Most of you may feel annoyed after listening to the howling of your dog at midnight, it’s quite frustrating to wake up after observing such behavior of your dog. You may wonder why your dog howls at night, what’s the logic behind this behavior if is this any sign of danger, or want us to learn about the dangers.
So why do German Shepherds howl? We know German Shepherds are bred from wolves and it’s quite natural to have their ancestral behavior. Howling is such behavior that is inherited from their ancestors. German Shepherds may howl because of illness, injury, separation anxiety, or communication. They may also howl after listening to siren sounds, musical sounds, or unusual sounds which make them even howl much louder.
Howling is a behavior that our German shepherds may use to communicate or express themselves. Some of you may consider their howling behavior as the cutest gesture just like the tilting of their head where they do such activities to express their feeling or after seeing some unnatural things around them.
Here in this post, we will discuss in detail why German Shepherds howl at night, what are the possible reasons that make them howl, If one German Shepherd is acting in this way, is there something to be concerned about?
Let’s dive into the topic and discuss it thoroughly:
Table of Contents
Why Do My German Shepherds Howl At Night?
German Shepherds have many gestures that are adorable and force us to love them even more. Sometimes they tilt their head or move around us to communicate with us or express their feeling. Some of you also consider their howling activity as a sweet gesture but we do not know why they howl. However, it becomes irritating whenever they howl at night.
So why do German Shepherds howl at night? German Shepherds howl at night because of many reasons. They may howl because of illness, injury, communication, or separation anxiety. German Shepherds may also howl at night if they listen to some unusual sounds or siren sounds.
As dog owners, you must have listened to your dog’s howl at midnight as this behavior is associated with their ancestors. German Shepherd dogs howl because of some reasons which a normal human can’t notice. But being a good owner you should always be ready to know all their behavior.
What Does It Mean When A German Shepherd Howls?
Howling is a common behavior in German Shepherds, as it’s one of their primary ways to communicate.
Generally, a German Shepherd may howl when they are feeling lonely or frustrated and want to be heard; this could mean that your canine needs more attention and bonding time with you.
It could also mean that they are reacting to another animal’s howls or the noise outside, such as sirens or thunderstorms. In some cases, the sound of music may trigger them to howl as well.
If your dog begins to howl excessively, it could indicate that it may be facing separation anxiety and need reassurance from you. Owners need to understand why their pet is howling to prevent any unnecessary distress.
In addition to howling, German Shepherd dogs may express themselves by barking, whining, and grumbling. These behaviors are also used as communication signals that your dog may need something from you such as food, attention, or reassurance.
As much as possible, owners should provide reassurance and understanding when their pet is displaying these behaviors so they can be sure their pup feels safe and secure.
You must pay attention to your GSD’s behavior to understand why they are howling or making other noises. By doing so, you can help ensure that your pup feels loved and cared for at all times!
Let’s discuss what are the 11 reasons that make German Shepherds howl:
Also Read: Why Do German Shepherds Tilt Their Head? Facts Behind This Behavior!!!
11 Reasons That Make German Shepherds Howl At Night:
Defining Their Territory
This may be one of the factual reasons for the howling of German Shepherds that they wanna warn us about their existing territory. They show their signal to other animals or dogs about their presence.
However, this howling behavior originated from wolves which are said to be the ancestors of dogs. Both of them are closely related to each other and share the most similar characteristics.
According to the research done by (THEBERGE & FALLS, 1967), howling is the primary acoustic mode for wolves and may be useful to communicate information on individual identity, location, and other behavioral and environmental contingencies.
The wolves howl to show their presence in their territory and also ensure the safety of their pups. Whenever they made a kill they howl in the presence of a wolf pack. Through howling, they used this activity as a warning for other animals.
Howling is very common among wolves as this behavior allowed them to preserve their food and provide full safety to their pups from other packs. If any of the packs cross their limit then it would lead to violence and will harm their food as well as their pups.
To Grab the Owner’s Attention
Dogs howling is much similar to a baby crying as they want to grab our attention. They do so if they had met with some injury or are in search of food or water.
Dogs also need special care and attention, if they are ignored for a longer period by their beloved ones, they do some types of work to grab their owner’s attention however attention is also essential for your dog’s well-being.
All dog owners must notice their dog’s behavior if they are not giving them proper time or ignoring them. They also need to be looked ours just like our children.
They also have feelings and should not be ignored, if they howl regularly then it’s a matter of concern and should not be ignored as you should find out the reason behind this behavior of your dog.
Chained-up dog desperately howls and this may be the strongest behind dogs’ howling as they will be lonely and helpless to do anything.
Way of Communication
A German shepherd may howl to connect with others or to let you know they are there, which may be one of the causes behind this behavior. They also do so to make you know where they are and want to interact with you.
As they are the descendants of wolves, howling is their natural behavior. Wolves also used howling to find their missing members at the same time your dog might not have missing members but they may howl to reach out to others or the members they are missing at your home.
Many dogs use howling as a special tool for communication as it let their sounds travel much farther than other sounds that they use to communicate. However, they also communicate with others by whining, growling, and barking.
Separation Anxiety
Leaving your dog alone for a longer time gives birth to this problem. They can start howling regularly when they do not see their beloved ones as this is the way of communication, maybe they miss you very much and want to interact with you as soon as possible.
Separation anxiety doesn’t only allow them to howl but there is also a change in their behavior as they start doing other activities like chewing and digging.
However, this type of howling can be stopped if your canine friend sees you then it’s obvious they will stop howling but you need to spend more time with them.
Howling Due To Sickness
Another cause of our German Shepherd’s screaming could be illness. A German shepherd must be ill or experiencing some sort of health issue if it is howling nonstop.
