythology.
But if your dog howls for other reasons, just let him. You don’t always have to correct your dog’s behavior.
Better just howl along when the church bells ring. Or if the loud siren of the fire brigade sounds. You’ll see your dog will love it. And it’s a lot of fun.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean when a dog howls?
It can also be a warning sound, for example, if the animal has perceived 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.
Why do dogs howl when they are in heat?
Males who sense a bitch in heat begin to howl to draw attention to themselves. They want to attract the bitch’s interest and serenade her, so to speak. Crying can sometimes be an indication of a health problem or even pain.
How can I calm down my male dog?
With an extra unit of playing and romping, you can make your dog extremely tired during this time. So walk your dog for extra long laps and throw a few more balls than you usually do. This will make him tired and make it easier for him to relax after the exercise.
Why does a dog howl at a squeaky toy?
Just the squeaking encourages them to chew the toy excessively. Through the squeaker to the aggression problem? Warnings are often given against using squeaky toys for dogs. Supposedly they lose their natural bite inhibition because the noise resembles the pain cry of their conspecifics.
Why is my dog always whining?
In the behavioral experiments, the dogs used it to express the feeling of being abandoned without being able to use it for communication. Dogs can express very different things by barking: aggression, fear, or joy. Whining is more explicit and usually an expression of frustration and negative feelings.
What sounds do dogs like?
Did you know that dogs have taste in music too? Regardless of the genre, the dogs in the study responded very positively to music. The scientists at the University of Glasgow found out that their favorite music genres were reggae and soft rock.
What triggers squeaks in dogs?
In dog language, squeaking is a clear sign that the other person feels harassed or uncomfortable and/or wants to be left alone. Well-socialized dogs let go of their opponent as soon as he starts to squeak.
Why does the dog squeak while playing?
When the dog squeaks, it usually wants to express its dissatisfaction. That’s why it’s important to understand the situation and act accordingly. In most cases, the unwanted behavior can be stopped with targeted training.