My dog is typically quite quiet. He occasionally barks when he sees another animal on the TV, but that’s about it. Except, that is, on a night when there is a full moon. On those nights, he reveals his inner wolf and will howl and howl. Howling is a way for dogs to communicate quickly and easily and the reasons for this can be varied. We explore why dogs howl and what can be done if the howling is causing problems.
Why dogs howl at night
I was particularly interested in this phenomenon because a) I didn’t know what was going on with my dog and b) I was regularly having to get up in the middle of the night. It appears that a dog howling at night is fairly common for a variety of reasons. Dogs hear better at night because there is less disruptive noise from cars and people allowing sounds to travel further. It may be that they can hear a neighbour’s dog barking and they are just trying to communicate a response. Or, the moon may have brought out some other nocturnal animals, which they can sense and are alerting you to their presence. Additionally, it can be that the bright light, at what is normally a dark time, is puzzling to your pup. In our house it was the latter and simply making sure that the blinds were completely closed where our dog sleeps was a way to stop the howling.
Why dogs howl in the car
In some households, a dog’s howling only starts when he gets in the car. This could be your dog’s way of saying he is uncomfortable and anxious. A good solution is to give him a secure position in the car that he knows is his special place. Installing a dog guard and divider with a comfortable boot liner or additional cushion can give that cosy nest feel. Our blog post on travel anxiety in dogs gives some other tips to help deal with this issue.
Why dogs howl in the house
Dogs are very sociable creatures, so some start to howl when they are left on their own at home due to separation anxiety. This is likely to be a particular issue for puppies acquired during the pandemic who have only known life with everybody at home, but will also prove difficult for older dogs who have got used to having extra attention. Read more here to see how you can help your pup deal with the transition.
Information given in this article is not a substitute for advice from a qualified medical professional. Please consult a vet for advice specific to your dog.
