What Does It Mean When a Dog Is Howling?

Despite superstitions that say a dog howling means death is near, howling is actually just a form of communication used by dogs. They may howl to let others know they have arrived, to make contact with other dogs, and to attract attention. Many dogs also howl in response to noises such as other animals, sirens, or even to sounds that might otherwise go unnoticed by human ears.

Could howling mean my dog is sick? 

It’s possible. As with any symptom, you should be aware of behavior that is unusual for your dog. For example, if a dog that never howled suddenly does or if they howl much more than normal, this could be a cause for concern. If this is the case for your dog, make an appointment with the vet to rule out a medical cause.

Does your dog only howl when you’re away, and is the howling excessive? If so, you should also consider whether the pup may have separation anxiety. If you think this may be the case, an animal behaviorist can help you with a treatment plan to bring the anxiety under control.

Tips to make howling stop 

Barring a medical condition or anxiety, your dog is just howling as a way to communicate. Whether they’re howling in response to other neighborhood dogs or to get attention from you, here are a few tips that may help curb the howling:

• Attention seeking dogs will stop howling once they realize it doesn’t yield the desired result, so ignore your dog when they howl.

• Give your dog attention or a treat at random times when they’re being quiet.

• Teach them voice commands including quiet and stop. Once they’ve mastered them, you should be able to stop the howling on command. 

Some breeds don’t howl at all while some howl more than most. While you don’t want to stop their vocalizations completely, there are ways to minimize these sounds so as not to annoy your neighbors. If your best efforts don’t help, consider working with an animal behaviorist who can help you pinpoint the reason for the howling and work on training to bring it under control.