When your husky is left alone, what do they do? They howl. It’s funny, right? Well, not really. I know it’s a bit annoying for neighbors to hear them when you leave the house for a few hours, but that howling is pretty much their reaction to being left alone.
It’s hard to ignore a husky whining, but it’s that much worse when the husky is howling. You’ve done everything to train your dog, bought the right foods, taught him or her tricks, and took him or her everywhere with you. But teaching him not to howl, especially when you leave him alone, may seem challenging.
Before we jump to the techniques, let’s first identify the difference between growling and howling.
GROWL vs HOWL
What’s the difference between a growl and a howl? Are they both just husky noises? Is there any difference at all? To answer these questions and more, keep reading this section. This will determine when you need to be alert or just shake off the noise you hear.
🐶 Growl
A growl is a low, guttural sound emitted by large animals, such as huskies. This low-pitched vocalization is used to warn other animals, letting them know they’re in charge. Growls are often used to show anger or displeasure. For example, if you say someone has been “growling” at you lately, it means they have been acting in a hostile manner toward you or have been rudely criticizing your work or behavior.
As a general description, the growl is an aggressive, territorial type of communication that tells other dogs and humans to stay away from the territory and their stuff. It can also be used to show affection for others in the pack, although this is rare among humans.
🐶 Howl
Howling is a way of showing emotion. It’s also a way of communicating with other huskies and is used in rituals, or it’s just part of their hobbies. You might have heard it said that howling is the most intense form of communication for huskies. However, growling can also be very intense. Growling is often associated with aggressive behavior because it’s a low-pitched warning sound that indicates a husky feels threatened or under attack.
REASONS FOR HOWLING
Huskies are beautiful and intelligent dogs. They’re also known for their howling, but not all huskies howl. For those that do, it’s a natural behavior to be expected from your dog. The good news is that there are many reasons why your husky might be howling, but most of them can be addressed with little effort on your part.
🐶 Genetics
Howling is a genetic trait that huskies possess. It’s part of their natural behavior, and it helps them communicate with each other, humans, and other animals. Some huskies are nocturnal creatures and often howl at the moon because of this.
Howling is also a way for huskies to communicate with other dogs in their pack or family group. This behavior can help establish hierarchy within the pack, so it’s important for leaders to be able to give off a good howl when they need their pack members’ attention or permission from a higher position.
🐶 Boredom
Howling is a way to express boredom, but they can also howl to get attention. This behavior is a way of saying, “Hey! I’m here!” or “Look at me!” And this may be why huskies howl when they’re outside. They’re trying to get their owners’ attention.
Howling is also a way for huskies to communicate with each other and let their pack leader know that all’s well in the group.
🐶 Daily howling ritual
Howling is a daily ritual for huskies. It’s how they communicate with each other and let one another know where or how they are. Huskies will also howl when they are in a pack, which strengthens the bond between them.
In order to learn how to communicate with your husky, it’s important that you get familiarized with their behavior and body language so that you can recognize when they’re trying to tell you something important.
🐶 Loneliness
While you might think of a howl as a lonely sound, it’s actually quite the opposite. Howling has been found to be more common in huskies that live in groups and even when they’re already taken care of and well-fed. That’s because huskies are pack animals by nature.
But what about those lonely nights when your husky bursts into song? Well, that may just be its way of trying to tell you it needs attention (just as we humans do).
🐶 Health Issues
>>Laryngitis
A husky’s howl may be an attempt to relieve the pain of laryngitis, a condition in which the voice box is inflamed. It can cause a raspy cough and loss of voice, as well as pain when swallowing. Treatment includes antibiotics and medications such as anti-inflammatories or vet-prescribed medicines.
>>Sinusitis
Sinusitis is an infection in the sinuses that can cause pain, fever, and trouble breathing through the nose of your husky. Your vet might prescribe antibiotics or steroids for this type of infection if it’s not caused by allergies or other conditions like dental disease, which means it isn’t likely to go away on its own! If you’re worried about howling is a sign of serious health problems like this one, see your veterinarian right away!
TRAINING TIPS
If you’ve ever owned a husky, you’ll know how much fun they are. You’ll also know that sometimes they can be quite annoying! One of the most common complaints about huskies is excessive barking or howling. While it’s easy to dismiss this as just part of having a pet, there are plenty of ways in which you can stop your husky from howling when left alone in the house.
