What Dog Breeds Are More Likely to Howl at Sirens?

Most experts believe that dog breeds that are more closely related to wolves may be more likely to howl at sirens than other breeds. This includes various Spitz breeds, such as Huskies, Malamutes, and American Eskimos. Another group of dogs that may be more likely to howl at sirens are hound dogs that hunt in packs and/or utilize baying and vocalization in their hunting. This can include breeds such as beagles, foxhounds, and coonhounds.

Obviously, all dogs are individuals. Not all breeds are the same and not all dogs of a specific breed are the same either. So you may have a chihuahua that readily howls at sirens or you may have a beagle that is just uninterested in the noise of a siren.

How to Stop Your Dog From Howling at Sirens

There can be different reasons why your dog howling at a siren may be undesirable. Maybe you live in an apartment complex, or maybe you just don’t appreciate the added noise when an emergency vehicle drives by.

There are some things you can do to help break your dog of their howling habit. One thing is to teach your dog ‘quiet’ or even ‘thank you’. Pair your dog sitting quietly and calmly in response to either of these cues with a reward. When your dog knows what these cues mean and can reliably respond to either with being quiet and calm, you can use them to get them to stop howling at a passing siren.