Why Do Dogs Howl at Night?

Why do dogs howl at night?

Many dog owners notice that their pets seem to howl at night, much more than they do during the day. Some use this as an argument for why dogs should not be left alone outside during the evening. Some fear that it might be due to loneliness or boredom. These thoughts are plausible, but there could be other reasons why your pup is vocalizing.

What is a howl?

A howl is a long, loud cry uttered by wolves, coyotes, and dogs. A howl can be used as a warning or as a greeting. Wolves and coyotes typically howl to warn other animals that they are coming into their territory. For dogs, it may serve as an alarm system if they’re left home alone at night. Dogs will also use the howling call to let their owners know that they need to go outside to do their business.
Howls can be used to gather dogs together and communicate with them. The howl can carry for miles in the wild, making it an important form of communication when they are out hunting. A howl often consists of three parts: a long note followed by two shorter ones. This pattern repeats until the howling animal goes silent.

Meaning of howls

Dogs communicate primarily through barking, but one of the ways they can emit sound is to howl. Howls made by dogs vary in intensity, frequency, and duration. Dogs produce different types of howls for different reasons. Different situations can elicit a howl from a dog such as separation from its owner, certain weather conditions, mating season, or even just because it wants to be left alone.

Separation anxiety can cause howling

Dog separation anxiety is a common problem among dogs. Dogs typically show symptoms of this anxiety when separated from their owner. These symptoms include howling, barking, whining, and whining. Separation anxiety can be caused by the owner’s absence or by the presence of other people in the house. There are many ways to tackle this problem, but it is important that you talk to your veterinarian first before trying any of them.
See my full article on Separation Anxiety

Conclusion

In conclusion, dogs howl at night for a variety of reasons. Some dogs may howl to communicate with other dogs and humans. Other dogs may be scared and need attention and comfort from their owners. Dogs also howl as a way to express frustration. Whatever the reason, we should all know that dogs aren’t trying to make us mad or annoy us by howling- they just want some love!