 "Pack Sing"
#213692 - 10/28/2008 06:35 AM |
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I have a post under Dominant Dog issues if you need that to supplement your answer.
Hambone's companion was put down about 9 months ago now, and since she has been gone, he has welcomed me home differently. He has always welcomed me home with a variety of vocalizations, but now, when I get out of the car and stand, he jumps, touches my chin with his nose, and howls, sometimes standing and sometimes sitting. I began howling with him and we have had a "pack sing" for months now. The singing is no more than 7 howls and no less than 4 (I dont' know why), and then he wags his tail, and heads for the door to wait to go in the house.
I guess my question is, should I be doing this with him? It seems benign. I can't find any information on this anywhere and wondered what this board thinks.
Thanks,
Jo
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Re: "Pack Sing"
[Re: Jo Harker ]
#213702 - 10/28/2008 09:39 AM |
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If you were not having dominant dog issues, and it pleases you both, I'd think nothing of it. I am minorly concerned, if you're having other issues, that he is allowed to be the instigator of any joint activity.
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Re: "Pack Sing"
[Re: Denise Skidmore ]
#213715 - 10/28/2008 10:09 AM |
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*Disclaimer*
I'm not a wolf expert, by any measure.
Shaun Ellis has no formal scientific training, either, and some scientists have criticized his work.
Many others feel his work holds a lot of validity and have praised his unconventional methods.
However, I recently read an excerpt from "A Man Among Wolves" by Shaun Ellis, where he states that the least dominant wolves in a pack typically start howling, and that the dominant wolves in the pack are responsible not for initiating howling, but determining it's duration.
Alpha wolves may not initiate howling, but they will assume control of the situation once vocal contact is made, with, for example, a neighboring pack, a lone wolf or a family member that has become lost while hunting. If the alpha wolves determine that the pack needs to prolong its calls, they will offer encouragement to howl by repeating a long deep howl, or, if they want to stop the pack, they repeat a series of two or three cut-off howls in quick succession.
I do wonder if perhaps the howls your dog is giving, are "locating" howls, trying to find his missing pack member...
I'm probably reading too much into things. Either way, if you enjoy it, join in.
(I keep trying to get my GSD to howl with me, to no avail. Kinda bums me out, I used to howl with my Boxers all the time.)
Edited by (10/28/2008 10:11 AM)
Edit reason: Add
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Re: "Pack Sing"
[Re: Aaron Myracle ]
#213718 - 10/28/2008 10:14 AM |
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Re: "Pack Sing"
[Re: Charlie Snyder ]
#213731 - 10/28/2008 11:10 AM |
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Mr Snyder,
After listening to the different sounds, it is almost my boy whose sing is like example 3 in the Lone howls. He is alone now, except for me and his feral kitten (which is kept indoors and is a whole nother story.)
Does picking out the howl help?
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Re: "Pack Sing"
[Re: Jo Harker ]
#213734 - 10/28/2008 11:36 AM |
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That probably answered your question.
No problem in howling with the dogs. Mine seem to enjoy it from time to time. ;D We've even developed a command -- 'Sing-along' Noses go up and we have a good time.
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Re: "Pack Sing"
[Re: Charlie Snyder ]
#213737 - 10/28/2008 11:49 AM |
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Interesting site with the wolf howls, not trying to hickjack but is there somewhere on there that explains what the howls mean? One of my dogs makes the same sound as wimpering #2 when he tries to initiate me to play with him.
Also, I think husky breeds are much more vocal and howl more than other breeds. There were some huskies in a dog club I was in that were very vocal and loved to howl. I think the OP's dog is happy that she is home?
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Re: "Pack Sing"
[Re: Kathy West ]
#213887 - 10/29/2008 01:23 PM |
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My husky is incredibly vocal, he sings when he is exciting and howls for any number of reasons, and if he is unhappy or frustrated he is loud enough to crack the crystal.
It's a normal part of northern breed dogs and almost always amusing.
He also woooos and grumbles and groans baroooos.
I don't howl with him though, because I don't want to encourage him to do it anymore than he does.
The only time he ever actually barks is to alert that someone or something is on our property.
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Re: "Pack Sing"
[Re: Jennifer Lee ]
#213917 - 10/29/2008 04:00 PM |
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That makes a lot of sense. He is vocal guy with me, quite as mouse with everyone else. He does only bark if there is something out side he sees or hears. But, he only howls when I come home or when the coyotes are running..or he used to until the attack. He does do a sing, chuff, snort, woof when I don't move fast enough to do what he wants. I just take longer...<grin>
So, we have singers in our family...wonder if they can get a recording contract?
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Re: "Pack Sing"
[Re: Jo Harker ]
#213931 - 10/29/2008 04:40 PM |
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We went to a parade last weekend and just stayed back about 30 feet from the noise and the crowds to work on our calmness and socialize a bit.
When I made him stay in one place rather than keep moving and smelling and sniffing he got frustrated and started doing that fish out of water flailing thing and screaming his fool head off.
I just stood there and ignored it and oh my goodness we got some looks. It only went on for about 20 seconds but that was enough to make everyone turn around and give me dirty looks for killing my dog!! as well as attract a crazy lady..but thats a whole other story lol!!!!
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