How to Teach Dogs Not to Howl

Dogs bark and howl to communicate -- right, you knew that. Howling, specifically, is more of a long-distance method of communication. Your pup may use it to call for you when he's alone or in response to a stimulus like an ambulance siren. If your dog's howling is driving you up a wall and causing you to lose sleep, train Fido to stay quiet.

  1. Accentuate the Positive

    • When your dog howls, simply ignore this behavior if you don't want it to continue, the Humane Society of the United States recommends. Responding to a howl with any type of reaction, even to scold your pooch, encourages the behavior through negative reinforcement. Instead, simply turn your back on your dog during his howls, offering him no attention from you at all. When he stops howling, immediately reward him with plenty of praise and treats. Rewarding only his silence will encourage your pup to stop his howling because he'll learn that howling loses your attention but silence gains it back.

    Teach Verbal Commands

    • Teach your dog to howl or stop on command. Start by teaching the "Howl" command. Identify the trigger for your pup's howling, which could be anything from a knock on the door to the sound of a police siren. Say the command and prompt your dog to howl using the trigger or a recording of it. Reward him with praise and treats. After some practice, your dog should respond to this command without the trigger. Command your dog to howl, then say "Quiet" and place a treat in front of his nose. When he stops howling, give him the treat. Continue to teach him the Quiet command, requiring him to stay silent for longer periods of time before you reward him.

    Avoid Separation Anxiety

    • Some dogs will howl out of loneliness during the day to send you a long-distance message to come home. Encourage silence by giving Fido puzzle toys filled with tasty treats to engage his attention. Train your dog to stay quiet while you aren't home by pretending you're going out, following your usual routine, and leaving your home for one to two minutes. If Fido howls, knock or rap on the door with a key ring to distract your pup and stop his howling, the Petfinder website recommends. Once your dog stays quiet in your absence, come back in and give him gentle praise. Continue training him, lengthening the time between your departure and the praise until he stays quiet for at least two hours.

    Desensitize and Countercondition

    • Many dogs are provoked into howling by sounds like sirens, which appear to mimic the high-pitched tones of dogs' howls, according to the University of Santa Barbara's ScienceLine website feature. Desensitize and countercondition your pup to this noise by playing a recording of the trigger sound and immediately giving your pup a series of small treats to keep him quiet while he listens to it. This will create a positive mental association for the sound. Stop giving treats the moment the sound stops. Repeat this exercise regularly, and keep treats handy if you encounter the stimulus outdoors so you can immediately silence him; distract him with a clapping sound if he begins howling.