• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our use of cookies. To see what cookies we serve and set your own preferences, please review our Cookie Policy. Learn More.

The Dog People by Rover.com

Powered By Rover.com

Tips, stories, and reviews for people who love dogs, powered by Rover.com, the world's largest network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers.

  • The Dog People by Rover.com
  • Dog Breeds
    • Golden Retriever
    • Australian Shepherd
    • German Shepherd
    • Pomeranian
    • Shih Tzu
    • Border Collie
    • Labrador Retriever
    • Boxer
    • Beagle
    • Dachshund
    • Chihuahua
    • Poodle
    • Yorkshire Terrier
  • Dog Love
    • Cute
    • Funny
    • Heartwarming
    • Quizzes
    • Trending
    • True Stories
  • Dog Names
    • Best Girl Dog Names
    • Top Boy Dog Names
    • Unique Dog Names
    • Cute Dog Names
    • Best Puppy Names
    • Dog Name Generator
    • Tough Dog Names
    • Food Dog Names
    • Romantic Dog Names
    • Literary Dog Names
    • Country Dog Names
  • Dog Videos
  • Life with Dogs
    • Dog Safety
    • Dog Behavior
    • Dog Psychology
    • Dog Nutrition
    • Dog Training
    • Health and Wellness
    • Recipes
    • Can My Dog Eat…?
  • PuppyHQ
    • Dog Adoption
    • Puppy Essentials
    • Puppy Names
    • Puppy Training
  • Shopping
    • Shop Rover Goods
    • All Dog Product Guides
    • Dog Gift Guides
    • Safety and Training
    • Toys and Chews
  • Cats!
    • Cat Breeds
    • Cat Names
    • Cat Psychology
  • Grooming
  • Get Rover
    • Dog Boarding
    • Pet Sitting
    • Dog Walking
    • Doggy Day Care
    • House Sitting
    • Search Pet Sitters & Dog Walkers
    • Shop Rover Goods
    • Sitter Resources
  • Languages
    • en-CA
    • en-GB
    • fr-FR
    • es-ES
    • de-DE
    • it-IT
    • nl-NL
    • nb-NO
    • sv-SE
    • fr-CA

Why Do Dogs Howl?

Share8.8kPin It8

Why Do Dogs Howl?

For Dog People
By Rover Staff

Share8.8kTweet0Pin It8
  • Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

You wake to the sound of your dog howling in the middle of the night.

Many dog owners wonder, is it because of the full moon? But the moon has nothing to do with it—and it’s nothing ominous.

Advertisement

Dogs howl for many reasons, but the main ones are long-distance communication, territoriality, loneliness, and injury.

Much like barking, howling is just another standard method of communication.

What do dog howls mean?

Via Flickr/Fool4myCanon

Via Flickr/Fool4myCanon

Just like humans doing the wave at a football game, dogs howling can simply be an expression of ancestral fervor as they join in on the chorus.

Your dog’s howling might be an autonomic response, hearkening back to the lineage they share with wolves. And just like howling wolves, domestic dogs can start off a whole occasion of noise with just one howl.

As soon as another dog hears it, all the neighborhood dogs join in, and the spread can cover a lot of territory!

Most of us have been privy to at least one infectious occasion of dog howls. But unlike when wolves howl in spooky movies, your dog’s howling doesn’t mean something terrible is about to happen.

Animal behaviorists think that dogs howl to:

  • Warn off potential predators encroaching on territory (you know, like the mailman or the doorbell)
  • Call home lost pack members
  • Help the pack find them if they become separated
  • Call others when prey is cornered. Hunting dogs like basset hounds, foxhounds, and beagles have been bred to intensify this instinct.

Done right, howling can accomplish many functions simultaneously. Ultimately, it’s a bonding activity that’s healthy and typical for pack animals like dogs.

The Sound of Sirens

We might assign all sorts of human reasons to why dogs howl at fire engines or police vehicles.

