Why do some dogs howl and others don't?
Sled dogs howl frequently, while other breeds rarely do. The reasons lie in their proximity to the wolf and in the genetics of each breed.
Genetic proximity to the wolf decisive
Howling is a characteristic form of communication in wolves. In dogs, the situation is more complex. While some breeds howl frequently, other types of dogs never exhibit this behavior.
A team of ethologists from Eötvös Loránd University studied the phenomenon by testing the reactions of 68 purebred family dogs to recorded wolf howls.
“Breeds that are genetically more similar to the wolf are more likely to respond to wolf howls with howling of their own. Breeds more distantly related to wolves, on the other hand, tended to respond with barking,” reports lead author Fanni Lehoczki.
Howling as a fear response
“The dog's howling could therefore mean: I am afraid, don't come closer,” explains Lehoczki. The study was published in Nature Communications Biology. More on the topic of Wildlife.
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