If you own a Beagle, then you can expect it to howl. How often it howls will be dependent on how it was raised by its mother. However, it is going to how.
On this page, we are going to answer the question ‘why do Beagles howl?’, as well as give you a couple of ideas on how you can deal with the problem if it starts to get out of hand.
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Do Beagles Like to Howl?
While we cannot ask a Beagle if they enjoy howling, we can tell you that it is part of the breed. Beagles howl because that is exactly what they have been bred to do. A Beagle that is howling is a Beagle tapping into the instinct that it has. They probably do enjoy it to some extent, but they are really just doing what they have been told to do by their genetic code.
Why Do Beagles Howl?
As with a lot of the natural behaviors that a Beagle has, many of the reasons why the Beagle howls can be traced back to the fact that this dog is a hunting dog. There are a few other reasons on top of this, but let’s start by talking about that innate howling behavior.
Because They Are Hunting Dogs
Many years ago, Beagles were raised purely as hunting dogs. This meant that they would be spending days and days out there in the wild, helping their owner pick up scents and hunting down animals. Beagles were fantastic at this.
Now, the Beagles would often run on far ahead of the owner in order to catch a scent. In fact, hunters often left the hunting to the dog since the dog was so good. Wherever the dog went, the owner would follow them.
Because the dogs were so far away from the owner, they had to have some way to try and catch their owner’s attention. The best method for them was to let out a strong, piercing howl. This howl could be heard from a good distance around, and it told the hunter exactly which direction to head to find their dog.
While this is partially going to be a learned behavior, it is still a trait that has been bred into them. Even though you may be using your Beagle as a pet, they are still going to be a breed that has been designed for hunting. This means that they may let out a howl if that hunter’s instinct gets triggered inside of them.
If your Beagle picks up an unusual scent, particularly of an animal that they do not know, then they will probably let out a howl to tell you, “yes, there is another animal, and I have caught the scent of it.” You will most likely end up hearing this howl when you are out and about with your dog, particularly in natural areas such as forests and parks. However, if you have a window open, the dog may even howl in your own home if it ends up catching the scent of something outside.
To be honest, many people actually find that this type of howling is a ‘good thing’ as long as the dog is not going to be doing it too much. It is just your Beagle being a Beagle. If you want a Beagle, then howling is going to be part of the package.
They Want Your Attention
While Beagles can be independent at times, they are still dogs. This means that they are pack animals. Beagles especially are bred to be pack animals.
If your dog doesn’t seem to be getting enough attention, then they are probably going to let you know by howling. For example, if a dog is left alone at home for long periods of time, or if you disappear to bed for the night.
In some cases, they may be howling because they need food or water, or they seem to have lost their favorite toy.
Basically, your dog is likely to be howling because they need your assistance. It is your job to try and work out why your dog is howling in the first place. In most cases, you should check their water and food first. Chances are, this is going to be where the problem is.
If the dog is howling when you are not in the room, then it is likely going to be down to loneliness. This really is going to be a problem that you want to deal with quickly. Anxiety can get out of control quickly!
They Are Alerting You To Something
Dogs may try to alert you to something untoward. For example, if there is somebody approaching your door, or there is a stranger in the house.
Basically, if the Beagle notices something that doesn’t seem quite normal to them, then they will let out a howl. In the vast majority of cases, it is probably going to be obvious why they are howling. Therefore, this problem should be really easy to deal with.
They Are Sick Or Injured
This is going to be one of the rarer reasons.
As you may well know, dogs really do not like to tell their owners if they are sick or injured. After all, dogs have a natural desire not to let anybody know of any weaknesses that they have. This is a trait that comes from the wild dogs from thousands of years ago.
If a dog howls because they are sick or injured, you know that the issue is serious, and the problem will need to be dealt with incredibly quickly. This means taking the dog to a vet. If a dog is howling due to sickness, then this is nothing that you are going to be able to treat in the comfort of your own home. It needs professional assistance.
