Why do dogs howl?

India
June 30, 2008 1:56am CST
A dog's howl sure sounds pathetic, and there are so many superstitions attached to it. As per these baseless beliefs, a dog is supposed to howl when it sees evil spirits around. A dog also howls if someone at home is on the verge of dying. No wonder people behave harshly toward a howling dog. But, why do the poor things really howl? I don't know. I know why she barks, or whines, or makes funny noises. But she howled the other day, and I wonder why?? Of course, I am still alive.. so I don't think she predicted death correctly. And no evil spirits will dare to come when I am around (not boasting, really) So, has your dog ever howled? Why? Is it because they are unhappy or hungry or want some fussing or what? What reason? Cheers and happy mylotting
1 person likes this
5 responses
@GreenMoo (11834)
30 Jun 08
I guess some dogs howl, and some don't. Of my two, I have one who howls and one who never has (unless she does it when I'm not here!). The one who howls likes to sing along with church bells. When I was away from home for a long while, it was fun to call home on the hour and listen to him singing! Just recently, he's started to howl when the telephone goes unanswered. It's a really handy thing for him to do as when I'm out in the garden and don't hear the phone, I hear him instead and come running to the house to find out what on earth is going on!
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• India
1 Jul 08
LOL, GreenMoo, you sure lead an interesting life! Cheers!
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• United States
30 Jun 08
Communication. That is all the howl of a dog is. Diffrent dogs howl for diffrent reasons. It may be a conditioned response from how the dog was raised, or it could be instincts. Either way, it is nothing more than a way the animal is speaking.
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• India
30 Jun 08
Hey thanks for the response. So, she was just communicating? She loves to howl, and thanks to the superstitions in this area, her howls would scare all of us. Now, I think she was just saying "hi" to the neighbor's dog, a nice, long draw out "hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii............." Thanks a lot!
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@elmiko (6630)
• United States
1 Jul 08
I've heard from psychics that animals are more than likely to see spirits before humans will. That seems like a good lie if you ask me because they can't talk to explain themselves. Dogs can hear things better than humans from what i've heard so they might hear something that that people can't. Also if there outside and they hear a noise at night anybody who has a outside dog can tell you that if one dog barks all the others follow. They probably get lonely so they start to sing with each other.
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@z_blade (33)
• United States
30 Jun 08
A dog's how is just another form of verbal communication. Its kind of an emphasis for them. My dog has howled for food, when she wants to come inside, at other dogs. Again its just a way dogs communicate with each other. The same reason why wolves howl.
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@Marley76 (109)
• United States
6 Jul 08
My dogs only howl when they hear sirens. I don't know if it hurts their ears or what. I don't think they are sad or upset-because a lot of time they don't even bother to get up. Just lie there and howl. Hope this helps.
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