This situation is undoubtedly well known by those who have a dog or a neighbor's dog. Although it is obvious that in cities it can be more common than in rural environments, since they have a lower population density.
While it's true that not all dogs react the same way, most of them howl and cry when they hear an ambulance. Why happens? In this article on our site qwe are going to explain why your dog howls when he hears the ambulance, what you should do and other interesting facts to keep in mind. Keep reading!
High-pitched sounds, are they uncomfortable?
The dog's hearing is much more highly developed than what we humans possess. Specifically, the dog is able to perceive sounds of up to 60,000 Hz, while people can only hear sounds that reach 20,000 Hz. It is thanks to this characteristic that dogs are capable of perceiving sounds imperceptible to us.
But why do dogs howl at high pitches? They generally respond to frequencies that we do not perceive, they respond to a stimulus that can become uncomfortable for them. This is why some dogs howl with their weapons, while others howl when they hear a flute.
However, on some occasions, dogs can howl for a long time without presenting any specific auditory stimulus. In these cases we talk about other types of situations and even behavioral problems, such as separation anxiety. In this case, the but howls when he is alone at home, since he does not know how to manage his loneliness.
Why do dogs howl when a siren sounds?
Apart from the fact that it is a high-pitched sound and can sometimes be annoying for some dogs, there are other causes that explain why dogs howl when an ambulance passes.
Remember that dogs communicate their emotions in different ways, through vocalization and body posture, for example, which allows them to express themselves correctly. This helps us assess your needs and understand certain behaviors you may engage in.
Even if there is no animal in danger, the dog can perceive a call for help, so it responds. In addition, dogs also communicate their presence in this way. Some specific dogs or crossbreeds have a tendency to howl, such as Nordic breeds: Siberian Husky and Alaskan Malamute, among others.
If our dog howls at the ambulances, should we do something?
The dog carries out this behavior instinctively, so repressing it would be negative, as well as difficult to avoid. Our advice is to allow it to express itself, but you can also do some extra things:
- If you find yourself on the street when it happens, ignore the howlingand keep walking as if nothing happened, you must act calmly and without paying attention to him. This will help your dog understand that nothing is wrong. On the other hand, if you pick him up, pay attention to him or act nervous and incoherent, you are letting him know that there is reason to be alarmed and he may worsen the behavior.
- Of course, if your dog is afraid and seeks you to hide, you can pet him and give him shelter. Remember that fear is an emotion, it is not reinforced. What you should avoid is reinforcing negative behaviors, such as running, compulsive barking or breaking things.
- If you find yourself at home home, the best thing to do is to distract him before he starts howling. As soon as you receive the ambulance you can carry out a quick sowing, or offer a long-lasting snack for dogs. This will prevent him from barking, keep him busy, distracted and at the same time reinforce him for not howling.
In the event that the dog howls for no apparent reason, we recommend you consult a veterinarianSenile dementia in dogs, for example, can cause fears and insecurities, which lead the dog to howl because it feels alone, for example, in its own home.
Could you perceive death?
Some people claim that the howling of the dog is related to death. It is true that they are capable of perceiving death, however when they hear a siren they are not doing it to announce death, since they cannot perceive necromones at a long distance
In any case, each situation and each dog are absolutely different, so it is not always easy to answer the question "why does my dog howl when he hears the ambulance"…
