If you have a dog at home, it is not unusual to hear them howl at some point. But have you ever wondered why dogs howl?

The howl is a very characteristic sound that dogs make, which allows them to express themselves or communicate something.

However, howling can have different causes that adopters are unaware of.

Many owners believe that howling means something bad, the first time they hear their dog do it.

All animals have ways of communicating. Dogs, in this case, learn to communicate with their adopter in different ways, and one of them is usually howling. Also, cry or moan. However, howls can have different meanings, keep reading and see what we mean.

Why do dogs howl like wolves?

Dogs are descendants of wolves, so they have many similar features and characteristics. Some are hunting, howling, among others.

When you think of a howl, you might immediately associate it with wolves since it is one of its outstanding characteristics.

Wolves live in packs, and they howl so that others can hear them. Also, to alert danger, communicate, or even celebrate in a meeting of many wolves in the pack.

Why is my dog howling?

As we’ve mentioned, dogs can howl for different reasons.

Feeling alone:

Loneliness can affect a dog more than you think. Many people keep their dog alone, without company for many hours, which will cause the dog not to feel well.

This can cause the dog to howl for a long time trying to get some attention.

This type of howl could have a different tone, sad and whiny. They will sound different from the typical high-pitched and powerful howl.

Stress or fright:

When a dog is stressed, he will likely howl. It’s a way of asking for attention, so take him for a walk.

Joy or celebration:

Just as dogs can howl with stress, they can also howl with happiness. Some dogs howl, for example, when the family comes home at the end of the day.

It’s a way of celebrating that their pack is back home, all together.

Injury or pain:

If your dog doesn’t usually howl and suddenly they start doing it, you must rule out the possibility of a physical problem or an injury. This is not very common, but it’s possible.

It can be something serious, and you must be able to consider it.

If the dog continues to howl non-stop, something is definitely not right, and that is a solid reason to take them to the vet as soon as possible

Imitation:

If your dog is calm and suddenly hears other dogs howling, your dog will imitate them by instinct.

Dogs can often howl when they hear the sounds of firefighters, ambulances, or police cars, associating them with the sound of a howling dog, so they repeat it.

Likewise, if you make a high-pitched sound, the dog may mimic it by howling. For example, if you have a birthday gathering at home and start singing, many dogs “sing-along” with the family the birthday song.

This is actually a very common cause. Indeed there must be a dog in your neighborhood that begins to howl after hearing the sirens.

We hope this was very helpful to you and we kindly invite you to check out our website if you’re interested in grooming or adoption services. Click here!