When the garbage truck drives up to my house every week, my three little dogs can barely contain their excitement. They bark and race from one window to the next. At one point, my chihuahua mix will throw back her head and release a dramatic howl.
It seems ridiculous to howl at a garbage collector. However, animal behavior researchers have learned howling is a vital form of communication among wolf packs. This behavior lingers among some domesticated dogs, and scientists are learning that dogs howl for many reasons.
Why Do Wolves Howl?
(Credit:Alexander Sviridov/Shutterstock)
Wolves have many reasons for howling, and researchers have observed wolf packs happily howling in each other’s faces as a way to reinforce their group membership. In this sense, howling as a group is a team-building exercise.