Another Dog is Howling
This is an interesting one, and it is something that we quite know why it happens.
Dog breeds, no matter what they are, tend to share a howl. If one dog howls, then other dogs may join in the howling too. This is why if a dog is left outside and starts howling, you will start to hear other dogs close by letting out a howl too.
Some people believe that this is all down to the original wild animals that dogs were bred from. This means a trait that never quite disappeared.
Obviously, it is easy to know when this is happening. If there is another dog close by howling, then your dog may start howling too. Chances are, even if that other dog isn’t howling, your dog may still give it a go. They will then be trying to encourage the howling from the other dog.
Basically, this is just a way that the dogs attempt to communicate with one another.
This actually depends on a lot of factors, and most of it is going to be dependent on how the Beagle was initially raised.
Now, it is incredibly rare that you will get a Beagle that is completely quiet. As we said before, the howling is pretty much hardwired into the breed. If a Beagle didn’t howl, at least on occasion, then we would be pretty worried about them.
Howling actually starts when the dog is being raised by its mother. It is a trait that is passed down from their parents. So, if their mother howled a lot while she was nursing the Beagle, then chances are that the Beagle puppy is going to grow up and howl a lot too. In fact, the average Beagle is going to really show off how much they will vocalize later on in their life for a long time before they leave their mother’s side.
If the Beagle’s mother isn’t howling that much, or for whatever reason, the Beagle is raised away from the mother, then they may not actually pick up on this behavior. They will still have that innate desire to have a good howl every now and then, but they just will not be doing it as frequently.
Basically, it is all going to be dependent on the dog. You can always expect a Beagle to howl, but you can never predict how much it will howl. If you are looking to buy a Beagle puppy, then it may actually be worth talking to the person selling the puppy about the behavior of the puppy’s mother. If the mother howls a lot, then the chances are pretty strong that you are going to have your own howler too.
How Do You Stop a Beagle Howling?
Teaching a Beagle not to howl is tricky for a couple of reasons. The first is that you are essentially telling the Beagle not to act like a Beagle. As we have already mentioned several times, Beagles have a natural instinct to howl, and they are going to tap into that natural instinct. The second is that Beagles are not intelligent dogs. They are tricky to train at the best of times.
In order to stop your Beagle from howling, then you probably need to work out why they are howling in the first place.
In our opinion, you should only really be trying to stop your Beagle from howling indoors. Try not to prevent them from howling while walking unless they get too ‘crazy.’ This is because howling is part of them having fun and trying to entertain themselves. If you stop this from happening, your Beagle won’t be getting the mental stimulation they need.
As mentioned before, if you believe the howling is due to an injury or sickness, then head to the vet and have it dealt with. Do not try and fix the problem yourself. You won’t be able to do that.
Do Not Punish Your Dog
It is important that no matter what you do here, you do not punish your dog for howling.
Dogs only react to positive reinforcement, e.g., praise or treats. If you punish your dog while they are howling, you won’t really be teaching them anything. In fact, in some cases, it may make the dog howl even more as you are essentially telling them ‘yes. Something is wrong!”
Howling Because They Want Your Attention
At all times, you should ensure that your dog has enough water. You may want to go easy on the food, though. This is because Beagles are prone to overeating.
You should also take your dogs for regular walks so that they can use their bathroom.
Some people have had success training their Beagles to stand by the door when they need to use the bathroom. This can help to prevent the howling in many cases.
Howling Because They Are Lonely
If your dog is howling when you are not in the room, you have to deal with the problem.
Your best bet is to only leave them alone for short periods of time. This means no more than 5-10 minutes at a time. You can use crate training for this.
When you return to the room, and they didn’t howl, then you can lavish a ton of praise on them. Maybe give them a treat or two.
Over time, you can gradually increase the amount of time you leave the dog alone. However, do bear in mind that no dog should really be left alone for more than 4-hours at a time.
