Have you ever wondered what causes some dogs to howl more than others? Certain breeds of dogs seem to howl at the slightest provocation, while others never do this even when they are surrounded by howling dogs – so what prompts the howling? If you have a Samoyed, you have probably noticed that it spends a lot of time howling, and you might be wondering what the reason for this behavior is. Today, we are going to find out!
So, why do Samoyeds howl? It’s possible that this breed is keen to howl because it is quite closely related to wolves, and wolves are howlers. They use howling as a means of regathering their pack when it has been scattered after a long hunt. Samoyeds may be trying to do the same.
It’s important to understand our dogs and why they behave in certain ways. This helps us to better communicate with them and ensures that we understand what they are saying. That’s why we are going to look at howling today, and discover why Samoyeds howl. We are also going to cover whether they howl as huskies do, and how talkative they are in other ways. Finally, we’ll look at how you can teach your Samoyed to howl if you want it to learn this trick. You should soon know all that there is to know!
Why Do Samoyeds Howl?
So, what prompts howling in these beautiful dogs? It’s often hard to pinpoint the exact “why” behind the behavior our dog’s exhibit, but if you’re wondering why your Samoyed is a keen howler, it may be something to do with its ancestry.
Samoyeds are quite closely related to wolves, and like wolves, they evolved in large expanses of cold countryside. They probably shared a lot of survival tactics with wolves, and this would include hunting. It is very likely that during long hunts, pack members would get scattered, sometimes for miles.
Instead of trying to search for pack members across difficult-to-traverse terrain (snow is hard to run in) with little option for using scent marking (since water would wash away the scent), Samoyeds likely turned to howling as the best way to locate pack members.
Sound carries well across the ice (although not snow), and so Samoyeds could project their voices across long distances. By using howling like this, they could reunite the pack after a long hunt, and ensure that everyone was accounted for.
Today, your Samoyed is unlikely to be hunting across the frozen wasteland, but it carries the same howling instincts, and it may use howling to try and locate you, or let you know where it is. It may also use howling to communicate with other animals, including those that howl.
You may have noticed your Samoyed also howls at things like sirens. That is likely because the siren sounds like a howl itself, and your dog is responding to the noise in a way that it believes is appropriate.
Your Samoyed might howl if it doesn’t feel like it is getting enough attention from you. Here, it is reminding you that it is there and wants your focus. You should make sure it is not being neglected, and that you are spending quality time with it.
Do Samoyeds Howl Like Huskies?
Yes. Both of these cold-weather dogs like to howl. This may be due to the cold environment they evolved for. Snow tends to absorb sound, making it harder for the dog to project its voice across long distances. That’s why it seems so quiet after a snowfall.
A bark might easily be lost in a snowy forest, where the sound would bounce back off trees and get absorbed by the snow. A howl, however, is a long, continuous note that would keep reverberating back until it reached the ears of the intended recipient.
A howl is also better for locating something because it is an ongoing sound. This makes it easier to tell whether you are getting closer or further away, whereas a bark is too short to accurately pinpoint the direction.
Huskies and Samoyeds both enjoy howling and will use their voices to communicate, especially if they are feeling unhappy about something. It is important to be aware of this before you choose to adopt either kind of dog because they can be very noisy.
If you live in a neighborhood where this will be a problem, you will have to consider another kind of dog or teach your Samoyed some very firm rules about howling.
Are Samoyeds Talkative?
Yes, Samoyeds are a talkative breed. You will probably find that your dog chatters away to you in a variety of noises, including grunts, yelps, squeaks, barks, howls, and yodeling. It might amaze you how much your Samoyed has to say, and some people number them among the most talkative breeds there are.
Of course, not all Samoyeds are talkative. You do get a few quiet ones that keep the noise down. Most, though, will make noise throughout the day and night, and you may have difficulty getting your Samoyed to be quiet.
Your Samoyed will have different noises to tell you different things, so spend some time learning what your pet is saying. This will help you to build a strong bond with it because you will have a much clearer sense of what it thinks and what it wants. You may even learn to talk back if you dedicate yourself to this!
Pay attention to the body language as well as the verbalizations, as this will help you get an even better grip of your dog’s message. Samoyeds are expressive in their voices, but they will also show you how they feel through the position of their ears, the tilt of their heads, and the things that they do.
How Do You Get A Samoyed To Howl?
The yodel of a Samoyed is one of the most appealing things about this dog to some people, but what if your dog doesn’t seem to do it? What if your Samoyed is always quiet, and doesn’t make a peep even when the sirens go past, the wind wails, or the neighbor’s dog is barking? Can you teach your Samoyed to howl?
You can if you are determined! You can get a Samoyed to howl in a variety of ways. Some people find that playing music to their dogs is one of the best ways to encourage howling. Try to find tracks that have extended, low notes that are similar to the noise of a howling dog.
You can also howl yourself, and this may prompt your dog to answer you. It should see you as a member of its pack, calling to ask where it is, and hopefully, it will respond with a good, long howl.
It may help to be out of sight of your dog when you do this so that it has the incentive to howl back.
If none of those things work, try playing some howling Samoyeds to your dog via the computer. The noise of its own kind calling might encourage it to raise its voice and start howling too.
Most of these dogs love to harmonize, and if you sing or howl, they will join in with you even if you are right in front of them. It isn’t clear exactly why this is, but you can rest assured that your dog is having fun and simply wants to be a part of what you are doing.
Be aware that once you have set your Samoyed off, it may howl for some time. Because the breed is so talkative on the whole, it probably won’t stop just because you do, and you might want to work on the “quiet” command with your dog when it is a puppy.
Being able to get your dog to settle down and stop howling is as important as being able to get it to start, so don’t neglect this command, and make sure your Samoyed understands it.
So, do Samoyeds howl? You should now have the answer! These dogs love to howl, and they will use howling to locate you, to talk to other dogs (or even things like police sirens), and to express themselves.
If your Samoyed is howling a lot, you should check that it is not in pain, and make sure it is getting enough time and attention. Howling can sometimes be a sign of unhappiness.