Why Do Dogs Howl?

Dogs howl at the moon. They howl when they hear the siren of a fire truck or the siren of an ambulance. The dogs howling adds to the noise of a police car. Is the dogs howling trying to convey that something ominous is about to happen? Dogs have heightened senses. Folks believe that dogs can see something that humans are unable to see. A howling dog is a permanent feature in horror movies.

A howl is always associated with something sinister. Do you not wish you have someone beside you when a dogs howling intensifies the eeriness of the dark, windy and rainy nights? The howling of the dog however can be quite amusing especially if done in broad daylight. Have you noticed how some dogs howl when it hears the family singing together? Do the singing voices hurt the dogs ears or is the pet howling because it wants to join in the fun?

There are many reasons why dogs howl. First and foremost is for communication. Wolves howl and bay. These progenitors of the present day dogs stay in packs. A dog that is separated from the pack will howl to inform the others of its location. It is the dogs way of telling the other pack members that everything is fine. Other dogs will then howl back. The howling sound carries for several miles. A dog howls to inform the others that prey has been found.

Dogs have been domesticated for thousand of years but howling, like the other inherent traits were not eliminated. Modern day dogs however, howl for a different reason. Dogs left alone and cooped inside the house all day or leashed in the backyard with nothing better to do will howl because of boredom. Loneliness is another reason. Dogs suffering from separation anxiety also howl. A dog whose master dies howls every night. The dog is probably missing its master although folks give another meaning to the howling. Some would believe that the dog is seeing its departed master. Howling is always associated with something ominous, but did you know that howling also signify a dogs happiness? Dogs are social creatures. They crave the company of their human family. A dog wild bark and howl when it sees its master coming and when it is included in the play activities of the children.

Dogs in the wild howl back when they hear a distant howl. So do not be surprised when your pet howls when the ambulance passes by. The howling is an instinctive response to what is interpreted by the dog as another howl. The high pitch sound of a musical instrument, the sound of the television will be responded to by the dog in the same manner.

By Jerry Welsh
PressSearch.org