Why Do Dogs Howl?

A wolf howls in front of the moon.
 Pin It Dogs share their knack for howling using their distant relatives, the wolves.

Understanding your dog's behavior is usually a daunting task. Such as, why do dogs howl?

Researchers admit that howling behavior in dogs remains to be largely a mysterious. But when Fido goes wild at the sound of sirens or any other dogs, it's not because his ears hurt. It's his ancestry that's partly to blame.

Your pooch shares his penchant for howling with his distant relation, the wolf. Much like barking or growling, howling is a deeply ingrained behavior that helps wolves communicate with each other.


In the wild, a howl usually relays 1 of 2 messages: with the idea to tell a rival pack that they are encroaching on forbidden territory or to guide a wayward wolf back to his pack.

In case your dog howls in response to another dog or a loud siren, he might be saying, "Get off my turf!" or just, "Where are you guys? I'm over here!"

And if your dog howls when you leave the house, it might be because he thinks in which this ruckus will trigger some response from you, his pack leader. Your pet probably hopes that his howl will lead you home in time for dinner and a game of fetch.