Why Some Dogs Don’t Howl
Some dogs are naturally less inclined to howl than others. Certain breeds, like Basenjis and Shih Tzus, are known for being quieter and less vocal than other breeds. They may not see much motivation or reason to howl, especially if they are not frequently exposed to stimuli that commonly trigger howling, like loud noises or hearing other dogs howl. Dogs that are more introverted or have a quieter personality are also less likely to howl compared to vocal, extroverted dogs. Additionally, dogs that are isolated or bored with limited stimulation may simply lack interest in howling. Without motivation to express themselves vocally or triggers to provoke a howl, these dogs may be perfectly content not to howl at all.
As this article from EBBEST notes, some breeds like Basenjis just don’t tend to howl as much due to loneliness, TV sounds, or doorbells ringing compared to other breeds.
How Dogs Communicate
Dogs rely heavily on body language and vocalizations to communicate with humans and other dogs. Some of the main ways dogs communicate include:
- Facial expressions – Dogs use facial expressions like eye contact, grinning, and nose licking to show happiness and submission. On the other hand, lip curling, whale eye, and snarling indicate aggression or stress.
- Body language – A dog’s body language can communicate everything from playfulness (play bows, wagging tail) to fear (ears back, tail tucked, trembling). Calm, relaxed dogs hold their tails parallel to their backs.
- Barking – Dogs may bark out of boredom, loneliness, stress, excitement, or to alert their owners. Continuous barking can indicate separation anxiety or frustration.
- Whimpering/whining – Whimpering and whining are signs a dog is anxious, stressed, excited, lonely, or seeking attention. Puppies often whine when they feel isolated from their littermates.
- Howling – Dogs howl to communicate different emotions, connect with other dogs, or respond to environmental triggers like sirens. Some dogs rarely howl while others are frequent howlers.
Understanding a dog’s unique communication style helps owners interpret their needs and emotions correctly.
Why Dogs Howl
Dogs howl for a variety of reasons related to communication, responding to triggers, expressing needs, and bonding. Here are some of the main reasons dogs vocalize in this unique way:
- Communication – Dogs may howl to communicate their location to other pack members or get attention from humans.
- Respond to triggers – Environmental stimuli like sirens, music, or other sounds can trigger a dog to join in with howling.
- Express needs – Howling can signify important needs like loneliness, anxiety, stress, or boredom that require attention from owners.
- Bonding/unity – Group howling sessions help strengthen social bonds and reinforce unity among pack members.
So in summary, key reasons dogs howl relate to their social nature and ability to communicate, respond to stimuli, express emotions, and strengthen connections. Understanding the motivating factors behind this unique vocalization can help owners address their dog’s needs.
How to Motivate Your Dog to Howl
If your dog doesn’t naturally howl very often, there are some ways you can try to motivate them to find their voice. The key is providing the right motivational triggers that tapping into your dog’s natural communication instincts. Here are some tips to get your dog howling:
Use high-pitched sounds like harmonicas, sirens, or whistles. The unique tones of these instruments can trigger your dog’s desire to join in with their own vocalizations. Start softly at first to pique their interest.
Play recordings of other dogs howling. Dogs are naturally social animals and may be inclined to respond to another dog’s howl. Use recordings of long, mournful howls to see if it prompts a reply from your pup.
Howl first yourself. Lead by example by letting out your own melodic howl. Keep it going for 30 seconds or more. Your dog may perk up and join with their own howling response.
Be patient and keep trying different triggers. Not all dogs are prone to howling, but with time and persistence, you can discover what motivates your unique pooch to tap into their inner vocalist.
Increase Environmental Triggers
Dogs are sensitive to sounds in their environment, and certain noises may trigger their natural instinct to howl. Try playing audio recordings of sirens, fire truck sounds, or musical instruments like harmonicas, flutes, and violins. The high-pitched tones and variation in these sounds can provoke a howl response. Open windows so your dog can hear outside noises like other dogs howling, car horns honking, or people shouting. The more intriguing sounds from the surrounding environment your dog hears, the more likely those noises will spark a howl. It may take some experimentation with different audio sources to find the triggers that work best to get your dog howling. Be patient and keep the volume reasonable as you try exposing your dog to these environmental howl motivators.
