- Since sirens sound like dogs howling, your dog might be trying to chat with noise.
- Your pup wants to protect you, so they may howl to alert you to the loud siren.
- Your dog might be trying to chase away the siren because they think it’s a threat.
- They might just be afraid of the loud noise.
Why does my dog howl at sirens?
Your dog might think the siren is another dog. On a primal level, dogs communicate with howls and barks—just like their wolf ancestors. As it turns out, the high-pitched tone of a siren sounds a lot like another dog howling to your pup. They may start howling back to start a conversation. Your dog is saying, “Hey, I’m here!” “Do you need help?” or “This is my territory! Go away!”
Your dog might be alerting you to the noise. Dogs are pack animals, and you’re their family now. As your protector, they need to alert you to any threats in your midst—like the loud siren penetrating the air. Your pup might just want to make sure you realize something is happening. Your dog is saying, “Hey! Something is wrong!”
Your dog could be chasing off the siren. As your protector, your dog is not going to just let this siren waltz in and hurt you. Much like the mailman, that siren is enemy number one. Since sirens typically fade as they pass, your dog may think that their howl is what made the sound go away. As soon as they hear the wail of a siren, they start howling to chase the sound away. Your dog is saying, “Get out of here!”
Your dog may be afraid. Since sirens are really loud, they can feel really scary to dogs. Look for other signs that your pup is scared to see if this is the case. A frightened dog will widen their eyes, flatten their ears, and curl up their tail. Additionally, they’ll either hide or freeze in place. Your dog is saying, “Help!”
Do sirens hurt a dog’s ears?
No, sirens don’t hurt a dog’s ears. Even though your dog’s ears are super sensitive, loud noises won’t necessarily hurt them. Generally, sirens are harmless to dogs, so you don’t need to worry. Your dog is likely howling for one of the reasons discussed above. Take your dog to the vet if they’re wincing or cowering. While sirens generally aren’t harmful to dogs, it’s possible your dog has an underlying medical condition.
Do all dogs howl at sirens?
Breeds that are pack or working dogs are more likely to howl. All dogs can howl if they want, but some dogs have a genetic predisposition for it. Pack dogs tend to communicate with each other by howling, while working dogs are bred to communicate with their owners. Breeds prone to howling at sirens include: Beagle Hound Husky Malamute Dachshund American Eskimo
Since dogs are individuals, there’s no way to predict if a dog will howl. It’s totally normal for a dog to howl because it’s part of their makeup. After all, they are descended from wolves! Your dog may like to howl all the time, or they may never do it. It’s one of the fun quirks of being a dog owner.
Stop a Dog from Howling at Sirens
Stay calm when a siren happens during a walk. Your dog might perceive the siren as an emergency alert—which it technically is. They’re likely trying to tell you that something is happening. To show them that it’s okay, act like the siren is no big deal and just keep walking. After a moment, your dog should continue on with you. You could say, “It’s okay, boy,” or “Come on” to encourage your pup to keep walking.
Give your dog a treat as soon as you hear a siren. This may sound counterintuitive, but teaching your dog that sirens equal treats can actually make them look forward to hearing sirens go off. Plus, it’s a lot harder to howl when they’re chowing down on a tasty treat. Keep some treats on you and toss one to your dog whenever a siren sounds. After about 2 weeks, your dog should associate sirens with treats. Once you feel confident your dog is used to them, you can stop giving them a treat if you want. Make sure you give a treat before your dog starts howling, or else you're only reinforcing the bad behavior.
Teach them a “quiet” command. It's super easy and convenient to teach your dog to quiet down on command. Start your training session by saying, “speak.” Wait for your pup to bark or howl, then verbally praise them. Next, tell them “quiet.” When your dog stops making noise, give them a treat. With repetition, they’ll learn to stop howling when you say, “quiet.”
Work with a dog trainer. If you live in an area with a lot of sirens, your dog’s constant howling can get old. A dog trainer can help you get some peace and quiet by doing systematic desensitization and counterconditioning training. Look for a dog trainer who’s a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) or a board-certified veterinary behaviorist (ACVB). You can find a CAAB here or an ACVB here.
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