There’s nothing quite like the sound of a ringing phone…except maybe when your dog starts howling along. If your dog howls when the phone rings, it can be pretty annoying. But why does he do it? What’s behind this puzzling behavior? Read on to find out.
Your dog howls when the phone rings because of the high-pitched sound, the ring tone is annoying, of anxiety, it’s alerting you, or you have encouraged the behavior.
Here’s a closer look at each of these reasons:
1. The high-pitched sound of a ringing phone is likely what’s triggering your dog’s response. Dogs are much more sensitive to high-pitched sounds than we are, and they may find it irritating or annoying.
2. Some dogs may associate the ringing phone with other things, such as treats or attention from you. This can cause them to start howling when they hear it, in an attempt to get their favorite rewards.
3. If your dog is anxious or stressed, he may start howling as a way of seeking comfort or relief from his negative feelings. The howling might even be a sign of separation anxiety, if your dog howls when you leave the house or respond to the phone and he doesn’t get to come with you.
4. In some cases, dogs may start howling as a way of alerting you that someone is at the door or calling on the phone. This can be especially true if your dog is trained to alert you to visitors.
5. You may have inadvertently encouraged your dog’s phone howling behavior by giving him attention or treats when he did it in the past. Dogs are very good at learning through association, so if they’ve learned that howling gets them what they want, they’re likely to keep doing it.
Related FAQ
Are dogs sad when they howl?
Some dogs may howl out of sadness or loneliness, particularly if they suffer from separation anxiety. Other dogs may howl in response to a range of stimuli, including sirens, fire trucks, and other high-pitched noises.
Howling is one of the ways that dogs communicate with each other. In many cases, a dog will start howling when he hears another dog doing it. This is because they want to join in on the fun. Dogs are social creatures, and they love nothing more than being part of a pack.
Why does my dog hate the phone?
There could be a few reasons why your dog hates the phone. It could be the sound that the phone makes, or it could be that they sense that you’re paying attention to the phone and not to them. Another possibility is that they associate the sound of the phone with you leaving, which can be stressful for some dogs.
If your dog is sensitive to sound, it’s possible that they’re just trying to protect their ears from what they perceive as a loud, potentially harmful noise. If this is the case, you might try using a softer tone of voice and keeping the volume down when you’re on the phone around your dog.
You can also try desensitizing your dog to the sound of the phone by slowly introducing it to them in a positive way. Start by turning the volume down low and offering your dog a treat every time it rings. Over time, you can gradually increase the volume until your dog is no longer bothered by it.
What do dogs think when they hear howling?
Some may think it’s a signal that another dog is in distress and needs help. Others may interpret it as an invitation to join in the fun.
Why is my dog scared of my ringtone?
There could be a few reasons why your dog is scared of your ringtone. It’s possible that the sound of the ringtone is too loud or jarring for them, and they associate it with something scary or unpleasant.
Or it could be that the sound of the ringtone reminds them of another noise they don’t like, such as a car alarm or siren. In some cases, dogs may just be generally afraid of loud noises.
If this is the case, you can try training your dog to become more comfortable with the sound by playing the ringtone gradually louder and gradually closer to them until they get used to it. You can also try incorporating other positive associations with the sound, such as treats or petting.