- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Dogs are known for their signature barks and howls.
Your dog might howl for many different reasons: to communicate across long distances, mark their territory, express loneliness, and tell you they’re injured. And of course, some dogs just can’t resist howling when they hear a high-pitched siren!
Below, learn why some breeds howl more than others, common reasons for dog howling, and when to contact a vet.
Do Dogs Howl Because of Wolves?
Experts have found evidence to suggest that wolves and domestic dogs came from the same common ancestor. These animals likely used howling as a form of long-distance communication.
This ancestry is one of the main reasons that domestic dogs howl, explains Dr. Elliott Garber, veterinarian and founder of Creatures.com. “Even though modern dogs might not rely on howling in the same way their wild ancestors did, they’ve inherited this instinct to communicate or express emotions.”
He adds that dog howls are generally shorter and less intense than wolf howls. “Wolves rely on long, resonating howls to communicate with their pack over vast distances, while domestic dogs don’t typically need to project over such large areas.”
But don’t confuse howling with baying! Many hound breeds, including Beagles and Bloodhounds, bay to communicate to their pack when they’ve tracked down a scent.
10 Reasons Why Dogs Howl
Here are 10 of the most common explanations for howling:
- Responding to a high-pitched sound: Dogs often howl in response to high-pitched, persistent sounds like sirens. Scientists even discovered that sirens make an effective warning signal for humans because their frequency is so similar to a dog’s howl.
- Alerting or protecting their people: Sometimes, howling can be a way for dogs with protective instincts to warn their families of potential danger or threats.
- Communicating with other dogs: Contagious howling is a natural group behavior that strengthens social bonds and helps dogs feel connected.
- Seeking attention: Some dogs may howl to get attention, especially if they’re bored or they’ve learned it gets a reaction.
- Expressing strong emotions: Howling lets dogs release strong emotions like stress, excitement, or tension. In some cases, this type of howling can become compulsive.
- Feeling territorial: Dogs may howl in order to establish their territory and mark it for other dogs.
- Their genetics: Ancient dog breeds like Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, and Basenjis tend to howl more frequently, likely because they have closer genetic ties to their ancestors.
- Their upbringing: Even though howling is an instinctive behavior, dogs can also learn it socially. Puppies exposed to social group howling may imitate the behavior and continue howling as they mature into adult dogs.
- Separation anxiety: Dogs with separation anxiety may howl as a way to vocalize their distress. A dog with separation anxiety may also whimper, have sweaty paws, less appetite, and pee in the house.
- Pain or illness: Sometimes, howling can be a sign of pain or illness. Older dogs, especially those with canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD), may howl when feeling disoriented or confused.
Trying to work out why your dog is howling?
Rachel Salant, an animal behavior specialist, recommends paying attention to the context of the howl and your dog’s body posture.
For example, constant howling when your dog is alone could point to separation anxiety, which may require support or intervention. On the other hand, you probably don’t need to worry if your dog only occasionally howls at a siren—especially if they’re in good health otherwise.
When Is Howling Excessive?
“Howling crosses into ‘excessive’ territory when it happens so frequently or for such long periods that it disrupts daily life,” Dr. Garber says. If you can’t calm or redirect your dog easily, this could suggest an underlying behavioral or emotional issue, he adds.
When to ask a vet about dog howling
While howling can sometimes be pretty cute, it’s important to work out why your dog does it.
“Howling is often a normal behavior, but it can sometimes indicate a medical problem, especially if it’s accompanied by other symptoms, such as loss of appetite, pain, or discomfort in specific areas,” says Dr. Nick Horniman, veterinary surgeon and founder of My Pets Vet.
If your dog has started howling and has any of these symptoms, schedule an appointment with your vet as soon as possible. They can give your dog a checkup and rule out underlying medical conditions.
How to Manage Excessive Howling
Before you can take steps to manage your dog’s howling, you need to find out why they’re howling and address the underlying cause, Dr. Horniman says. Otherwise, you may end up teaching a command that could reinforce the behavior.
It’s also important to remember that howling is instinctive for some breeds and something they love to do.
“If you decide to adopt a dog breed known to be vocal, it would be an unrealistic and unfair expectation for the dog to stay silent all the time,” Salant says.
With that in mind, you can try these tips to prevent excessive howling:
Teach your dog “Quiet”
You can teach your dog the “Quiet” cue by marking and rewarding them when they’re silent.
Eventually your dog will pair their silence with this cue, but you have to be precise about their reward. If your dog is doing anything else, they may associate the cue with a different action!
Talkative breeds like Samoyeds and Siberian Huskies may need to learn the phrase “Speak” before they can learn “Quiet.”
Redirect the behavior
For some dogs, Salant recommends pet parents interrupt howling by asking for an alternative behavior.
Examples of alternative behaviors might include sitting near you, playing with a toy, or taking a nap.
If your dog picks up and performs the new behavior, make sure to offer praise, treats, and pets.
Prioritize bonding
If you think your dog might be howling as a way of asking for attention, spending more time bonding with your dog could make a difference.
Some ways to improve your bond include dedicated playtime, fun training sessions, different meals and treats, and cozy cuddles.
Try sound desensitization
If specific sounds trigger your dog’s howling, you can try desensitization and counterconditioning to reduce this behavior.
Dr. Horniman explains that these approaches involve gradually exposing dogs to specific sounds at a low volume paired with positive reinforcement. Over time, dogs learn to associate a previously negative sound with positive experiences. This makes it less likely they will howl at those sounds.
Our sound desensitization worksheet can help you track your dog’s progress. As your dog becomes more used to these sounds, you can move onto intermediate and advanced desensitization techniques.
If you’re not confident completing this training at home, you can always seek advice from a trusted dog trainer or behaviorist.
You may find that your dog simply loves to howl—and if your vet can’t identify any health concerns, you may just want to embrace this behavior as a natural part of your dog’s nature!
