Currently, there are many breeds of dogs, they may well be small, medium, large, with short hair, long hair, large ears, drooping, among other characteristics. However, you must not forget that your canine friends have only one ancestor: the wolf. That is why, although two dog breeds can be completely opposite in shape and character, both respond to the same animal instinct and genetic inheritance from the wolf. This aspect is the one that can respond, today, to many of the behaviors of pets and how they relate to the environment. One of these behaviors that most closely resembles the wild wolf is precisely the howling of a dog.
Many times you have wondered why do dogs howl for no apparent reason and the reason for that howl. Well, in this new oneHOWTO article we are going to solve your doubts and we will explain what the most common causes are so that you can interpret it and get to know your faithful friend a little better. Let’s go there!
Howl to mark territory
Wolves, in a wild and indigenous environment, are animals that need to mark their territory and defend it from other animals or from packs other than their own. That is why one of the behaviors that dogs use to warn others is howling, and if we transfer this to the reality of our pet, it is quite common for our dog to howl when a stranger passes near your house or an unknown dog entersWell, your pet will want to make it clear that this is his territory and that of his family. We point out that this howl is common at night, the dog has the desire to watch over and protect the territory.
Howling for pain or discomfort
Another reason why our dog can start howling for no apparent explanation is because it has some kind of pain or discomfort. Like humans and other animals, dogs often complain when something is hurting them and, in their case, they do it through howling. However, the good thing for owners is that this type of howl is easily recognizable, as it is a totally different howl, is often choppy and very low-pitched. Normally, this type of howl is accompanied by strange behavior such as lack of activity or lack of appetite. Therefore, if you hear your canine howl like this and his behavior is apparently not normal, it is best to go to the vet to find out.
Howl for joy or celebration
Not all howls have a negative background. Dogs, like wolves, use the howl to communicate with their pack and to be able to reunite. This is why howling is sometimes a sound that expresses joy or satisfaction. A clear example is when you come home after being away all day or after a few days of vacation without seeing each other and he starts to howl wagging tail. Well, it is nothing more than a reason for joy to be the whole “herd” reunited again. What a joy!
Howl by imitation
You may have wondered why dogs howl when they hear an ambulance siren or a very high-pitched sound. As you well know, dogs are very curious and interactive animals with their environment and on many occasions tend to imitate everyday behaviors or sounds. In this sense, there are many dogs that when faced with certain sounds try to imitate them by howling, for example, puppies tend to instinctively make the pretense of howling if you reproduce a howl near them. Likewise, the breeds of dogs that howl the most, such as huskies or German shepherds, are animals more similar to the wolf, they usually imitate all kinds of sounds and are characteristic for their power of imitation. In addition, we point out that sometimes dogs howl while they are sleeping, this situation is also by imitation.
Howling from anxiety or stress
Do you wonder why my dog howls when I leave? Well, this is another of the frequently asked questions. This type of howl is what we must pay attention to, since it occurs in stressful situations and tends to be of long duration and accompanied by rapid and repetitive movements, this can trigger dogs to cry. Perhaps from our point of view they are normal and calm situations, but for dogs, the arrival of other animals at home, moving, lack of physical activity or excessive time alone can cause them situations of anguish and anxiety that they express with howls . In short, these situations must be avoided in time to be able to give a better quality of life to your faithful companion.
And why do dogs cry? In this article we will discover the different reasons for you to give your pet a good life and understand its different emotional states.
Howl to get attention and play
Howling for attention and play is also one of the most common among healthy dogs and has to do with moments of boredom or interaction in which your pet wants to make it clear that he wants to play and that they pay attention to him. The best thing you can do in these cases is to take some quality time and dedicate it to your faithful four-legged companion so that they have a full life. For example, you can play with him to throw the ball, you can walk him for a good time, among other activities that we are sure your pet will love. What do you think if you try it?
We hope you have solved all your doubts about why dogs howl, leave us in the comments that you found this article. And if you also wonder why my dog howls when I leave, do not miss this article and keep reading.
If you want to read more articles similar to Why do dogs howl, we recommend that you enter our category of Pets.