Have you ever wondered in what situations dogs howl and why do they even do it? How is it possible that they still hang on this wolfs’ behaviour when they were domesticated such a long time ago?
The fact that howling is innate behaviour that dogs have from their ancestors – wolfs – is probably a well-known thing. Among wolfs, it is a natural way of communication which is necessary for survival. But what is the reason domesticated dogs still do that?
Let’s have a look at it from the basics and summarize all the reasons wolfs and wild dogs have for howling and match them with today’s world experience.
The first reason everybody probably assumes is calling the pack together or in other words the organization of the pack and its guiding. Members who are far away answer by howling to let the pack know about their location and both sides repeat that until they guide each other to the meeting point. That might be the reason why your dog howls when it is ate home alone or someone looks after it in an unfamiliar environment or with unfamiliar people. It calls its family and expresses sadness when they are not around.
However, howling also has the function of warning other pack members against danger – other dogs, for example. Therefore, it is a kind of a defensive mechanism. It sends the message to its pack telling “watch out” as well as intimidates the intruder. That might be the reason why your dog companion howls when it can hear a stranger behind the door or there is a strange dog walks alongside the fence. Howling also strengthens the bond in the pack and shows others the territory has already been taken.
However, this acoustic expression may also have simpler reasons. A dog companion might express its anxiety or frustration that you leave it at home alone again, you don’t pay enough attention to it and it feels lonely. It is a symptom of the separation anxiety.
By howling, a dog might only react to loud noises, it is a response to intensive and unexpected stimuli from the environment. It is often a dog’s reaction to sirens, sometimes even to singing or music. It is a response to what it thinks is its own or another pack. Also, a dog will react if it hears other dog’s howling.
Your dog might also use howling as a way to bring your attention to its injury or to the fact something hurts it. Another reason for howling might simply be happiness, it is the same way of expression as when people sing. Some breeds, such as huskies or malamutes, howl more often, it might be due to their stronger feeling for packs.
What about your dog companion, does it howl often or you haven’t heard it yet? And did you know you can even teach a dog to howl? It is used for hunting dogs to report prey, for example.
According to the data published at the end of last year, more than half of the people from around the world lives with at least one pet. The most numerous dog population is in the United States (70 million dogs), followed by Brazil (36 million) and...
When I travel, I'm always interested in what is the view of the given country upon the keeping of pets. And generally, how animals are treated there. The position of cats, dogs and rodents varies significantly in different countries, so there’s...
People often confuse the grey wolf with the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog. This shepherd’s and today a very popular breed was bred from the German Shepherd by crossbreeding with the Carpathian wolf. Even though the dog and the wolf are very similar in...
The golden hamster, sometimes referred to as hamster-teddy bear because of its appearance, was first captured less than a century ago by zoologists in Syria. Hence also its second name – the Syrian hamster. Over time, it became a popular pet throughout...
The cloning of dogs or cats is slowly becoming a completely normal reality. For now, you can encounter it mostly in Asian countries. It’s the companies in South Korea that are most famous for their business plans focusing on the grieving dog and cat...
It would probably entirely unnecessary to describe the appearance of the German Shepherd. Probably everyone, even non-dog-lovers, have seen the German series Inspector Rex. Apart from the most famous colouring with black or golden marks, it is bred...
Getting a cat doesn’t mean only buying a cat toilet, bowls, a bed and a couple of toys. You also have to realise that the animal will also need certain care and count with this already before getting it. Each breed has its own specifics. While some are...
The Persian Longhairs, which have most likely descended from the Turkish Angoras, were bred in England at the end of the 19th century. Since then, they have undergone great changes, and today they have a much more compact body in comparison to the...
The desire for your own dog friend can also lead to a great disappointment. Since a lot of people fall for scammers when buying through an ad. Getting a dog this way is a risk not only from the money point of view, but also with respect to the mental...
Traveling with a dog in the city is stressful for many dog owners. One of the reasons may be the fear of riding escalators. If the dog is not accustomed to them since young age, he can have issue with it as an adult. Even in the case that your dog aces...
For the majority of dog breeders, winter is the period that has to be waited out somehow. But this time of year provides ideal conditions for the musher sport. And if you found pleasure in summer trainings with the dog, don’t hang the dog harness on an...
Most owners consider pets kept at home to be full-fledged family members. And year after year, they invest more and more money in them. Just for dog and cat food, Czechs spend around eight billion crowns a year. The business around pets is experiencing...