Your dog may hear a siren in the distance and not know what it is. What is more challenging to figure out is why our dogs do this.
Howling is a way for members of a pack to communicate over a great space.
Dog howling at police sirens. Another common belief as to why dogs may howl at sirens harkens back to some dogs being utilized as a protector or watchdog for a family. Your dog may hear a siren in the distance and not know what it is. This new sound may be harmless but it may also be a threat and as they say its better to be safe than sorry.
Howling is a way for members of a pack to communicate over a great space. They also howl to let members of other packs know theyre getting close to or have entered another packs territory. When a dog howls because he hears a siren or other related noise he is probably triggered because the sound reminds him of the howl of a pack member.
Hes simply responding to the howling the way his brain. However they might howl at the siren especially one thats on four wheels as a way to verbally chase it away. If time after time a dog howls at a siren which then gets further away and therefore makes less noise your dog will feel like their howling helped to discourage the siren.
Dogs howl at sirens because the high pitched noise reminds them of another dogs howling. They also howl to warn their humans and get your attention. Dogs howling at passing sirens is a way in which they communicate and make you aware of danger.
Not all dogs practice this behavior though breeds as varied as Boston Terriers to Boxers start howling at fire trucks ambulances or police cars when they pass by. Hounds like Beagles Coonhounds Foxhounds and Bloodhounds are known for their distinctive howls likely because theyve been selectively bred to howl while on the hunt to let their handlers know where they are. Although not all dogs howl at sirens it is quite a common problem for owners.
Howling is a form of communication but it is not always easy to determine what the dog is trying to say. It may be a sign of distress or it may be intended as a signal to other dogs. Two main explanations for howling at sirens have been suggested.
For instance if your dog is safe and secure with you at the house he may not howl at the sirens. If your dog is alpha he or she may ignore the sirens also. Your pet isnt interested in another pack so there is no need to reveal his position.
In most cases beta dogs will howl while alphas wont. Another possible reason for a dogs howling behavior is that the dog interprets the sound as a threat. A dog can interpret a siren from the police or fire brigade as the call of an unknown animal.
It can howl to warn that danger is approaching quickly or it can interpret the sirens of police and fire services as the calls of unknown animals. Howling is a completely natural behavior in dogs. If your dog occasionally howls at sirens its nothing to worry about.
But if you find your dogs howling is excessive and its driving you up the wall you may want to work on correcting the behavior. Another possible reason for your dogs howling behavior is that your dog may be interpreting the police or fire engine sirens as the call of an unknown animal. Due to the size and magnitude of the howl of an emergency vehicle siren your dog.
Internet is full of cute vids of breeds like malamutes huskies foxhounds and beagles that howl at sirens of an ambulance or police cars like there is no tomorrowThose are real paw patrol let me tell you. And yes howling dogs can be an adorable way of them showing off their personalities as long as they do not howl excessively since that will for sure bother you as well as your environment. If you have a dog that shrieks and howls at the sound of police sirens or horns you are not alone.
Many dogs respond by barking shrieking or howling in response to the noises vehicles make. What is more challenging to figure out is why our dogs do this. Howling is a different response from barking and the training is different.
Dogs usually howl for two reasons. To express misery or to communicate their presence to other dogs. If you think of wolves howling at night youll understand why your dog is howling at sirens.
The loud high-pitched noise is. If you live in the city you and your dog are probably pretty used to screaming ambulance and police sirens sounding off near your home. However its not uncommon for dogs afraid of sirens to run hide or even howl at the ambulance.
As a pet owner its your responsibility to teach your puppy or newly adopted dog that sirens are harmless. Dogs often bark quite low in pitch but their howling is quite high in pitch. And emergency sirens like police cars fire trucks and ambulances are also high pitched.
So scientists believe that dogs respond to these loud siren noises because they think theyre communicating with another dog. Even wild coyotes howl at vehicle sirens.