Dogs use a wide range of vocalisations to communicate. From whimpering, to barking, howling and yelping. They all have different meanings, but you may wonder why does my dog howl?

Canine behaviour can be tricky to understand, and every dog is different. Some dogs never howl or howl very rarely, whereas others may howl quite often. We’ve put together some information to help you understand a bit more about why dogs howl!

Why Do Domestic Dogs Howl?

Understanding dog communication is useful so you know how your dog is feeling or what they’re trying to tell you. Other members of the dog family (Canidae), like wolves, howl to communicate over long distances. In the Canidae family, wolves howl when hunting, moving around in the dark, or when pups were separated from their Mum or other pack members. Dogs that were used as hunting dogs will often howl as well.

Howling also used to maintain a pack’s territory by warning others of their size and strength. This is why wolves howl as a pack. As dogs have been domesticated over thousands of years, their sounds have changed - dogs bark, whereas wolves do not. Howling is a sound that has been carried over and although dogs don’t hunt in packs like wild animals, they’ll still howl to communicate for similar reasons.

Why Does My Dog Howl?

Dog howling can be triggered by hearing other dogs howling, showing they are ready to respond. This may be to warn them away from their territory, or to connect with the other dog. The more dogs that join in, the more your dog will howl! 

Some dogs will howl when they hear high pitched sounds (like sirens) and will only stop when the sound stops. Unfamiliar loud sounds can cause anxiety and stress. Sometimes your dog is reacting to feeling threatened, and will use howling to warn of this danger.

Howling can be a symptom of separation anxiety when left alone or when a dog is separated from their owner. This is often accompanied by other behaviours such as weeing indoors, scratching and chewing. Your dog starts howling when you leave in an attempt to reunite with you, the same way that wolves try to reunite with their pack. If you don’t return, your dog may continue to howl until you do.

A dog howling in their sleep can be considered normal canine behaviour and a sign that they’re dreaming. But if the frequency or duration of the howling is excessive, or it’s accompanied by panting, drooling, loss of bladder or bowel control, or unresponsiveness, then you need to contact your vet. This could be a sign of an underlying health problem.

How to Stop a Dog from Howling

As a dog owner, you may be struggling with your dog’s excessive howling. But what can you do to stop it? First you need to be able to answer, why is my dog howling?

Some dog breeds are more prone to howling than others, like Siberian Huskies and Chow Chows. Hound breeds like Beagles, are known for ‘baying’, which is a lower-pitched, prolonged bark used while hunting to communicate with the pack. These breeds are more likely to howl as a form of communication, so it can be difficult to reduce their howling.

Teaching your dog commands like ‘Quiet’ or ‘Enough’ will help you to get them to stop howling. Make sure to reward your dog positively, with a treat for example, when they stop. As long as you know your dog is not in danger or injured, do not pay them attention when they’re howling, otherwise it will encourage the behaviour.

Training your dog with the help of a certified professional dog trainer can help reduce howling. Training works on obedience and provides socialisation and stimulation for dogs, which helps to reduce unwanted behaviours.

If your dog is howling in response to something like a sound or another dog’s howl, try to remove the cause. This may mean getting your dog to come indoors, where you can block the sound out, or turning off the sound if you’re in control of it. 

How to Stop Dogs Howling When Left Alone

If your dog is howling due to dog separation anxiety, you’ll need to work on making sure your dog feels comfortable and safe when left alone. Spend more one-to-one quality time with your dog to make sure they’re getting regular interaction. Dogs are very social animals.

Try taking your dog for a walk before you need to leave them alone. The physical and mental stimulation will mean they’re more likely to sleep while you’re gone. Make sure your dog has plenty of toys to play with, or try using some interactive toys that dispense treats, so your dog gets rewarded for playing with them.

If you’re going to be gone for a long time, it’s a good idea to get someone else to check in on your dog during that time - a family member, friend or a dog walker/sitter.

If your dog’s howling is causing problems, and nothing you do seems to help, it’s time to visit your vet. If there are no underlying health problems that may be causing the howling, they can then refer you to a veterinary behaviourist. They’ll work with you on desensitisation and counterconditioning. These are common treatments for fears, anxiety, phobia and aggression in dogs.

Why do dogs howl? This is normal behaviour - dogs howl to communicate. It can be a warning of danger, a threat, a sign of distress, or a way to reunite and get your attention. You may not be concerned when you first hear the sound of a howling dog, but you should still check on your dog to make sure it isn’t distressed.

Speak to your vet if you’re concerned, or if you want help stopping your dog’s howling.

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Canis – www.vetlexicon.com/canis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.