Why Do Dogs Howl?

Have you ever wondered why do dogs howl. What makes them realize that its time for them to howl. Why do dogs started howling in response to a neighbor's dog. At the pealing noise of a siren, many dog owners find themselves with a little extra noise pollution: a howling dog echoing the ambulance or police van screeching down the street. What’s going on here? Why do dogs howl? There are a number of reasons. Some that are no big deal, and others that should be addressed.

But why do dogs howl at siren? 

The reason can be boiled down to one word:  Communication.

1. Why do Dogs Howl? 

It starts with wolf ancestry, but there are many reasons why dogs howl. Wolves are the most well known howlers of all. The howling of domestic dogs is much akin to wolves, but there are some differences.

Wolves (canis lupus), coyotes (canis latrans), and domestic dogs (canis familiaris) are closely-related species.

wolf is the ancestor of the dog

As you probably know, your domesticated, playful and loving pup is actually descended from a distinctly more feral animal: the wolf  And if there’s one thing we associate with wolves, it’s howling. 

Much as wolves have done throughout history, dogs howl as a means of communication. For wolves, the howling was used to mark their territory, to locate other pack members they had become separated from, and to call other pack members together. Dog’s reasons, while somewhat different, stem from this behavior.

2. They’re Alerting You

Some dogs will start howling at a siren even if they recognize that it doesn’t belong to another animal. This is usually because they want to alert you, a de-facto member of their pack, that something loud and unexpected is happening that deserves your attention.

Dogs Make Great Watchdogs

Dogs are known for their incredible range of hearing that’s far superior to human’s. It’s thought they can hear up to 45 Hz, compared to a paltry 23 Hz for humans.  As such, they’re likely to hear the siren before you take notice of it and so their sense of obligation towards their alpha (i.e. you, their owner) is to make you aware of the unfolding situation. 

3. Response to Stimuli & Bonding Exercises

Dogs often howl in response to ambulance sirens, fireworks, music, and even other dogs howling. They usually stop howling when the offending sound comes to an end.

Response to Stimuli & Bonding Exercises

A dog’s hearing operates on a much wider range than that of a human. Because of this, they can hear sounds from farther away or that might be above or below our own ability to hear. These sounds often appear to them as another dog howling from some distance away, due to the frequencies that they hear.

When your dog howls in response, he actually thinks he’s communicating with another dog. Or so most scientists agree. Studies have been done to reveal specifics about howling behavior. Whether the dogs howl as if communicating with another dog, or if they simply want to join in, even scientists can’t be sure Why do dogs howl at sirens? Why do dogs howl when you howl? Perhaps it’s to join in and be a part of the action.
 

4. Attract Attention or Express Anxiety
Loneliness also causes some dogs to howl. They recognize you, their owner, as their pack leader and often howl to get a response out of you when you leave the house.

Loneliness also causes some dogs to howl

If they get no response from you by howling, they will sometimes continue to howl as a result of separation anxiety. If you hear from a neighbor that your dog is howling excessively while you are out, this could be the reason. If this is the culprit, it will probably be accompanied by another marker for the disorder, such as destruction of property, pacing or elimination.

Why do dogs howl?

Dogs sometimes howl if they are in pain or are sick and might need medical intervention. Dog howling can be in protest of being left alone. Imagine if someone put you in a crate all day or left you in some other space for an extended period of time. You’d howl, too! 

5. Boundary Demarcation & Defense Mechanism

Boundary Demarcation & Defense Mechanism

One thing to consider is that dog howling, like any other form of vocal expression, has no fixed meaning. It is a shifting significance whose interpretation is situation-dependent. I enjoy going to karaoke; is it so difficult to imagine that a dog might not howl out of necessity, but out of joy?

Is your dog a howler? When and how do your dogs get the urge to sing? Why do you think your dogs howl? Share your experiences with dog howling in the comments!