Some people may also be able to prevent the howling by adding a few puzzle toys into the room. Frozen toys work well for this because they allow your dog to work on something for many hours.
Alternatively, you can take the dog for a long walk before you are planning on heading out for a few hours. This should tire them out enough that they do not have time to howl.
Training Your Dog Not to Howl
If you want to teach your dog not to howl, then you need to start by teaching them how to howl.
Whenever you catch your dog howling, then say the word “howl” and give them a treat and tons of positive attention. If there is something that triggers your dog to howl, then trigger that howling, e.g., a bit of noise. You can then say “howl” when they howl.
Over time, your dog will start to learn how to howl on command.
Once your dog howls on command, you can teach them to be quiet. You will need a treat for this. When the dog is munching on the treat, hold its muzzle and say “quiet.” Then give them another treat. You are essentially telling your dog that not howling is also a good thing.
Remember, Beagles are tough dogs to train. This means that it may take weeks, sometimes months, for you to see any real progress. Eventually, your dog will learn to be quiet whenever you say “quiet.”
The Best Training Program For Beagles
If you haven’t trained your Beagle properly, then this is the perfect time to start. Whatever bad behavior your shepherd has, whether it’s barking at night or other bad behaviors, using the right training program is the key to having an obedient and happy pup.
With Brain Training For Dogs, you’ll save yourself a ton of time and effort. Instead of banging your head against the wall trying to figure out why your dog won’t listen, you’ll follow a path that has been tried, tested, and most importantly, that’s given proven results. Not to mention the fact, you’ll be able to fit the course around your schedule, not fit your schedule around a trainer or obedience class.
So instead of worrying about whether they’re going to be well-behaved or not, you’ll only have to worry about how much fun you’ll have with them!
And in most cases, it’s still going to be:
Cheaper than hiring a professional.
Cheaper than replacing everything they might break.
And definitely cheaper than a lawsuit against you, if they decide to bite someone.
Just imagine how great it will feel to finally be able to trust your Beagle completely and never worry whether they’ll be naughty or not. Instead, you’ll have the peace of mind that you have a well-behaved pup, and the boundaries you set for them will always be there, EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT.
And the best part is it also has a 60-day money-back guarantee! So there’s no reason not to give Brain Training For Dogs a try!
So if you’re tired of your dog’s bad behavior or how they react around other people and pooches, then give it a try! You’ll be amazed by the results! (You can also check out a full review here to learn exactly what the course has to offer!)
FAQ
Why Do Beagles Howl at Night?
There is a multitude of reasons why a Beagle may howl at night. In some cases, it is because they are alone. Other times, they may have heard a sound and are alerting you to it. In others, it may be because they latched onto the scent of another animal. It is tough to know why a Beagle is howling at night without checking on the dog.
Why Do Beagles Howl When Left Alone?
Beagles, just like all dogs, are social animals. If they are left alone, they may howl due to separation anxiety. Basically, if you have been spending a lot of time with your dog and suddenly you are no longer paying attention to them, then there is a strong chance that they will start to howl because they are starting to lack the attention that they need.
When Do Beagle Puppies Start Howling?
Puppies will start to howl before they have even left their mother’s side. As soon as a Beagle can start to make a noise, it will start to howl. This means that you will often find them howling between 4-8 weeks old. Some may even start a little bit sooner than this. It all depends on how vocal their mother is.
Why Do Beagles Howl at Sirens/Music?
Nobody quite knows for sure. However, it is likely to be traced to the ‘bonding behavior’ that dogs have. The high-pitched sounds often found in music or sirens can help to trigger a need in your dog to howl along with the sounds. It is pretty much the same reason why your dog will often howl alongside other dogs.
Recap
Beagles howl because that is what it means to be a Beagle. A Beagle that doesn’t howl likely has something wrong with it. While you may never be able to completely eliminate the howling instinct of a Beagle, you should be able to control the howling enough to the point where it isn’t going to be a major issue for you.