🐶 Command
As you can see, huskies bark for a variety of reasons. Some huskies howl to get attention, some bark because they want something or need something, and others just love howling. If your husky is one of the latter, then training him to stop howling will be easier than if he’s trying to communicate with you!
The best way to train your husky is with positive reinforcement training methods such as clicker training or treats. You can reward your husky whenever he barks by saying “good boy” (or girl) followed by a treat, and then wait until he stops before repeating yourself again. This technique teaches them that when they don’t howl, there are good things waiting for them!
>>Speak and Quiet commands
Practice these together until your canine friend understands that the quiet command means no more barking or howling. The “speak” command is used to tell the husky to bark or howl, and the “quiet” command is used to tell the husky to stop howling.
Here’s how it works. When you have guests over, and they’re speaking with one another, say “speak!” or give them a treat if they’re already doing so. That lets your husky know that this is what humans do when they want someone else’s attention, they speak up! When you’re ready for some peace and quiet again, just say “quiet” or give him a treat if he’s already stopped talking (you can also use other cues such as putting up an index finger).
The goal here is for your pet husky not only to learn what each word means but also to understand that when someone says “quiet,” their job is done and there won’t be any more howling from them for a while (and vice versa).
🐶 Adjusting the time
When you leave your husky alone, make sure to choose a time when he is calm and not excited or anxious. If possible, try to use a crate if you have one for your husky. Otherwise, choose a quiet room with a comfy bed or blanket for him to lie on. But don’t leave him in a room with toys or other dogs that might encourage him to howl.
🐶 Ensuring its comfort
Before you leave, make sure your husky is comfortable. Give him a good spot to sleep and enough food and water while you’re gone. A warm blanket or dog bed will keep him cozy and calm, so that’s a great place to start.
But don’t forget about his playtime! He’ll need toys to keep himself entertained when you’re away from home. This will help him pass the time, so he doesn’t get bored and start howling again. You can also teach him some tricks that involve movement (like jumping through hoops) or commands like “sit” or “stay” so he has something else fun to do while waiting for your return home.
And if there is any way for him to go outside without needing an escort from another pet who might accidentally let out his secret identity as an outsider from another planet!
🐶 Leave quietly
Here’s what you’ll want to avoid:
Don’t make a fuss about leaving aside from the fact that this will not only reinforce your husky’s belief that your going out is nothing unusual but also make it more difficult for them to understand the consequence of their behavior. Also, avoid saying goodbye or giving any kind of reward when you leave. In fact, don’t even acknowledge the husky when doing so because it may cause them to howl in an attempt to get your attention.
Lastly, don’t ask for a kiss or petting session before heading out. This could easily lead to howling behavior as well. And never give anything too much like excessive food or toys with which they can occupy themselves while alone, this will just encourage them further!
🐶 Arrival behavior
When you first get your husky, it’s important to establish a routine. Huskies like the predictability of knowing what is going to happen next, and they thrive off consistency. If your husky howls while you are out, he will get used to this behavior. Your husky will start to associate your departure with excitement and anticipation that you’ll return after a few hours. To stop this from happening, introduce some changes in his behavior so that he is less likely to be excited by your absence or arrival home.
HEALTH EFFECTS OF HOWLING
Have you ever wondered why your husky howls? There are many reasons for a husky to howl, but one of the most common is because they’re lonely. Huskies will also howl when they’re in pain or want something from their owners like food or attention. But did you know that over-exposure to loud noises can be damaging to their hearing and even cause mental damage?
So before you let your husky get too rowdy at the next family reunion or disturb the tea time of your neighborhood, read this section and learn about the effects of excessive howling on huskies!
🐶 Vocal cord damage
Howling can cause damage to a huskies’ vocal cords and make it difficult for them to howl or bark. In addition, howling can cause other health issues for your husky, including breathing problems, eating difficulties, and sleeping troubles.
🐶 Increases blood pressure
The howling can increase blood pressure in some huskies, which can be a serious threat to their health. If your husky experience increased blood pressure after howling, it’s important to contact your vet immediately. You should also avoid your husky from howling if it has any of the following conditions:
- Heart problems
- Brain disease
- Blood clotting disorder
- Cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac arrest
🐶 Mental damage
Howling can cause huskies to lose their hearing, voice, and sanity. A husky’s howl is a sound that originates in the throat. Huskies that are frequently exposed to loud sounds such as fireworks or other loud noises may be more likely to develop howls because they become desensitized over time.
