Why Do Dogs Howl?

Howling is a form of communication. The main way dogs communicate with each other and us is through their body language. We can use body language to assess how our canine companions are feeling in any given situation.

It’s a sound which spans back to their ancestors. It was commonly used in the wild to relay messages to each other and nearby packs to let them know they’re in an occupied area. Since dogs have much more sensitive hearing than we do, their howls can be heard several miles away so works as a very effective means of communication within the species.

These days, our pet dogs rarely need to communicate messages over such large distances, but they’re still born with the inherited ability and instinct to howl in certain situations. Some dogs may go their whole lives without ever howling while others may use it frequently.

There is a tendency for certain breeds to be more likely to howl like the Husky is almost a given to be a frequent howler but that doesn’t mean your little Yorkie won’t sometimes use it.

Dogs will howl at night for a few different reasons. A howl is often used for attention when they perceive their owners as being at a distance. If your pup sleeps in a separate room to you, they may use a howl to wake you up.

Dogs are always learning so if they cry at night when they need something and it doesn’t wake you, they might try something else and a howl is a lot harder to ignore or sleep through. They tend to learn quite quickly that you will wake up and come to their aid, through it being successful they will use it time and time again.

Some dogs howl overnight because they might miss you or they need something from you. If your pup can’t hold their bladder all night, they may be howling to let you know they need the toilet, or they’ve run out of water.

Dogs can sometimes howl if they hear noises at night. During the day there’s general hustle and bustle of traffic, people walking outside, but at night, everything tends to be very quiet which will make any small noises seem a lot scarier. Howling at night can ultimately be because the noises are a little worrying.

Studies show that our beloved canine companions dream at night, so they sometimes vocalise during these. It’s not uncommon to hear them whine or bark in their sleep and howling may be less common, but it does happen. Especially with dogs who howl regularly when they’re awake. If your pup has never howled, you’re far less likely to hear them howling when they sleep.

We have spent thousands of years breeding dogs to be our companions and shaping them to fit our needs. It should then be no surprise that these pets we’ve bred to want to be around us then struggle to be alone at home without us. Dogs howl when they’re alone to express their distress and to try and communicate with you that they want you to come back. As howls can be heard across wider distances, they’re more likely to reach you with a howl than barking.

When dogs don’t enjoy being in their own company, they can become distressed. Your pup won’t know when you’re coming home or even if you intend to come home so it can be quite a scary time for them. Using comfort toys while you’re away can help soothe their distress. Enrichment like the Kong Classic Toy is another great way to distract their mind until you return.

Dogs have an instinct to communicate with noises they hear in their environments. If a noise reaches a pitch that triggers them their response can be in the shape of a howl. It’s quite common to hear our canine companions reacting to things like sirens and music is another common trigger.

Our four-legged friends are more likely to respond to high pitched noises so a dramatic ballad will often set them off singing alone. Artists like Celine Dion are common favourites for our beloved pets.

It’s also common for certain instruments to cause some howling, wind instruments like flutes are a firm favourite for pups to howl along with.

To stop your dog from howling you first must work out what is causing them to howl. If they howl when they’re left alone then solving the root of the problem is needed. Your pup shouldn’t be left until they’re fully comfortable otherwise they will keep practising the undeniable behaviour.

You can start by rewarding calm behaviour with dog treats for micro absences which will just be walking out of the room back in. Owners will tend to think of leaving their dogs in the number of hours, but it may need to be reduced to seconds if they’re uncomfortable to teach them to be calm during these moments. Only when they’re happy with short absences should you increase the time they’re left.

If your pup is howling to communicate with outside noises then playing music to dampen those outside noises can help throughout the day or night, whenever they are most likely to bark. If your pup is howling at night, this could be a touch of separation anxiety. They may need to sleep a little closer to you or have lots of things to keep them happy and distracted through the evening so you can both get a peaceful night's sleep.

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