I have noticed that the only time that my dog howls is when I play my harmonica. I find this rather amusing but is it a sign of appreciation or is he- like everyone else- protesting at my "music"?
2007-01-09 07:54:24 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
he is singing with it...or he doesnt like it.
2007-01-09 08:26:02 · answer #1 · answered by aycicek 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its almost a pack ideal to where he see's you or at least should as the alpha male and his leader he very well probably is singing with you and joining in like the non deomesticated canines do. You can usually tell when a dog howls whether or not it is out of discomfort or whether he is just trying to mimic and follow after you. Look more towards facial expressions if you start playing and he acts distressed whimpering pacing crying then it could be your playing =] But if he simply sits back and raises his head he is most likely trying to be like you. My dogs howl and they can hear and ambulance before even we do they didnt start until I got blu and he is a howler with the pitty howl but other times I'll sit there and imitate howling and they just sing with, the puppies at three weeks even do it.
2007-01-09 16:39:27 · answer #2 · answered by Sig 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not entirely sure, but a dogs hearing is over 5 times as sensitive as are own, so it could possibly be the fact that he finds the pitch of the harmonica too high...
My doggie also makes a kinda howling noise when we give me toy with a squeaker in it, its quite funny but we feel it is because he doesnt really like it.
2007-01-09 15:59:01 · answer #3 · answered by blacknedkittie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In his book... Dog watching, Desmond Morris suggests that howling is the dog's way of calling to the pack. if one is howling the rest will join in the cry. Apparently they mistake the sound of the harmonica as you calling out to another dog or pack and they are just joining in.
I am still not sure if I believe this but I can understand the reasoning.
2007-01-09 17:19:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Howling is a way that dogs communicate over long distances. Wolves use this to find each other. When a dog hears a howl or a similar noise they will sometimes howl back. Just something their ancestors passed down to them coming out.
2007-01-09 16:34:11 · answer #5 · answered by Boober Fraggle 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I agree with the general sentiment of everyone else who has responded. He is joining in with you because you are his leader and that's what they do on instinct. I notice that my 9 wk old shih tzu puppy sits back and howls from time to time....he appears to be "howling at me?" but i am not sure...reading others' answers to this question makes me think he is responding to something i can't hear. there are train tracks within a reasonable distance from my house, maybe he is responding to a train toot i can't hear.
2007-01-10 16:37:00 · answer #6 · answered by Xandria 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My dog used to howl all the way through the theme to Bodyguard - that really irritating song by Whitney Houston. Very strange.
2007-01-09 17:24:31 · answer #7 · answered by Rachael H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have no idea but my dog howls when the beeper timer goes off on the oven and also when the ice-cream van comes round the street and plays that really high pitched jingle!
2007-01-09 16:02:11 · answer #8 · answered by nooka 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dogs have extremely sensitive ears. This is how dog whistles work...they produce sounds out of the range of human ears. I would guess that it it just somethign with that particular sound that is causing him to howl.
2007-01-09 15:59:58 · answer #9 · answered by dog7788 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
He is howling along with you. He hears you 'howling ' and joins in. Throw back your head and give a good howl, he'll join in!
2007-01-09 16:26:13 · answer #10 · answered by Stick to Pet Rocks 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How bad is your playing?
Maybe he thinks you're trying to howl too. Once one starts, they all have to join in.
2007-01-09 15:58:28 · answer #11 · answered by DaBasset - BYBs kill dogs 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