Dogs are intelligent and loyal creatures whose intellectual abilities are often astonishing. Pets are able to express their emotions through touch, body language and various sounds. If your dog starts howling, don't get angry right away. It is better to try to understand the reason for her strange behavior and eliminate possible discomfort. In this article, we'll go into detail about why your pet dog might start howling, and we'll offer effective solutions to help your pet and prevent the behavior from happening again.
Reasons why a dog howls
When a dog begins to howl, it can be caused by various factors, and it is important to approach the issue with attention and patience. By analyzing your pet's behavior, you can identify the root cause and respond correctly. Here are the most common reasons why a dog might howl at home:
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Loneliness and sadness. Dogs do not tolerate loneliness well; they need to feel their owner and his scent nearby. Even a short absence from the owner can cause depression in the pet, and this condition is expressed by prolonged howling.
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Disease. A person can tell what he feels and show where it hurts, but a dog does not have this opportunity. A pitiful howl may be a signal that your pet is unwell and needs medical attention.
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Communication with other animals. Indoor and outdoor dogs sometimes communicate through sounds, including howling or barking. Fortunately for owners, this reason does not occur very often, but it also cannot be ruled out.
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Boredom and lack of attention. A dog may howl if it is bored or wants your attention. The pet may thus ask to be taken for a walk or to play with it.
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Instincts and reactions to the moon. Don't worry, your dog won't turn into a wolf. During the full moon, many animals, including dogs, give in to their natural instincts, which sometimes results in prolonged howling.
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Feeling of impending disaster. The saddest reason is the feeling that death is close. Moreover, we can talk not only about the disease of the dog itself, but also about its premonition about a person. Some believe that dogs can smell death and howl as a warning.
Now you know the main reasons why your dog may start howling, including at night. It is important to determine what exactly caused this behavior in order to choose the right solution.
How to deal with a dog's howling
Once you know why your dog howls, you can move on to finding effective solutions. This is important not only to calm your pet, but also to prevent problems with neighbors who may not like the constant noise. Not all people are animal lovers, and even those who are positive about them may not want to endure prolonged howling, especially if you are away from home. As a result, someone may complain to law enforcement or, worse, try to harm your pet.
To prevent such situations and help your pet, it is important to find the cause of his howling and eliminate it. Here are some humane ways to combat this problem:
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Re-education. If there is no obvious reason for the howling, it may be due to improper upbringing. In this case, you should think about retraining your dog. This is done by dog handlers who will help the pet get rid of unwanted behavior. If this method does not suit you for some reason, you can consider purchasing special behavior correction tools, such as collars.
Behavior correction collar. These collars are suitable for everyday use and help in training. A collar with sensors that respond to vibration from barking emits an ultrasonic signal that is unpleasant to the dog, but inaudible to humans.
Behavior correction spray. Special sprays can help stop your dog from barking at stimuli such as loud noises, slamming doors, or the doorbell ringing. In our online store you can find various effective products, each of which is accompanied by detailed instructions for safe use.
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Fighting loneliness and boredom. If your neighbors complain that your dog howls when he's left alone, try leaving him a few toys while you're away. Toys made of durable rubber or vinyl are best. It is good if they are accompanied by sound effects, since squeaking sounds can distract the dog from sad thoughts. Popular options include:
- rubber chicken for large breeds;
- squeaking crocodile or hippopotamus for small breeds;
- toys in the form of dumbbells of different sizes.
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Creating comfortable conditions during your absence. Along with retraining, it is important to provide the dog with a comfortable environment. To prevent the animal from experiencing hunger or thirst while you are not at home, you can install automatic feeders and automatic waterers. Such devices automatically supply food at a specified time. Some models are equipped with a sound recording function - you can record your message for the dog, which will sound before feeding.
Drinkers will also provide your pet with access to fresh water, even if you are away for a long time. Some models are equipped with filters that remove harmful impurities and dirt from the water.
It is important to monitor your dog's condition, and if he continues to howl despite your best efforts, contact your veterinarian. Perhaps the reason lies in her health, and timely treatment will save her from suffering.