Do they have a sixth sense for danger? Do they know that someone is in trouble? Does the sound hurt their ears?

It turns out—although in many ways their hearing is superior to ours—that the most likely reason is that they’re mistaking the sirens for howls.

And as dogs age and senses fade, they may make this mistake more often. This is why older dogs often howl more at sirens than younger pups.

Why do dogs howl in their sleep?

Just like you or me, dogs dream. And during their most active phases of sleep, it’s not uncommon for them to twitch, “walk” their legs, roll their eyes, and even howl.

Unless your pet exhibits other symptoms of a sleep disorder, a nighttime howl here and there is nothing to be concerned about. To learn more about your dog’s dream life, check out this piece on dog dreams.

Pain: Body and Soul

Via Flickr/donnieray

Via Flickr/donnieray

Another reason dogs howl is related to physical and emotional needs. These may include:

  • Loss of sight or hearing due to aging
  • Canine dementia
  • Pain or injury
  • Illness
  • Separation anxiety

For an older dog, the loss of some faculties coupled with anxiety, pain, or confusion can cause excessive vocalization.

If you think about it, it makes sense for an older or more vulnerable dog to howl this way, because a howling dog can call their pack to find and protect them, just as they howl to help bring stray pack members home safely.

Sometimes, unusual vocalization may be a sign of physical discomfort that needs special attention.

Give your dog a once over to check for pain or irritation, and schedule a vet visit to confirm what’s going on.

Why do dogs howl when we leave?

Powered by Giphy

Powered by Giphy

Dog lovers know that every furry friend has unique attributes and personality quirks. Some may desire more attention than others or howl simply to complain.

Dog behavior can be confusing, and it can help to remember that dogs see their human families as pack members.

Dogs form strong social bonds and would much prefer that everyone in the pack stick together.

Your dog’s howl before or after you head out the door may be a sign they are nervous about your leaving. It may be a way to call you back home or alert others to their lonely state.

For a dog that might tend toward nervousness and separation anxiety, it can feel like a big deal when pack leader is leaving.

If you think your dog’s howling an attention or anxiety issue, read up on separation anxiety, and common treatments for anxiety in dogs. Arranging some socialization time at a doggy daycare a few times a week can also help alleviate these feelings of loneliness or even boredom.

If you believe the howling is a behavioral issue that requires more training, consult with a trusted dog trainer for tips about how to handle unwanted howling.

And of course, if your dog’s vocalizations aren’t excessive for you or an issue for the neighbors, you can always just take a video and enjoy.

Howling is in their nature, after all, and sometimes it’s so cute you can howl with laughter alongside them!

Share8.8kTweet0Pin It8

sidebar

By Rover Staff

Share This Article

Share8.8kTweet0Pin It8

Popular Posts

  • How Do Dogs Choose Their Favorite Person?
  • 14 Muddiest Dogs on the Entire Internet
  • 15 Dog-Safe Plants You Can Add to Your Garden Right Now
  • TLC From B.C. Rescue Turns Fierce Feral Cats Into Calm Kitties
  • 19 Best Pug Gifts for People Who Love ‘Em
  • Most Unusual, Unique Dog Names
  • Arborist Brothers-in-Law Start Nonprofit to Rescue Cats From Trees [Video]
  • Esther the Wonder Pig and Her Dog Brother Phil Are Besties for Life
  • 10 Therapy Animals Bringing Joy to the World
  • Struggling to Find a Gift for a Dog Lover? Try a Dog DNA Test This Holiday Season
More from The Dog People
woman using dog app

The 15 Best Dog Apps for Pet Parents

Learn More

  • About Rover.com
  • Download the App
  • Rover Store
  • Sitter Resources
  • In The Press
  • Terms of Service
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • User Terms
  • Privacy Statement
  • Cookie Policy

Need Help?

  • Help Center
  • Join the Team
Advertisement
© 2022 Rover.com. All Rights Reserved.