Dog howl is an extremely unpleasant sound, especially if it is heard at night, when everyone should have a rest. Why do animals exhibit this behavior, and what does it mean?

There is a lot of prejudice around this issue, but the truth, as usual, is quite simple. There are several reasons why a dog can start making loud noises, and it is worth considering the main reasons for howling in the first place.

What can a dog start to howl?

There may be several reasons, and first of all, this is communication. Wolves communicate in a howl that transmits valuable information over a long distance (described in detail in our article: why wolves howl at the moon). And dogs are relatives of wolves, and for them this way of communication is also not alien. This is especially true for hybrid dogs and wolves - mestizos: some of them absolutely do not know how to bark and communicate only howling.

But in general, even the most ordinary domestic dog can hear the howling of another dog, which is not even heard by the human ear due to remoteness, and answer this call. And there is no mysticism here, as well as a bad omen - the dogs communicate and exchange valuable information about their whereabouts, the border of the territories, the presence of prey, and so on.

With the help of a howl, a dog can try to communicate with a person. If the owner stubbornly deprives the pet of attention, the dog can begin to howl in order to attract it to itself, knowing that such vocal exercises will definitely not be left without attention.

There are also dogs endowed with a love of sounds.And they have a tendency to sing along to the owner, bark and howl into the accompaniment of music. Most dogs do not show love for music and are indifferent to such things, but there are exceptions.

Negative reasons for this behavior

But communication is far from the only area affected by dog ​​howling. Very often, the dog begins to whine and howl due to the fact that he is ill. The concept of “bad” can be very different.

There are times when the dog howls in the absence of the owners - this is what you hear from angry neighbors. Or in other cases, the dog howls exclusively at night. This is due to loneliness, due to the fact that there is no one to play with and chat with. Because of the same, dogs often put on a chain howl, or those who were left without a master were transferred to new owners. Dog howl can be a sign of serious mental discomfort experienced by the animal.

And the same thing becomes relevant for physical discomfort, pain, feeling sick. A dog can howl when something hurts, when it feels unhealthy.

Howling wounded, sick animals, and if there is a suspicion that the dog began to give concerts precisely for this reason, it makes sense to contact a veterinarian, there is probably something wrong with the animal. And the dog can howl from hunger if left without food, and she feels discomfort from this.

Mystical cases associated with beliefs

Fear is another reason that can stimulate howl. If the dog is frightened, something incomprehensible for him is happening around him, if he got it from the owners, he may well begin to howl.Fear may be associated with the expectation of some kind of cataclysm - it has long been known that animals note signs of impending catastrophe before humans. Howling dog can warn that it is time to leave this place, take measures to salvation.

Dogs before people begin to smell the burning, and understand the impending fire, the need to save themselves and help out their "flock." In the same way, the developed sense organs allow them to understand in advance about an impending earthquake, a hurricane. In the case when the dog feels something is wrong and warns, there is not only howling, but also the fussy behavior of the animal, attempts to leave the premises or attract the attention of the owners to something. And they also foresee death - the owner or loved ones.

Sometimes it is possible to find an explanation for this - when, for example, a dog begins to howl before the death of a bedridden patient or an elderly family member at home. But in other cases, they howl even before it is simply impossible to predict a near death by some external signs or smells. After all, a dog can howl before the owner dies in an accident, for example. Hence the beliefs about howling.

There are many factors that can stimulate a dog to howl, and you should not immediately think about the bad. Watch the dog, and for sure you will soon be able to understand why it is pulling its roulades.