Dogs make a variety of sounds to express different wants, needs and feelings, but a dog's howl, in particular, is unmistakable. The reason for his howling, on the other hand, is typically less clear. So why exactly does a dog howl? We've got the lowdown.
Howling is a deeply ingrained behavior. A dog's howl, similar to a wolf's, is a loud, drawn-out, mournful cry. It differs from a bark, which is typically brief and explosive.
A dog may howl for some of the same reasons wolves do. However, as dogs have evolved and grown closer to humans, some of their reasons for howling may have also evolved. Here are several reasons why your dog might howl:
You'll also probably notice that your dog likes to tilt his head to the sky to let out this vocalization. There are a variety of reasons why dogs will tilt their heads, but there is little information on why dogs might "howl at the moon." Many people speculate that this is because it straightens out the vocal cords and provides more airflow from the chest to allow them to provide this type of vocalization. Others speculate that it allows the sound waves to travel further, allowing more dogs or creatures know they are there.
While howling is common among all dogs, some breeds are more likely to howl than others, says Dogster. Those more likely to howl include several hound breeds, including dachshunds, beagles, basset hounds and bloodhounds, as well as huskies, Alaskan malamutes and American Eskimo dogs.
Dogs may also howl more as they get older — this is especially true of senior dogs who become confused due to dementia or loss of vision or hearing, says Rover.
Because dogs might howl for a number of reasons, training them to not howl varies. In cases of pain or direct result of a noise, the howling is probably infrequent enough that training is not necessary. But if your dog is great at inciting the rest of the neighborhood into a howling chorus at night, you may want to train them. Because howling is a behavioral trait, it may take more time to teach them to stop howling. Never discipline a dog that howls because dogs rarely understand why they are in trouble. Instead, reward his good behavior — in this case, when he stops howling give him lots of love or the occasional treat. You can also redirect his attention to something more productive when he begins to howl.
So, why do dogs howl? It turns out there are a plethora of reasons. One thing seems certain, though: When your pup howls, it often simply means he wants your attention!
Jean Marie Bauhaus is a pet parent, pet blogger, and novelist from Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she usually writes under the supervision of a lapful of fur babies.
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