As we know that wolves have their signature communication style “howling” and dogs are evolved creatures of the wolf. There’s no wonder that some dogs feel cherished to howl at sirens. There is no evidence why dogs howl at sirens but some explanations are there for our four-legged partners. Dogs might howl at sirens as they have a very unnatural and loud noise which makes the dog distressed and uncomfort. Or they might consider sirens as a potential threat and through howling they try to defend their homies.
Yet there are many more things to know why dogs howl at sirens so read till last.
Why do dogs howl at sirens?
It is believed that wolves are the ancestors of dogs, as wolves communicate via howling as do dogs. Your dog might communicate with the dog nearby through howling. There’s no evidence that why do dogs howl at sirens but te explanations says:
Mimic their forefathers: Because of the natural intuition, dogs or particularly the breeds who are like wolf_howls at sirens. When the dogs are in a long distance or in the wild, they use howling as a source of verbal communication. Siren may be a sign of other dog’s calling_so they respond to them with howls.
Defend their homeland: Some of the furry friends consider sirens a potential threat so they start howling to protect their homelands, alerting their family or notify the discern danger. In different dog breeds, this defending impulse.
Is dog’s howling at sirens fine?
Dogs do howl as howling is a way of verbal communication for dogs and a natural behavior. It will not make a big deal for you if you are a rural liver. Howling can be problematic for you if you are living in a place where emergency automobiles are very common.
Some dog breeds howl more at sirens
The breeds who are wolf-like, howl more than other breeds. On the other hand, canine breeds that are not wolf-like or are domesticated for a very long time_less persistent to the howling. Dogs are evolved forms of wolves, but some breeds have different behavior because of the environmental change and so they howl the minimum. The common wolf-like dog breeds are:
- American eskimo.
- Alaskan malamutes.
- Bloodhounds.
- Coonhounds.
- Foxhounds.
- Shiba inus.
- Huskies.
- Beagles.
The ancient canine breeds have more resemblance of behavior and have a sturdy relation to the wolves. These canine breeds have genetic resemblance with the wolves and you’ll see more connection of physical traits and behavior to the wolves.
Why are dogs attracted to sirens?
A theory says that dogs consider the sirens as a potential threat. That’s why they howl to warn their homes for the perceived danger. He might give a consistent howl at sirens as he believes that a continuous howl will restrain the danger.
Do dogs hate sirens?
Not necessarily, but sirens are made by humans and have a very loud noise. They have a very unnatural sound which generally occurs unpredictably. Your furry friend might feel stressed and start howling. Dogs have much more audible ability due to which the high pitch sounds of sirens can cause discomfort in them.
Does a siren hurt a dog’s ear?
The hearing capacity of dogs is higher than humans. The audible frequency range for humans is 20,000 hertz while dogs have an audible frequency range of 45,000 to 67,000 hertz. Just like a satellite dish, dogs have the capability of rotating and moving their ears in the direction of sound to pick it well. The ability of hearing distant sounds is four times greater in canines than humans.
Sirens have a very loud sound and when it combines with the high audible ability of our canines, the combo can make us concerned about how it is affecting our four-legged partner. But a dog’s howling at a siren is not always a symptom of distress.
If your canine is not giving the stress symptoms like paw lifting, shaking, hiding and lip licking_it means that they are totally fine and they have no feelings of discomfort.
In some dog breeds, sirens can cause noise phobias. Mostly sirens are not so problematic for our dogs. If dogs are exposed to very loud sounds of over 100 decibels or moderate sounds of over 65 decibels for a long period of time, their hearing capacity can be affected negatively.
Is howling stressful for dogs?
Howling is a way of verbal communication and a natural act in dogs. It is not a problematic act but a loveable and unique nature of dogs which makes them distinct from other creations. If you think your dog howls more than usual or does excessive howling, you can reward them with treats for being quiet and telling them howling does not work but quietness does.
How to stop dog’s howling at sirens?
You can stop your dog from howling at sirens if they are problematic, just by some doings.
Positive teachings
Reward for being quiet: Give your canine the training of responding to a thankyou or quiet enjoin. To reinforce the positivity, you can often give them treats as a reward or praise them for quietness.
Desensitization: You can make their practice to sirens in steps. Start by exposing your dog to siren volume in very low pitch. With the passage of time, increase the volume gradually. Reward them often for their calm behavior while exposed.
Stable rewards: In order to strengthen their desired reaction, you can give stable rewards to your canine for positive etiquettes.
Negative teachings
Do not punish them: if your dog howls at sirens, do not try to scold him or give the punishment. This will not only make the howling worse but also make them anxious. Because punishment is the reinforcement of negativity.
