Why do dogs like to howl? Ways to effectively reduce howling in dogs

2022-06-22


Why Do Dogs Like to Howl


In fact, howling is a natural way for dogs to communicate. There are also other reasons. The most accepted argument for howling is that "dogs are the successors of wolves and they carry some wolf habits, howling being one of them".

Why do dogs like to howl? Ways to effectively reduce howling in dogs


1. Vocal communication

Coyote howls are their natural form of vocal communication. By howling, they exchange messages to their separated members, informing them of their presence and current location, a method that helps them find each other. And dogs have inherited this behavior from their ancestors, and sometimes they also convey messages to their companions by howling.

2. Defending territory

Territorial behavior of dogs is another genetic trait from wolves. Dogs also occupy territories like wolves, living in certain areas and defending their boundaries. If they observe or suspect that another member is encroaching on their boundary, they will warn that member by howling and inform their companions of this information.

3. Separation anxiety

Dogs are naturally packaged animals that live together in packs and have a strong sense of separation anxiety. When they feel to be separated from their companions, or any companion in their pack is missing. They will trigger a growl to send a message to the missing member, which means "I'm here, where are you? Similar behavior has been observed in stray dogs, who howl when they find themselves separated from their companions or when they observe any member missing. You may have noticed that when stray puppies have been waiting for their mothers, the puppies will start howling.

4. Separation anxiety about the owner

A dog is a loyal, affectionate, emotional companion, deeply attached to their owner and family. They howl in response to feeling separated. You can notice by observation that usually, when you take your dog to a new place, it can adapt itself to its new residence when you are nearby, but when you leave it, it will feel separation anxiety and may start howling.

5. Attention seeking

Dogs are always eager to get your attention and affection. When they lack physical exercise or feel nervous, they need more attention from you, and sometimes they will do different tricks to get your attention. But if their needs are not met, they will begin to howl to cue you, and this time the howling is gentle, which is their way of getting your attention.

6. Isolation distress

If a dog is left alone for a long time, it may feel lonely and go on to make unusual activities. Many people complain that when their dog stays in the house for a long time, it will start tearing the house apart, tearing the furniture to pieces and staining the carpets. In addition, they get complaints from neighbors because of their dog's growling and the noise it makes. In fact, isolation anxiety is a common problem for all dogs, and they will behave and growl in unintended ways.

7. Success and excitement

When dogs are successful or excited, they like to show off their accomplishments to gain praise. However, if they can't open their mouths to call his owner, that's when they howl, because howling is their natural vocal communication mode.
Also, you can observe that usually hounds howl when they find objects or have success in their prey. This is because they like to reveal their success and express their joy as a way to gain the appreciation of their owners.

8. Medical problems

Sometimes, when they are sick or have a physical problem, they will make a howling sound, which indicates that they are suffering from internal pain, and you may have seen or heard howling when a stray dog has an accidental injury. So if your dog has been howling, then you need to check to see if there is any physical injury or if they are sick. If the dog doesn't have any obvious injuries and it continues to howl, I suggest you better take it to the hospital for a checkup.

9. Feeling upset or irritated

If your dog feels chagrin or sadness, it will also howl. Just like some dogs, the sound from instruments such as violins and pianos is an irritating noise for them, and when they listen to it, it will always trigger howling. In addition, there are a number of other sounds that can also annoy them to produce howling, like alarm clocks, electronic beeps and sirens, etc.


10. Respond to high-pitched noise or sound

Sometimes when you make a high-pitched barking sound, your dog may also start howling, or when one dog starts howling, other dogs will follow and start howling, which some people believe may be a natural reaction pattern of dogs. In addition to this, there are specific high pitched sounds that can trigger a dog to howl, such as when a police car, fire department, or ambulance type of vehicle with a specific sound passes by, the dog will also start howling.

Ways to reduce howling in dogs



1. Exercise more: Adequate exercise can drain a dog's energy. After a long day of playing or running, a dog would rather get a good night's sleep than waste energy barking again.

2. Bone: If there is something to block the dog's mouth, they will not have time to bark, those more difficult to chew the more challenging, so next time when you are ready to go out, first throw them the favorite chew toy, so that they can pass the time of boredom.

3. Use your brain: If your dog has something to do, he won't have time to bark, so before you go out, rub their favorite toys with your hands so that their smell stays on the head. When you can't see the owner, the lonely dog will spend more time looking for the owner's smell on the toy and forget about barking.

4. Make some noise: for those more nervous dogs, once you hear what the wind and grass will be barking. If you can not completely get rid of the environmental noise, may wish to create some sound as a distraction. For example, when the mailman passes, then turn on the noisy vacuum cleaner to confuse the dog's hearing.

5. Respond to it: Some times the dog keeps barking just to convey some kind of message to the master, if the master moderate response and express appreciation, understand the task is completed, the dog naturally shut up.

6. Reward it: If the dog just won't shut up, the owner should immediately reprimand it with a firm tone: "Quiet!" When the dog stops barking, the director may wish to give some small treats or praise to show encouragement. The intent is to let the dog know that listening and keeping quiet can be rewarded by the owner.

7. Ignore it: Some dogs, like humans, can not afford to lose their audience to continue to make long speeches, and if they keep chattering, the owner may want to turn away, most dogs will have the sense to shut up. In order to enhance their learning effect, the professor suggested that the owner can carry a small bell, whenever the dog barking incessantly, first shake the bell, to make sure they hear the bell sound and then leave the room. After a few lessons, the next time the dog barking as soon as they hear the sound of the bell, they will know that they should shut up. Likewise, when they stop barking, the owner can give them some praise or rewards.

Douse their enthusiasm: spraying water with a water gun can also stop dogs barking, when they bark incessantly, the owner should first verbally admonish, if they still do not listen to the warning, may wish to spray water with a water gun to make them calm.
  • Category:Dogs feeding
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  • Release Date:2022-06-22 17:36:45
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