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Why Does My Dog Howl?

 Why Does My Dog Howl? 

Updated on January 24, 2023
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Reviewed by Petco’s Animal Care
Education and Compliance (ACE) Team

Why does my dog howl? | Why does my dog howl when I howl? | Do all dogs howl? | How can I get my dog to stop howling?

Dog Howling

Being a pet parent means getting used to certain behaviors from your canine companion—kooky traits like circling a spot endlessly before laying down, following you from room to room and even greeting other dogs by sniffing their rear end.  

Random barking is also to be expected. Many of us decide to adopt dogs for the added protection of being alerted to intruders—and according to your pet, threats to your safety may come disguised as your vacuum cleaner, your mailman or a stray leaf blowing across your yard.  

Sometimes, your pup may do something a little more unexpected, like howling. It may catch you off-guard when your very modern canine throws their head back and performs this ancient ritual. In fact, it may be alarming. Are they sick? Are they hurt? Are they turning into a werewolf?  

Let’s dig into the reasons why your dog may howl and whether or not it’s something you need to address with your vet.  Are you looking for ways to encourage your dog to not be quite so vocal? Check out our article How to Stop a Dog From Barking for a variety of bark solutions. We also have quality selections of humane dog bark collars. 

Why does my dog howl?  

Simply put, howling is a form of communication that your dog and their ancestors have done for generations. Barking is another form, but a dog may howl if they have something a little more urgent to get across. 

 Dogs may resort to howling to: 

  • Protect their home or territory  
  • Reciprocate communication to another dog
  • Express pain or other health conditions 

They also use this unique trait to call back members of their pack who may be lost or have gone astray. This is why your dog may start howling if they’re experiencing dog separation anxiety. 

 When you adopted your dog, you became part of their family. Dogs can have trouble figuring out exactly how long you’ve been gone, so an hour can feel like days to your pup. They may resort to howling to try and call you home.  

Why does my dog howl when I howl?  

Canines also sometimes use howling to bond. When you howl, your canine best friend thinks you’re expressing your fondness for them, so they want to reciprocate. If you make howling sounds and your dog howls in response, that can be a sign of love and affection.

Since dogs also use howling as a form of communication, you may also notice them howling along to other high-pitched sounds. You may notice this behavior when your dog hears certain types of music or a siren.

Do all dogs howl?

Yes, though for some dogs it’s a rarity. In fact, you may never hear your dog howl at all—don’t take that as a sign your dog doesn’t care about you! They may have simply found other ways to express their love.

Some breeds, however, are more known for their soulful communications. Canines known for their own unique howl tones include:

  • Bloodhounds
  • Primitive Northern breeds like Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes
  • Coonhounds
  • Beagles

If you’re a pet parent to any of the breeds above, you’ve most likely discovered this fact on your own. In fact, your neighbors may have also found this out as well. Speaking of which…

How can I get my dog to stop howling?

The first few times your canine howls, it can be both funny and charming. If it becomes a habit, however, this form of dog communication can quickly become tiresome and possibly earn you some noise complaints. Here are some steps to put a stop to this behavior.

The first step is to cue into your dog’s triggers. What makes your dog howl? Is there another dog your pup is trying to communicate with? Perhaps your child is in band and practices with an instrument that hits just the right note to compel your dog to sing along. You can either remove the trigger—if possible—or teach them cues to redirect the howling behavior.

When your dog howls, provide a slight distraction or wait for your dog to stop howling and show quiet and calm behavior. When your dog stops howling to look at you, quickly praise, give them pets and issue a training treat. Try to repeat this every time your pet howls. Eventually, they’ll come to understand that quiet behavior is desired and rewarded.

Your dog may also howl when you or someone else in your family leaves. Howls like these are usually due to anxiety. It’s important to try to resolve separation anxiety quickly—excessive stress can be harmful to your dog’s mental and physical health.

Partnering with a positive-reinforcement dog training instructor is a great start to working on decreasing separation anxiety for your pup. A good way to ease separation anxiety is to leave frequently throughout the day for short intervals. Provide your pup with their favorite puzzle toy or a toy stuffed with xylitol-free peanut butter and make your exit quickly and without fanfare.

When you get back, try not to engage with your pet until they are settled and relaxed. We know it can be hard to resist those excited kisses, but it’s important for your dog’s wellbeing to feel secure and comfortable when left alone. Anxiety can be just as harmful to dogs as it is to humans.

If these solutions don’t do the trick, it may be time to consult your vet. They can help you form a game plan on how to treat the anxiety and may even prescribe medication to help ease your pup’s discomfort. They can also perform an exam to make sure your dog isn’t howling due to medical reasons.

Have questions about some of your pet’s other peculiar behavior, like Why Do Dogs Lick Their Paws? Our resource center may be able to help.

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