Why Dogs Howl Whenever They Hear Sirens

Have you noticed your dog howls when an ambulance or vehicle with a siren passes by? Some dog parents find this behavior annoying, especially if their dog does it too often and loud.

If your pup howls at the sound of a siren, it might interest you to know that there are several reasons for this behavior. Howling is a communication method that dogs inherited from their wolf ancestors. Although our dogs are no longer a member of a wolf pack, they may still feel the need to use howling to communicate. Here are the three most common reasons why dogs may howl at sirens and other high-pitched noises:

Tapping Into Their Inner Wolf

Sirens mimic the howls of a wolf. As descendants of wolves, dogs may feel the need to respond with a howl whenever they hear one.

Guarding Their Territory

Wolves use howling to warn intruders to back off their territory. Your home becomes your pup’s territory once you bring them in, and they will do anything necessary to guard it.

Stating Their Presence

When wolves want to inform others about their presence, they howl. Your pup may think the sound of a siren is a distress signal from another dog and may howl back as a way of saying, “I’m over here.”