Dogs descend from wolves, and wolves have an instinct to howl when they hear another wolf howling.
Wolves can identify each other by their howls, and this is their version of a check-in. They can confirm who is still alive, where the rest of the pack is, if there’s a rival pack they need to avoid, etc.
Sirens sound similar enough to howling that they can trigger dogs’ latent howling instinct, which is left over from their wolf ancestry. Another example of this howling instinct is that when one dog howls, it can trigger other dogs within earshot to start howling as well.
We are enjoying our 6th generation of Goldens and only 1 generation, a brother and sister, did this (religiously). All pups since then don't seem to pay any attention to sirens. I miss it a bit.
My last golden didn’t howl any real life sirens but I HAD to fast forward through the last 10 seconds of the opening credits of Law and Order or else he’d go nuts.
I cannot get mine to howl at all, but my old golden who passed in 2022, if you howled at him, he'd silently stare for about 1 minute, then you could see the urge start to overtake him until he finally gave in a released a loud "AWOOO!"
That's so cute! The only time I've heard mine howl is when I get a squeaky toy and squeak it rapidly. They both start howling in the most hilarious way.
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I used to live in a neighborhood where all the dogs howled together when an emergency vehicle went by with the siren. Except the one neighbor's beagle, he tried but it was more of a wail than a howl.
OP, get your golden a costume like this:
[https://www.reddit.com/r/aww/comments/17i2w9e/my\_sisters\_husky\_has\_a\_fantastic\_costume\_this\_year/](https://www.reddit.com/r/aww/comments/17i2w9e/my_sisters_husky_has_a_fantastic_costume_this_year/)
Only howling when it's bath time. He LOVES water but hates taking a bath and he will start howling like a husky as soon as he understands the situation lol
Mine only does in his sleep 🥹
Aww sweet!
Hahaha same here. What’s with that? Mine never howls and then all the sudden at 4am let’s put the loudest howls and scares me awake 😂
lol I just commented this before I saw your comment! Haha Samezies
It is the cutest yet most terrifying thing at the same time (usually happens around 2am lol)
Mine too!! So weird lol
Dogs descend from wolves, and wolves have an instinct to howl when they hear another wolf howling. Wolves can identify each other by their howls, and this is their version of a check-in. They can confirm who is still alive, where the rest of the pack is, if there’s a rival pack they need to avoid, etc. Sirens sound similar enough to howling that they can trigger dogs’ latent howling instinct, which is left over from their wolf ancestry. Another example of this howling instinct is that when one dog howls, it can trigger other dogs within earshot to start howling as well.
Very interesting! Fascinating to watch that happen.
Mine howls when sirens are on. I’ll look for the clips and post them
Haha nice, please do!
My current Golden doesn't, but our last one was a Husky/Retriever rescue, and he'd howl like a wolf when he heard emergency vehicles.
Aww - I’ve heard huskies do love to howl!
Huskies do everything at 400%
As a husky mom this made me giggle lmao
That is one floofy butt!!
Yes! And it’s honestly one of my most favorite of his noises!
Mine too, it's funny as f
I’ve tried training my golden since he was a puppy to howl. 2 years later and he just won’t do it. 🥺
No, that's hilarious!
My goldens face when I started playing this audio was gold
mine is 2yo and I've never heard him howl. is this normal?
We have three and neither of the others ever howl!
Yes mine does. We think it's hilarious.
Awooooooooooo
😅😅 Love the howl!!
I was travelling overseas a few years ago, just taking a break in a park, and met a lovely golden who also howled to match the ambulance...
We are enjoying our 6th generation of Goldens and only 1 generation, a brother and sister, did this (religiously). All pups since then don't seem to pay any attention to sirens. I miss it a bit.
How funny! That’s sweet
To not howl is to deny the pack. We all need to support the pack.
What a friggin cutie
My golden doesn’t even bark
My last golden didn’t howl any real life sirens but I HAD to fast forward through the last 10 seconds of the opening credits of Law and Order or else he’d go nuts.
Our other golden will exclusively howl when he sees other animals howl on tv
My golden only howls in his sleep. It’s soooo cute but that’s the only times I’ve heard him do it. And a good long one similar to this one. Haha
Mine does this!!!! It freaked us out the first time she ever did it haha
I love that falsetto at the end
I cannot get mine to howl at all, but my old golden who passed in 2022, if you howled at him, he'd silently stare for about 1 minute, then you could see the urge start to overtake him until he finally gave in a released a loud "AWOOO!"
Must have been around some huskies teaching their language
Yes. Ours will howl as long as she can hear them. We have sent video of her howling with the sirens to the local fire station. They loved it !
Heckin good howl! Yes mine does it with the tornado siren too 😊
Mine never howls!
That's so cute! The only time I've heard mine howl is when I get a squeaky toy and squeak it rapidly. They both start howling in the most hilarious way.
Mine started howling after he heard this video 😭♥️
he's helping
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All the time😂😂😂
Coyotes do it ALL the time
Yes, we live at a main road and some days a lot of vehicles with sirens pass through. Apparently it’s the song of her people.
Mine does too!
Every time!
I used to live in a neighborhood where all the dogs howled together when an emergency vehicle went by with the siren. Except the one neighbor's beagle, he tried but it was more of a wail than a howl.
He helped so much!! Please tell him that with pets. ❤️❤️
All the good boys want to help
That's a pack activity
My girls mom taught her this. We have no emergency vehicle out here in gods country but she does this still when we tell her to woooooowoooooo
Mine does!! It’s the best
pack mentality. doing their part to ensure all free range Goldens are rushing to protect the pack.
Most dogs do that.
Mine did when an ambulance went right by in the car, now I’m hoping she does it again
Wow what a tail on him!
Not howling at, howling with.
OP, get your golden a costume like this: [https://www.reddit.com/r/aww/comments/17i2w9e/my\_sisters\_husky\_has\_a\_fantastic\_costume\_this\_year/](https://www.reddit.com/r/aww/comments/17i2w9e/my_sisters_husky_has_a_fantastic_costume_this_year/)
Only howling when it's bath time. He LOVES water but hates taking a bath and he will start howling like a husky as soon as he understands the situation lol
Every first Saturday of the month at 11am when they test the emergency sirens. That's when my golden sings to his people.
Yes, my 3 y.o.does this too!
Mine gets sad when he hears sirens LOL. I have never heard him howl
My rottie used to, it was adorable. I almost forgot about that. Thanks for the reminder 🙂
That is an awesome howl!
Our current one just barks. Our previous boy would howl. It was so funny.
no but really cool
It's likely that the sound hurts his ears 👂