Most of us will be familiar with the various vocalisations made by pet dogs. If you’ve had your dog for a while, chances are you’ve worked out some of the reasons behind its bark or its whine. But one of the sounds that can enchant some owners or annoy others, is the howl. A sound typically thought of as the cry of the wolf, it begs the question: why do domesticated dogs howl?
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Why do wolves howl?
Wolves are pack animals that rely on a social hierarchy to breed, raise young and hunt. Living and seeking food as a group increases the success rate of obtaining food. And it improves the chances of surviving and thriving in the wild. Although wolves hunt as a group, they separate from each other during this process to help select, segregate, and run down an individual prey.
For wolves, howling is used to keep in touch with the pack members. It helps indicate where a kill is and gives direction to allow regrouping of the pack after a hunt. Wolves also howl to indicate territory. Physical fights can be costly to a wolf, so howling is a way of proclaiming land rights from a distance. In both cases, howling is a long-distance communication, and individuals or a chorus of animals will howl for these reasons.
Why do dogs howl?
Howling in dogs is less understood. Dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years and don’t live in a hierarchical social group. This lack of a pack to seek out and communicate long-distance with is a function of howling that doesn’t apply to our dogs. But they may still use howling as a form of communication as some dogs have been shown to howl when their owners leave them at home. Perhaps they are trying to call out to their people because they have been separated; or perhaps they are declaring their presence on their home turf.
Dogs living in a multi-dog household may take part in chorus howls just like their wolf counterparts. In some cases, dogs will respond to sirens or other loud tonal sounds by howling. It is unclear whether this is driven by a desire to join in a chorus, or a sign of aversion to the noise.
Dogs that howl and dogs that don’t
Not all breeds of dog will howl. Those that are more likely to howl fit into three groups. Northern breeds that have a closer genetic relationship with wolves, i.e., huskies and malamutes, are often the best-known breeds for their howling capabilities. Beagles and bloodhounds were bred to retain howling as a behaviour. These breeds were utilised for hunting alongside riders on horseback; spreading out across large distances to run down prey or corner prey in dens. Howling was a useful behaviour to have as these dogs would work in groups just like wolves, and hunters would be able to locate them.
Other breeds of dog are considered as either an ‘ancient’ breed or a ‘modern’ breed. Ancient breeds were developed a lot longer ago, and closer to the point of domestication than many of the breeds we are used to seeing today. These ancient breeds were often bred for very specific purposes and include the shar pei, basenji, akita and saluki. Dogs from the ancient breeds are much more likely to howl as part of their vocal repertoire and much less likely to bark.
Why does my dog bark?
By contrast, barking is a more common vocalisation in ‘modern’ breeds. Barking as a sound does not travel as far as a howl. As a vocal communication, it can mean many things in a domestic dog. It can be either a welcoming greeting or a warning to stay away. To another dog, or even to us, interpreting the meaning behind the bark includes looking at body language and listening to tone and pitch.
A welcoming bark may be accompanied by bouncing, wagging of the tail and a relaxed posture. A warning bark on the other hand may come from a dog that is rigid and tense, with a dropped tail. You may even notice that your dog has different barks for different scenarios. And as you get to know your dog, you can often learn to understand what the different barks mean; from the excitement of an anticipated walk to the concern at who might be ringing the doorbell.
Growling and other vocalisations
Growling is another common vocalisation that, like barking, can mean different things in different contexts. Some dogs growl with excitement when initiating play with other dogs, or it could be a warning: to keep another dog at a distance, or to claim ownership of a possession and a reluctance to give it up.
Growling with a rigid posture, dropped tail or curled lips is more likely to be warning growl, whereas a growl accompanied by a side-ways bounce with a raised wagging tail and a relaxed posture are more likely to suggest excitement and an eagerness to play. As barking and growling are interpreted in conjunction with body language, they are a much more close-up form of vocal communication than a howl is.
Other noises that you might hear a dog make are whines and squeaks. Squeaks are more commonly made by newborn and very young pups and play a role in bonding and localisation between mother and pups. Whining is a sound that dogs use to get attention. This may be because they want some food or to play, or because they want reassurance when they are feeling uneasy. Dogs will whine to communicate these feelings with us, but they will also whine to communicate with other dogs too, and if you have multiple dogs in your house, you may notice whining as one of the communication methods used between them.
Conclusion
Dogs vocalise for many reasons, and in many ways. The likelihood of your dog howling very much depends on its breed, with most modern breeds tending to bark instead. While we may be able to interpret the reasons our dog may bark, growl or whine (often with the aid of body language), a howl carries a bit more mystery behind it.
References & Further Reading:
- Why does my dog growl at other dogs? – Vet Help Direct
- Lehoczki, F., Andics, A., Kershenbaum, A., Kubinya, E., Passilongo, D., Root-Gutteridge, H., Range, F., Sánchez, V.P., Schmidt, L., Townsend, S.W., Watson, S.K., and Faragó, T. (2023) ‘Genetic distance from wolves affects family dogs’ reactions towards howls’ Communications Biology, 6(129).
- Pongrácz, P., Molnár, C. and Miklósi, Á. (2010) ‘Barking in family dogs: An ethological approach’ The Veterinary Journal, 183(2), pp. 141-147.
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