They do not have any words to say, it’s only up to you to observe them and find the relevant solution to stop them from howling.
German shepherds scream to communicate their problems and to show you some signs. Seeing their continuous howling you should not avoid them and meet your vet immediately.
Howling Due to Excitement
German Shepherd howling is not always meant for bad things but they can howl due to some excitement also.
They may be playing or hitting their target as a result they become excited and want to make you realize what they have achieved. This may be another reason for the howling of your dog.
We should only have to observe our dog’s behavior very closely. They also let you know their emotions, the only thing you should do is always spend most of the time with them.
Howling Due To Irritation
Irritation may be one of the causes that can make German Shepherds howl continuously. They can be irritated by various sources like an alarming clock, a high-volume musical instrument played by someone, or any type of beeping sound.
German Shepherds show their annoyance due to these unwanted sounds as a result they start howling. However, these types of problems can be avoided by providing them peaceful environment.
Howling Due to Pain
We know our German Shepherds can only give indications to express their feelings whether in happiness or any type of pain. GSD howls because of any pain they are facing which only you can figure out.
Some types of injuries can be easily examined but they all need a closer look. You will have to observe their whole body. You can closely examine their paws and use your fingers to go through their furs if there is any cut that may be allowing them to pain.
If you are unable to find their injury then every German Shepherd owner needs to meet vets for the proper examination which is not letting your dog behave normally.
Howling For Safety
As wolves are the ancestors of German Shepherds, they use to howl for safety purposes also. When they feel any danger or if they do any kill then they howl to inform their packs and feed their pups.
Although there should be no cause for a German Shepherd to howl, if they sense any danger, there is a greater probability that they will begin howling to let you know so that they can be safe.
Howling For communicating with other dogs
The most common reason for the howling among German Shepherds breed is they want to communicate with other dogs as dogs are social animals and want to interact with their owners or with other dogs.
This can be understood as if another dog is living nearby you and whenever your dog sees your neighbor’s dog they start howling as if they want to express all its feelings.
Responding To A Sound
If you are living with a German Shepherd or any other dog breed then you must have noticed that your dog starts howling if they listen to any sound, it means they want to respond to sound if they find something unusual.
If they listen or see something unusual then they do some gesture to inform their owners which we as human beings are not able to see or listen to such things.
Tilting off their head is one such behavior that they often do whenever they see or listen to unwanted things which we are not able to see or listen to.
Again the things to notice is what are the sounds that can make our dogs howl, let’s see the sounds that can make them howl:
Music
Many kinds of music let your dog enjoys and if they feel enjoyable then they also want to express their joy. They can express their joy by howling as this is the way they can express their emotions.
However, German Shepherds love listening light pop music so it’s important to play light music in front of them as louder music may annoy them and they might not like it, as a result, they become afraid.
Sirens
Whenever a German Shepherd dog listens to the sound of any siren then they become more active as if they are supposed to do some type of command.
Some research shows listening to louder sirens may hurt your dog’s ear as sirens are pretty louder and when they listen to such high-pitch sounds, this may be a bit painful for them.
So they need to make themselves comfortable when there is a passing siren near them. You can change their shelter so that they could not listen to such annoyable sounds.
Why Do German Shepherd howl at sirens?
German Shepherd dogs are a breed with deep, loud bark and an instinct to protect their homes and families. This makes them particularly vocal when they hear loud noises such as sirens.
It is believed that in the wild, wolves would howl at sudden or unfamiliar sounds to alert the rest of the pack and summon them for protection. German Shepherds may do this instinctively upon hearing a siren, thinking they need to warn their family of potential danger.
They may also howl out of fear if they find the sound overwhelming. Whatever the reason behind why they howl at sirens, it’s important to make sure your GSD doesn’t become too distressed by these noises – so make sure you reward calm behavior with treats or toys to help them stay relaxed.
You could also try gradually introducing them to loud noises while they are young. Playing the sound at a low level and rewarding calm behavior will help them become more accustomed to sirens and other loud noises. That way, a German Shepherd won’t feel the need to howl every time they hear one!
Final Thoughts:
Most German Shepherd owners find dog howling as their gesture and ignore them but you should not avoid them and understand the actual reason why your dog is howling.
There may be factual reasons behind the howling of your dog as they may be in pain or want to express their emotions in front of you. So you need to understand their reason and resolve their problems.
I hope you understood why your dog howls at midnight, here is a quick recap from this post:
- German Shepherds may howl more often at midnight as they are the descendants of wolves.
- They may howl to gain the attention of their beloved owners.
- Our German Shepherds may be sick which can let them howl continuously.
- They also howl at the high-pitched sound that makes them uncomfortable.
Being a good dog owner you should always observe their behavior, if your dog is howling continuously then there may some reasons which you need to find and make them comfortable in living a normal and healthy life.
Related Questions:
How can we know why our German Shepherd is howling?
The answer is, You will not be able to know why any German Shepherd is howling. If they howl continuously then there may be some problems that you will have to notice. If you are not able to resolve them then the best way is to meet your nearest vet.
Can German Shepherds howl?
Yes, German Shepherds howl. They may howl because of illness, injury, separation anxiety, defense, or communication. As they are the descendants of wolves, howling is their natural behavior.
Why do German Shepherds whine and howl?
German Shepherds are a breed of dog known for their intelligence, loyalty, obedience, and strong protective instincts.
They can be prone to whining or howling to communicate with their owners. The most common reasons for German Shepherds to whine and howl include anxiety, boredom, seeking attention, feeling distressed, or communicating with other dogs in the area.
It is important to understand why your dog is exhibiting this behavior so that you can properly address it and provide them with the environment they need to feel safe and secure.
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