The noise from howling can also cause damage to your husky’s inner ear. Your husky’s hearing can be damaged if you expose him or her too often when it is not necessary. Lastly, some huskies will not stop even after your ears start ringing because of the sound of howling.
🐶 Deafness
Huskies are especially sensitive to the effects of howling because they can lose their hearing when exposed to loud noises. If your husky has a tendency to howl, consider limiting his exposure to potentially damaging sounds such as fireworks, sirens, and thunderstorms.
DOs and DON’Ts: Conditioning Tips
A husky is a beautiful dog with everything you could ever want in a pet. They are loyal, loving, and intelligent. However, they can be quite vocal when they are left alone at home or on the street. The reason why huskies howl is that they are bored or lonely and need attention. If you notice your husky howling while you are home alone with him, don’t panic. There’s nothing to worry about!
So before teaching him not to howl while you’re away, you have to follow these steps. Remember, training not to howl is not an overnight success.
🐶 What you need to do
>>Check if it’s uncomfortable
First, look around to ensure that your husky is not in any kind of discomfort. If you see he is hurt or uncomfortable, then try to make him feel better by comforting him. If you’re uncertain about whether your husky needs attention or not, try to calm them down first with a hug or other physical contact that makes them feel safe and secure.
>>Take him for a walk
If your husky is howling for no reason, try taking him outside for a walk or letting him run around in your backyard. Exercise is a great way to reduce stress and can help your husky feel more relaxed. If you are gone all day, it’s important that you take him out regularly so he won’t get bored and start howling.
>>Take steps to fight anxiety
Separation anxiety is a common problem in huskies, and it can be quite distressing for both you and your dog. If you see signs of distress when you leave your husky alone (barking, howling, or whining), this may indicate that he has separation anxiety.
A husky with separation anxiety may also destroy furniture, scratch at doors, urinate or defecate in the house while you are out. When you return home from being away from him (or even if another person comes over), some huskies will over-excite themselves in their eagerness to greet you, which is often not good for them physically or mentally!
You should take steps to reduce the level of stress your husky experiences when he’s on his own. The first step is to make sure that he has enough exercise before leaving him at home alone. If possible, take an afternoon walk before coming back inside so that there will be less pent-up energy left to burn off once he’s home again!
>>Clear any signs of threat
Make sure there aren’t other animals or people out there that could be triggering your husky to howl. If you have another breed of dog, make sure it and your husky get along well, as the two of them are likely to spend a lot of time together. If they don’t get along, the situation can quickly escalate from bad to worse if left untreated.
Also, keep in mind that different breeds tend to react differently when it comes to being around strange dogs. Some may act aggressively, while others will remain perfectly calm under any circumstances. It’s important for each owner, not only himself but also his husky: if he does not know how this breed reacts or behaves towards other dogs, then he should find out before bringing home new ones!
>>Be patient
You might think that your husky is bored and lonely while you’re at work or school, but they actually have plenty to keep them occupied. Huskies are social beings who enjoy interacting with each other and their owners.
It’s important to remember that your pup isn’t awake just because you are. Even if it doesn’t seem like it sometimes, they have their own sleeping patterns and daily schedules, just like us! Huskies like routine, so make sure you follow the same schedule every day for exercise and playtime with your pup before leaving them alone for a few hours (and definitely after coming home from work!).
🐶 What you must NOT do
>>Punishing
Don’t punish your husky for howling; it’s not his fault! In fact, it’s probably due to boredom that he gets into that state, and punishing him will only worsen the situation and make him nervous and irritated instead of bringing him peace of mind and contentment.
If you absolutely can’t stand the sound of your husky’s howls, try playing with them for a bit before bedtime. This will help them get tired out, so they’ll fall asleep more easily. And if they’re still too vocal after such an exciting activity (which is likely), let them out in another room or put on some headphones until they calm down.
>>Leaving
Don’t leave your husky alone for long periods of time. This can cause distress and anxiety. It’s best to keep them in a safe environment where they won’t be exposed to danger while you’re at work or if you need some time away from the house.
>>Scared
Don’t be afraid of your husky! They may look big and scary, but they are friendly dogs on the inside and will not attack unless threatened first (such as through teasing).
BOTTOM LINE
Keep in mind all of the things listed above. This will help you leave to work at peace. By training your husky not to howl, you can prevent commotion in your village. But still, don’t be too overconfident because this training needs a lot of patience and time. It is still better to ask a vet or any professional husky trainer to help you with the proper training.
If your husky still howls uncontrollably and you start to doubt its breed, check our next article by clicking here.