One question many potential Aussie owners have is – do these dogs howl?
After all, their cousins like huskies, malamutes, and wolves are known for their haunting howls. So what about the Australian Shepherd?
The Short Answer?
Yes, many Aussies do Howl.
While howling isn’t one of their most well-known traits compared to breeds like huskies, Aussies do have a tendency to howl from time to time.
Their howling seems to stem from their descent from herding dogs who would need to make plenty of vocalizations to communicate over long distances while working livestock.
Howling allows these sharp herding dogs to produce a loud, carrying sound that could be heard from far away across fields and pastures.
So while you may not think of Australian Shepherds as a “howling breed” per se, it’s a vocalization in their toolbox that they’ll pull out for certain situations.
Why Do Aussies Howl?
Loneliness or Anxiety
One of the biggest reason for howling is if an Aussie is experiencing separation anxiety or loneliness.
Australian Shepherds are extremely loyal breeds that form extremely close bonds with their owners.
They don’t like being left alone for long periods and can become stressed and vocalize through howling as a way to hopefully get their owner to return.
Howling when alone acts as a “homing beacon” of sorts to try and summon their loved ones back.
Responding to Triggers
Australian Shepherds may also howl in response to certain triggers or stimuli like sirens, other dogs howling nearby, or even certain TV sounds.
Their ancestors would howl to let the rest of the pack know about certain events, and that deep-rooted trait can get set off by particular noises.
Seeking Attention
Some Aussies are just exceptionally chatty and will use howling as a way to get attention and make their voice heard.
If an Aussie wants something like food, pets, playtime or has a need that hasn’t been met, howling can be their way to vocalize that demand.
Joining The Chorus
Since Aussies have close ancestral ties to wolves and other wild canines, they may just get inspired to spontaneously join in a good howling session!
Perhaps they hear other dogs howling in the neighborhood or a howl on TV and it sets off their primal urge to throw their voice into the melodious mix.
So while howling may be common with this breed, it’s certainly not abnormal or unexpected for dogs to howl given the right circumstances.
But what does an Aussie howl actually sound like?
How to Stop Excessive Howling
For owners already living with an Australian Shepherd that howls frequently, dealing with excessive howling can quickly become frustrating.
But there are ways to curb unwanted howling behavior.
The first step is figuring out what’s triggering the howling in the first place.
If it seems to be separation anxiety, make sure your Aussie isn’t being left alone for too long each day and provide lots of stimulating toys when you’re gone.
Using positive reinforcement training to teach an “inside voice” command can also help.
If responding to triggers sets your Aussie off, try desensitizing them to those sounds by gradually exposing them to recorded versions at low volumes.
Or keep them more separated from windows and the front door so outside noises can’t rile them up as easily.
For attention-seeking howlers, the hard part is not accidentally rewarding the behavior by giving them what they want after howling.
Use positive reinforcement and rewards to reinforce quiet behavior instead.
With the right management strategies and some training, excessive howling can usually be reduced in Australian Shepherds.
But you’ll likely never eliminate it entirely given how deeply-rooted that vocalization is within the breed’s heritage.
Takeaway
Aussies do Howl, but It’s a natural behavior. While some owners may be surprised to learn that their Australian Shepherd howls, it’s a very normal vocalization for the breed.
Their howling ties back to their working dog roots, where they’d need to make loud, carrying vocalizations to communicate across open spaces.
With some engagement, exercise, training and enrichment, you can usually get compulsive howling under control.
But don’t be surprised if your Aussie still joins in a group howl from time to time! It’s just part of their tendencies as vocal dogs.