Are you curious about why dogs howl and especially why dogs howl when an ambulance passes and hear sirens or when they hear bells? You must know that among the various forms of voice communication used by our four-legged friends we also have the howling. The reasons why dogs howl are different, let’s find out what they are. For example, dogs howl when they want to get our attention or make contact with other animals and make their presence felt. Even in a thunderstorm, the sound of the siren of some vehicles leads the dog to howl.
Verbal Communication
One of the ways of vocal communication between dogs or wolves is surely howling. Howling send a message indicating their presence to the members of the pack. This means that they can easily find each other again. Dogs are thought to have inherited this behavior from their ancestors namely wolves.
Territorial Presence
The attachment to the territory is certainly another characteristic that dogs have inherited from wolves. In fact, dogs tend to always defend their territory. The dog, when someone invades the territory, howls to warn him and inform the members of the pack of what is happening.
Pack Separation Anxiety
As can be seen in stray dogs, when they feel separated from the pack or a member of the pack is missing they howl as if to say “We are here, where are you?”. It should be known that dogs suffer from pack separation anxiety. For example, if the mother moves away from her stray puppies they begin to howl.
Separation Anxiety From The Owner
As we all know, dogs are very attached to their owners and their families, being very affectionate and emotional. When they feel a sense of separation from the owner, they begin to howl. This can also happen when a dog stays home alone and is stressed by separation anxiety about his human, whom he regards as a pack leader. Most of the time you hear barking rather than howling.
Seeking Attention
Our four-legged friends are always eager to receive our attention. If this does not happen, then behavioral problems can arise which may even include repeated howling. The howling, for a dog, is considered the best natural way to get your attention.
Isolation Anxiety
Isolation anxiety is a very common problem in dogs. Have you ever left your dog alone in the house? Your neighbor has likely complained that your dog is making unwanted noises or that your dog is howling all the time. Unfortunately, isolation anxiety can lead to howling and behavioral changes.
Excitement And Goal Achievement
When a hunting dog grabs prey, he feels aroused by the achievement of the goal and often howls to get his owner’s attention in order to get a reward. In fact, dogs feel excited when they reach a goal and really like to show off to receive compliments and greedy rewards in return. If this does not happen, dogs often howl because howling is their natural way of communicating.
Medical Problems
If your dog howls constantly, it could be a painful illness. So in case of constant howling, the advice we give you is to go immediately to the vet to rule out any diseases and injuries to the bones.
Response To Loud Noises Or Sounds
Dogs do not tolerate certain noises such as music, alarm clocks, bells, sirens, and even thunderstorms. If your dog is bothered by these noises then he will almost certainly start howling. Among the noises less tolerated by dogs, we have music, the sound of the bell, and the sirens of the ambulances/police. In fact, the dog often howls when he hears the bells and when the ambulance passes and they hear a siren.
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