Meet Your Dog’s Needs
Ensuring your dog’s basic needs are met can encourage natural howling behavior. Make sure your dog gets adequate exercise and mental stimulation each day. Bored, under-stimulated dogs are more likely to develop unwanted behavioral issues. Aim for at least 30-60 minutes of activity per day through walks, play time, or training. Mental exercise is just as important, so provide interactive toys and use training sessions to engage your dog’s mind.
Pay attention to your dog’s energy level – if they seem restless, anxious or stress, increase daily enrichment. A calm, relaxed dog is more inclined to howl. Deepen your bond through quality time together. Take your dog on adventures, play games, or cuddle. A strong human-canine connection can boost confidence. If your dog seems lonely when left alone try providing a companion. Ensure your dog’s living space is comfortable with access to food, water, toys and a place to sleep.
Meeting physical and social needs relieves stress and fulfills natural instincts. A content, cared for dog will feel safe exhibiting natural vocalizing behavior like howling when the urge strikes.
Work on Vocalization
Dogs that are reluctant to howl often need encouragement and practice vocalizing in general. You can help stimulate your dog’s inner howl by working on getting them comfortable with making noise.
Start by teaching your dog the ‘speak’ command. When they bark on cue, reward them with treats and praise. This helps reinforce that vocalizing earns rewards.
Any time your dog makes noise – barking, whining, grumbling – be sure to praise them enthusiastically. This teaches them that you like when they use their voice.
As they get comfortable barking on cue and vocalizing in general, you can begin shaping their vocalizations. Reward any sound that resembles a howl, even if it’s not quite there yet. Over time, by selectively reinforcing sounds that are closer and closer to a true howl, you can shape your dog’s vocal behavior until they readily and reliably howl.
The key is being patient, staying positive, and rewarding approximations. With regular practice, you can teach your dog to howl using their own voice.
Try Howling Yourself
Get down on your dog’s level and make direct eye contact. Then, tilt your head back slightly and let out a long, drawn-out howl. Try to emulate the pitch and tone of a wolf’s howl. Your dog may perk up and become curious about the strange sound you’re making. Once you have your dog’s attention, encourage them to join in!
Get your family involved too. Have everyone get on the dog’s level and howl together. Make it into a fun family bonding experience. The energy of the “pack” howling together can further motivate your dog to participate.
You can also record yourself howling and play it back for your dog. Seeing you howl live may not be enough to trigger your dog’s instinct to howl. But hearing a recording of a howl may spark their natural reaction to howl back at the sound.
Be Persistent and Patient
Not all dogs will howl on command, so don’t get discouraged if your dog does not howl right away. Be persistent and keep trying different techniques to see what motivates your dog to howl. Try doing a high-pitched howl yourself or playing trigger sounds like sirens. Give your dog lots of praise and treats when he does howl to reinforce the behavior.
However, don’t force your dog to howl if he seems stressed or anxious. Forcing a behavior can cause negative associations, which may make a dog less likely to howl in the future. Go at your dog’s pace and keep sessions positive and rewarding. With time and consistency, you can shape the howling behavior if your dog is inclined, but not every dog enjoys howling.
When to Seek Help
While most howling is normal behavior for dogs, excessive or distressing vocalization can be a sign of underlying issues. If your dog begins howling constantly or shows signs of separation anxiety or other behavioral problems when howling, it’s best to seek professional help. Prolonged howling can indicate physical or mental health concerns that require veterinary attention.
Signs that your dog’s howling needs further evaluation include:
- Howling that lasts for extended periods of time
- Howling accompanied by destructive behavior like chewing or digging
- Howling when left alone or separated from owners
- Changes in the pitch, tone, or frequency of howling
- Excessive howling at night that disturbs sleep
Consult your veterinarian if your dog’s vocalizations seem abnormal or start suddenly. Medication, behavioral training, or other interventions may help anxious, distressed, or vocal dogs. While teaching your dog to howl can be fun, be sure excessive howling doesn’t indicate a physical or mental health problem needing professional support.