Howling at the....WHAT?

Howling at the....WHAT?

I’ve had lots of clients whose dog had an ‘issue’ with howling. This is a natural behaviour for dogs (albeit often distressing for us) and it's important that we understand why our dogs howl and what triggers this behaviour so we can provide the necessary support and care.

Howling in dogs is rooted in their evolutionary history as they share a common ancestor to wolves. In the wild, wolves use howling as a way to communicate with their pack over long distances, as well as to defend their territory and coordinate hunting.

Similarly, domestic dogs have retained the instinctual behaviour of howling as a form of communication. When a dog howls, it sends a message to other dogs or animals in the area about its location, territory, and emotional state.

Studies have shown that howling in dogs is often triggered by certain environmental stimuli, such as sirens, music, or other loud noises. These sounds can mimic the howling of other dogs or wolves and may elicit a response from dogs that feel the need to communicate with their pack or defend their territory.

Dogs are naturally alert animals and may howl to alert their owners or other dogs of potential danger or intruders. Howling can also serve as a way for dogs to warn others of an imminent threat.

Additionally, research suggests that howling in dogs is linked to their emotional state. For example, dogs may howl when they are anxious, lonely, or in distress, as a way of signalling for help or seeking comfort from their owners or pack.

In some cases, dogs may howl to express joy or excitement, especially when they're playing or interacting with their owners.  My youngest, Freya, often when we’re starting to play will bow, cross her legs, raise her head slightly lengthening her neck, and give the cutest ‘grrroooooooo’ like howl as if to say, ‘LOVE THIS, LETS PLAY’. I’ll get a video of this later.

The more you delve into this topic the more fascinating it gets.  By understanding why our dogs howl we develop a greater understanding and deeper appreciation of our dog’s behaviour.

Feel free to contact us 'CLICK HERE' if you're having issues and I'll give you a call to discuss how I can help.