Why a dog howls: reasons and what to do

Many owners, especially new ones, are deeply interested in the question: why does a dog howl? Animals can perform veritable concerts at night, when their owners are away, or for other reasons. In some cases, the owner may not even notice their pet howling for a long time—until an angry neighbor comes over one day and complains about the howling that can be heard when the owners are out. So why does this happen, and is there any way to stop such howling? All of this is worth discussing in detail.

Main reasons

Before turning to a collection of signs and trying to figure out why a dog howls, it's worth considering the most simple and logical reasons. After all, in most cases, even the most chilling howl is produced by a dog simply because:

• She's lonely. Many animals become strongly attached to their owners and become bored in their absence. And boredom is often linked to undesirable behavior. Some dogs chew furniture, others jump on doors, others howl, and so on.
• She's tormented by her natural needs. If she's hungry or needs to go to the bathroom, she may whine and howl. This is especially true for dogs left home alone for long periods of time—there's no one to care for her when she needs it. A dog may also howl because she senses a female dog or a pack in heat and wants to join her fellow dogs—a loving instinct.
• They want attention from their owner. If the animal is sociable, it may well howl to attract attention.
• It's not good. A pet's ill health isn't always immediately noticeable, but a dog can express its pain by howling. Sometimes dogs begin to howl because of illness.
• They want to signal their fellow dogs. Communication occurs not only through barking but also through howling; they can communicate with other dogs on the street or in the neighborhood this way.
• Wanting to run. If a dog is chained, it may start howling because it wants to run around the yard and play. This is especially true if the chain is short.
• Joyfully. Sometimes a dog howls when greeting its owner—it's a greeting, along with a host of other sounds.

There's also a belief that a dog may howl when sensing trouble. This makes sense: with its subtle cues, heightened sense of smell and perception, dogs sense danger and attempt to warn loved ones by emitting this signal. People also wonder why dogs howl at night, and sometimes it may be related to the lunar cycle. Canines have been observed howling during the full moon, and there's no explanation for this—apparently, it's their subconscious at work.

Are there any signs?

There are also certain superstitions associated with this phenomenon. For example, when asked why a dog howls in the yard, people answer: "It's a dead person." There's some truth to this—a dog's sense of smell is capable of detecting the odor a person begins to emit before death, and so the dog knows in advance that someone will die. Again, this applies only to natural deaths; spontaneous deaths shouldn't be attributed to this phenomenon.

When searching for answers to the question of why a dog howls, and the reasons for it, people also note that it foretells trouble—as mentioned above. A dog may notice something dangerous that isn't immediately obvious to humans and thus be warning people. However, if spontaneous howling isn't typical for your dog, and it suddenly starts howling, it's worth paying attention; it may be trying to communicate something. Superstition has nothing to do with it. Definitely don't hit a howling dog; it's better to try to understand why it does it.

How to deal with a howling "neighbor"

Another issue that's troubling the public is what to do if your neighbor's dog howls. If you have "musical" neighbors, it's worth talking to the owner, trying to calmly explain the problem, and working together to resolve it. You can offer some tips to help stop your dog from howling in your absence, at night, or for other reasons. Or you can try these tips yourself if you're the owner of a four-legged dog who tends to howl loudly throughout the house.

How to stop a dog from howling

So, if your dog howls when left alone, what should you do? First, take it to the vet to make sure it's not sick and isn't suffering from any physical discomfort. Then, you can continue to observe and try to find the cause of its behavior to rule it out. Perhaps you should leave food in its bowl when you're away, and that will stop your pet from howling from hunger.

If your dog requires attention, shower it with kindness and affection. Take it for walks and engage it in active games. If you're unsure how to stop it from howling when its owners aren't around, try leaving the radio or TV on. You can teach your dog the "speak" and "quiet" commands—this can help if it's making noise in your presence. If you still can't resolve the issue, consult a dog trainer, who may be able to help.

Conclusion

The problem of dog howling is solvable if you correctly identify the cause and eliminate it. Don't scold your pet for this behavior, much less look for a mystical motive behind it. It's also worth knowing that some dogs don't bark, and they use howling instead. These are primarily breeds that are closely related to wolves—wolfdogs. Malamutes, and other similar animals. They simply don't know how to behave any other way.

Read also:

• Basic concepts of training domestic dogs
• How to teach a dog the "Speak" command
• Does the dog understand words?