Why does your dog howl along with a siren?

You are walking your dog or babysitting dog quietly, until suddenly a siren sounds. Within seconds, your dog starts howling along. Recognizable? Many dogs instinctively respond to high-pitched sounds like sirens - an echo of their ancestors, the wolves. But why do some dogs do this and not others?

An ancient instinct from the time of the wolf

Our domestic dogs are descended from the wolf. Although today they cozy up in your lap and are used to living indoors, they still carry behaviors from their wild past. In a pack, wolves use their howls to locate each other or keep in touch when they are separated. That howling occurs at high pitches - exactly the kind of sound also found in sirens.

When a dog hears a siren, he unconsciously recognizes something of that primal sound. It triggers an instinctive reaction to "call back," as if he wants to respond to the howl of another dog in the distance. To him, it is not panic, but communication.

Why doesn't every dog do this?

There is still little scientific research on this behavior, but it seems to be mostly related to character and sensitivity. Dogs, like people, differ greatly from one another: some react alertly to sounds, others remain unperturbed. Hearing, breed, temperament and previous experience also play a role.

So the fact that your dog does not cry along is not a cause for concern. It simply means that his stimulus sensitivity or communication needs are different. And frankly - it's often more pleasing to your ears, too!

What can you do if your dog howls at sirens?

• Stay calm yourself and don't react in a panicked manner; dogs mirror your emotion.
• Ignore the behavior if it is brief - it is often harmless.
• Calmly distract him with a command or something sweet if things get too intense.
• Is your dog exhibiting anxious behavior (ducking away, twitching)? If so, consider sound training or desensitization with the help of a behaviorist.

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