Have you ever wondered why dogs start howling in the middle of the night? In India, it is a common myth that dogs barking at night is a sign of bad luck. Such misconceptions and superstitions make it challenging for street dogs to survive and expose them to abuse and violence.

However, the reality is such behaviour is neither unreasonable nor baseless. In fact, it is a necessary tool for survival for community animals. According to studies, dogs’ howls are not necessarily distress calls but a medium of communication. The behaviour is not specific to any particular breed and can be found in street dogs as well as domesticated canines.

In this article, we will delve into the major reasons behind such behaviour so as to bring awareness among the general masses and put unreasonable speculations and myths to rest.

• Expressing Anxiety or Pain

Street dogs live a tough life. Be it altercations for territory and food, extreme weather conditions, ill-treatments by humans or accidents, streeties go through a lot of adversities every day. In situations like this, barking and howling is a way by which they express anxiety and physical pain.

• Call for Help or Bonding

Our canine friends tend to communicate with their fellow pack members through barking and howling. Street dogs often howl and bark to alert their canine buddies and at times to guide them back to their safe territory. They also bark when they need assistance from their pack members during territorial fights with other packs.

• Asserting Boundaries and Defense

One of the most common reasons for street dogs to bark at night is to display their dominance and to defend themselves. Howling, crying or loud barking are some of the ways by which streeties protect their boundaries from dogs of other packs.

• Environmental Triggers

Community animals have sharp instincts and reactions to environmental noises like sounds of sirens, bursting crackers, vehicle horns and music from parties. They react strongly to these at night and end up barking loudly as a stimulus-response to a certain pitch.

• Health Issues

A dog may cry at night if it happens to face some health issue and is unable to sleep. It can be an internal or external injury that the dog is suffering from. Hunger can also be a reason for its discomfort. In situations like this, a dog can end up barking and howling in reaction to the pain that it is suffering from. You can Consult a Veterinarian. 

• Separation Anxiety

A dog that has been newly adopted by a family can get stressed out at night due to lack of company if it is made to sleep in a separate room or a kennel. It can lead to crying, howling and even certain destructive behaviours.

• Boredom and Loneliness

Being social creatures, dogs tend to get bored easily. Remaining inactive for a long time can lead them to loneliness which can result in depression. According to experts, dogs may howl at night due to loneliness to grab the attention of fellow dogs or their human family members.

Wrapping Up

We cannot expect dogs to not bark at night and respect our peace. We have to remember that barking is the only way in which dogs express themselves. Making a genuine attempt to understand their concern and addressing them instead of shooing them away should be our approach. We should always remember that they are innocent creatures and only seek love and attention. Befriending them and offering them love and care will help calm them and live a happy life.