The Haunting Harmony: 20 Dog Breeds That Howl and Why They Do It
As a lifelong dog lover and veterinarian, I‘ve always been fascinated by the many sounds our canine companions use to communicate. From friendly yips to warning growls, dogs "speak" volumes without saying a word. But of all the noises in a dog‘s repertoire, perhaps none is more goosebump-inducing than the howl.
That drawn-out, mournful cry has been the stuff of legends from Baskerville to the Bel Air mansions of Hollywood. In movies and TV, we‘ve thrilled to the baying of Copper the Coonhound in The Fox and the Hound, smiled at the talkative Huskies in Snow Dogs and Eight Below, and shivered at the ominous howling in The Hound of the Baskervilles.
But what is howling, exactly? Why do some dogs howl so readily while others rarely utter a peep? Is howling an undesirable behavior problem, or a charming quirk to be cherished? And if you‘re considering bringing a new dog into your family, which breeds are most likely to serenade you with howls? Let‘s take a closer look at these vocal pooches.
What Is Howling and Why Do Dogs Do It?
Howling is one of many forms of vocal communication used by dogs. It‘s characterized by a long, drawn-out sound that carries over a distance, distinct from a bark which is shorter and choppy. The pitch of a howl often rises and falls or varies in tone to convey different meanings.
All dogs have the physical ability to howl thanks to their ancestor, the wolf. Wolves use howling as a way to communicate with each other over long distances – a single wolf‘s howl can carry for miles in the right conditions. Howling allows pack members to signal their location, find each other, ward off rival packs, and coordinate hunts.
Our domestic dogs have inherited this instinct to howl, but it‘s expressed in varying degrees across breeds. Some dogs seem to howl at the drop of a hat, while others save their songs for special occasions. The most common triggers for howling in pet dogs include:
- Hearing another dog howl or a high-pitched sound like a siren or musical instrument
- Seeking attention or expressing anxiety, loneliness, or excitement
- Alerting pack members (human or canine) to potential threats
- Expressing pain or signaling an injury or illness
- Boredom or excess energy
- Responding to stimuli like prey animals or enticing smells
It‘s important for dog owners to remember that, in most cases, occasional howling is a completely normal dog behavior, not a problem to be suppressed. However, if your dog never howled before and suddenly starts howling excessively, it could be a sign of an injury, illness or anxiety issue that needs veterinary attention.
The 20 Dog Breeds Most Likely to Howl
While all dogs can howl, some breeds are far more prone to howling than others based on the purposes for which they were bred. In general, breeds that are genetically closer to wolves tend to howl the most, as do dogs originally bred to use their voices while hunting or herding. Here are 20 breeds most likely to howl up a storm.
1. Alaskan Malamute
The Malamute is an ancient Arctic sled dog known for its thick, woolly coat, massive size (up to 100 pounds!), and wolf-like face and howl. These pack-oriented dogs use howling to communicate with each other and their humans. Many Mals seem to howl along with sirens or "sing" when they hear music.
2. Siberian Husky
The closest living relative of the wolf, Siberian Huskies are another vocal Arctic sled dog famous for their "woos" and "talks." Huskies don‘t bark much but they are extremely talkative, using a variety of yips, whines, and howls to express themselves. Some Huskies sound uncannily like they‘re talking in a human voice!
3. Alaskan Husky
Alaskan Huskies are not an official AKC breed, but rather a type of highly athletic sled dog with a fascinating genetic makeup. Most are a mix of Siberian Husky and scenthound or setter breeds, giving them the classic howl of the northern breeds combined with the baying of a hound on the hunt. If you‘ve ever heard a team of Alaskan Huskies in full excited howl before a sled race, you won‘t soon forget it!
4. Beagle
The Beagle‘s musical baying howl-bark is the quintessential sound of these gregarious little scenthounds on the trail of a rabbit or other tantalizing scent. Bred to hunt in packs, Beagles use their voices to alert hunters and other dogs to their location. At home, Beagles often howl when excited, lonely, or whenever the mood strikes.
5. Bloodhound
The Bloodhound is famous for its incredibly sensitive nose and tenacious tracking abilities. Originally used to track deer and wild boar, Bloodhounds also have a powerful, mournful howl-bay that carries for long distances through the woods. Modern Bloodhounds still howl on command when they tree their quarry or find a lost person.
6. Basset Hound
The distinctive howling yodel of the Basset Hound is unmistakable once you‘ve heard it. These low-slung, long-eared scenthounds were bred as the foot soldier version of Bloodhounds, tracking smaller game through dense cover. Their howls have a lower pitch to carry through brush without scaring prey.
7. Coonhound (Black and Tan, Redbone, etc.)
The many Coonhound breeds were developed in the American South to track and tree raccoons, bobcats, cougars and even bears. These determined, athletic hounds are famous for their echoing, bell-like bawl that can be heard for miles on a still night. Once a Coonhound scents its prey, it will howl relentlessly until the hunters arrive.
8. Dachshund
Don‘t let the Dachshund‘s small size fool you – these fierce badger hunters have the loud, deep, drawn-out bark-howl of a much bigger hound. Doxies were bred to follow their prey into underground dens, barking to alert the hunters to their location. At home, Dachshunds often howl when excited or seeking attention.
9. Norwegian Elkhound
This ancient Viking breed was originally used to hunt massive moose and other big game in Scandinavia. The Elkhound has a loud, impressive howl-bark to match its fierce wolf-like face. These independent hunters use howls to alert humans to their quarry from a distance.
10. German Shepherd
As herding and guarding breeds, German Shepherds tend to be vocal in general, but they can also break into deep, mournful howls. GSDs often howl to alert their pack to potential threats or out of anxiety when separated from their people. Excited GSDs may also "sing along" to sirens or music.
