Dog howling not only disturbs pet owners but can also lead to numerous complaints from neighbors. To remedy the situation, it's important to determine why the dog is howling and behaving inappropriately. It turns out there may be several reasons.
Instinct
Dogs are related to wild wolves and therefore share similar natural instincts. Wild animals use howls to communicate with each other. This helps them hunt prey together, warn of danger, and alert to the approach of intruders into their territory.
Domestic dogs can hear the howl of another dog from a great distance, to which they will send their response, while a person may not hear the second participant in the canine dialogue at all.
There's no way to dull your dog's instincts, but to encourage more frequent interaction with other dogs, choose walks where dogs can interact with each other at close range.
The pet is not feeling well
When a dog is sick, it may start howling, trying to attract the attention of its owner so that he will notice the pet’s poor health and help it.
When it seems like your dog is howling for no reason, you need to take a closer look at his health.
If your animal is breathing heavily, is inactive, limping, salivating excessively, or exhibiting any other abnormal behavior, the howling is likely due to illness. In this situation, you should immediately consult a veterinarian.
Boredom from loneliness
A dog may howl when its owners are away, and neighbors only learn of its behavior when they hear complaints. This is a way for the animal to express its longing for its beloved owner when it's lonely and has nothing else to do.
To help your dog cope with loneliness without distress, you need to gradually acclimate it to it. From puppyhood, your dog should be left home alone every day, going out the door for at least 15-20 minutes a day. If your dog behaves well, reward it with treats. To keep it occupied while alone, consider purchasing a variety of dog toys.
Call to play
If a dog howls in the presence of its owner and tries to attract attention with all its behavior, this means that the pet requires communication and play with it.
Dogs become very attached to their people and suffer from a lack of attention. If you spend more time with your pet and take them on longer walks more often, their behavior will normalize and they won't bother you with their howling.
Hunger
Hunger, like thirst and poor health, will cause an animal to alert humans. Owners may forget to feed their dog before leaving for work, and then everyone around them will have to listen to the howling of a hungry dog.
The solution to this problem is entirely up to the owners; you simply need to check your pet's food bowls more often. It's also a good idea to establish a feeding schedule and strictly adhere to it.
Warning of trouble
Sometimes a dog tries to warn others about some impending trouble by barking.
Thanks to their keen sense of smell, animals quickly detect foreign odors, so howling can signal a gas leak or a fire. However, sometimes such behavior can foretell, for example, a robbery or the death of an owner or family member. In these cases, it's difficult to explain how the animal senses trouble.
At first, it may seem like your dog is barking for no reason. There's no need to scold your pet for this behavior. It's important to figure out what the dog is trying to communicate with its barking. Perhaps the dog smells something burning or is simply calling for a companion. If the dog is healthy, its bowls are full of food, and the owner spends enough time with the pet, in most cases the howling will not bother you.
