Why does a dog howl?

Here is the answering for an interesting question: Why do dogs howl? There are a number of reasons. Some that are no big deal, and others that should be addressed.

AncestryThink your dog sounds like a howling wolf? That’s probably because dogs are distantly related to wolves, and the urge to howl is still embedded in their genetic code. Sometimes they don’t even know why they’re doing it, just that it’s what they’re supposed to be doing. Howling is totally normal and natural as long as it’s not chronic, pervasive, or invasive.

Communication
In the wild, wolves howl to tell a lost member of their pack where they are or to ward off another animal that’s encroaching on their territory. For domesticated dogs, this may translate to howling at sirens (“Hey, I’m over here!”), howling when a strange dog comes near (“Too close, buddy!”), or both.

Howling like the above two examples should be expected and isn’t anything to worry about as long as it isn’t accompanied by aggression toward other dogs or people. Most dog owners even tend to find it pretty cute. However, there are situations where howling is a symptom of something deeper that needs to be fixed.

Sickness and injuryOne of the ways that many dogs express the fact that they are hurt or sick is by howling or vocalizing in other ways. If you notice that your dog is making strange sounds or “talking” more than normal, get them to the vet for a check-up.

Separation anxietyRemember how wolves howl to find each other in the wild? Well, if your dog is suffering from separation anxiety, it’s possible that he’ll start doing this every time you leave — not fun for you, the dog, or your neighbors.

How do you know that the howling is being caused by separation anxiety? Because it’s usually accompanied by another symptom, such as destroying things, pacing around, or eliminating inside the house. Howling of this kind will take time and consistent effort to overcome.

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Posted by awesomefactoflife