11. Australian Shepherd
The energetic, whip-smart Aussie is another herding breed that uses its voice frequently. Aussies have a sharp, high-pitched bark for herding livestock, but they also howl when excited or anxious. Some Aussies are more talkative than others, using a range of vocalizations to "backtalk."
12. Shiba Inu
The Shiba Inu, Japan‘s small hunting dog, is notorious for its blood-curdling "Shiba scream," a high-pitched, drawn-out sound somewhere between a howl and a shriek. Shibas often unleash this ear-splitting wail when unhappy or overexcited.
13. New Guinea Singing Dog
Perhaps the rarest howling breed, the New Guinea Singing Dog is not technically a domestic dog breed at all, but rather a type of wild dog found in the remote highlands of Papua New Guinea. Singing Dogs are named for their unique vocalizations, which include whines, yelps, and a haunting, bird-like trill. Some zoos and private breeders are working to preserve these fascinating canine crooners.
14. Alaskan Klee Kai
Often described as a miniature Husky, the Klee Kai is a relatively new breed known for its small size, fluffy coat, and yes, its Husky-like howls and "woos." While not as vocal as their larger Husky cousins, Klee Kais still tend to be chatty, singing along to sirens or expressing their opinions with a howl.
15. American Eskimo Dog
Named for its fluffy white coat rather than any actual Inuit heritage, the American Eskimo Dog is another spitz-type breed that often howls. These bright, bouncy pups were originally all-around farm dogs, ratters and watchdogs, using their loud howl-barks to alert farmers to strangers or varmints.
16. Chihuahua
The tiny but mighty Chihuahua‘s oversized voice matches its oversized personality. These miniature charmers often howl to express excitement or to sound the alarm about potential threats (which, to a Chi, could be anything from the mailman to a leaf blowing by). Some Chis seem to enjoy the sound of their own voices and will howl right along with you.
17. Pug
It may be hard to imagine the flat-faced, snuffly Pug raising its voice in a majestic howl, but Pugs are actually quite prone to howling. A bored Pug will often howl for attention, and the breed‘s ancient Chinese origins as temple watchdogs mean many Pugs still instinctively howl to alert their humans to anything unusual.
18. Miniature Pinscher
The Min Pin‘s diminutive stature hides a fearless watchdog that won‘t hesitate to sound a vocal alarm. Min Pins have a surprisingly deep, hound-like bark and howl to match their "King of the World" attitude. These tiny guardians will howl to let you know someone‘s approaching their kingdom.
19. Cairn Terrier
Like most terrier breeds, the scrappy Cairn has a big voice to match its tenacious prey drive. Bred to flush foxes, badgers and other small game from piles of stone (cairns), these fearless little Scots will scream, howl and bay to get their quarry moving or alert their people to the chase.
20. Miniature and Standard Schnauzer
Schnauzers of all sizes tend to be alert, vocal watchdogs who won‘t hesitate to howl an alarm when they sense something amiss. Originally bred as ratters and all-around farm dogs, Schnauzers have a deep, resonant bark and howl that belies their small-to-medium size. A bored Schnauzer will also howl for attention or to amuse itself.
Howling Facts and Figures
Just how popular are howling breeds among dog lovers? Let‘s look at some statistics:
- The Siberian Husky consistently ranks among the top 20 most popular breeds in the US, with over 40,000 new registrations in 2021 alone (source).
- Beagles have been one of the top 10 most popular breeds for decades, with over 200,000 new AKC registrations between 2010-2020 (source).
- In a survey of over 10,000 dog owners, 35% reported their dogs howling frequently in response to triggers like other dogs or high-pitched sounds (source).
- Native American dogs like the Alaskan Malamute are thought to have first arrived in North America over 10,000 years ago, making them one of the oldest howling breeds (source).
Living with a Howling Dog
So you‘ve fallen in love with a breed known for howling – congratulations! While it‘s important to appreciate and even encourage this breed-specific behavior, there are steps you can take to minimize problem howling and keep the noise to a reasonable level.
First, make sure your dog is getting plenty of physical exercise and mental stimulation through walks, playtime, puzzle toys, and training sessions. A tired, content dog is much less likely to howl out of boredom or pent-up energy.
Work on positive reinforcement training to teach a "quiet" command for when your dog starts howling excessively. Offer praise and high-value treats whenever your pup stops howling on cue. Never punish your dog for howling, which will only increase anxiety and confusion.
If your dog is prone to anxious howling when left alone, it may need training and desensitization to ease separation anxiety. Try leaving for very short periods at first and gradually increase alone time. You can also try calming aids like pheromone diffusers, compression vests, and soothing music to ease your dog‘s stress.
For breeds with strong hunting instincts, providing an outlet for those urges can help reduce howling. Consider a lure coursing or Earthdog group to let your Beagle or terrier exercise its prey drive in a safe, controlled setting.
Finally, remember that a little howling isn‘t necessarily a bad thing – it‘s often a completely healthy expression of your unique dog‘s natural instincts and personality. Learn to appreciate your dog‘s quirky voice and teach it to use its "inside howl" when appropriate.
With some understanding, training, and TLC, you can help your hound use its voice in a way that keeps everybody in the pack happy. Who knows – you may even learn to sing along!
References
- American Kennel Club. (2022). The most popular dog breeds of 2021.
- Gibeault, S. (2019). Why do dogs howl? American Kennel Club.
- Hecht, J. (2021). Dog howling: Everything you need to know. National Geographic.
- Pryor, P. (2018). Ouga chaka: The real reason ‘huskies‘ howl. Ruidoso Care-A-Wagtails.
- Wortman, S. (2022). Get the facts about beagles. American Kennel Club.
