 Can you train a dog to howl instead of bark?
#327495 - 04/15/2011 03:56 PM |
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Darwin's bark annoys my wife, but she thinks wolves are cute (...), so she asked whether we can train him to howl instead of bark when other dogs walk past our house.
Now I always thought that when dogs were domesticated they were selected for barking (to warn against intruders), and I presumed that their ability to howl was greatly reduced. Of course, some breeds howl more and some (guard/herding breeds? Like Darwin...) bark more. But I looked through the scientific literature and was a bit surprised that not much research has been done on this. In fact, there is some indication that the tendency of dogs to bark is largely the result of the social environment that they are brought up in, not just their domestication ( Yin 2002 ).
So, has anyone tried (or succeeded) in training a dog to howl instead of bark as an aggressive vocalisation?
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Re: Can you train a dog to howl instead of bark?
[Re: Arik Kershenbaum ]
#327502 - 04/15/2011 04:20 PM |
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Well... that's a very odd question...
Encourage her to howl... does she ever do it naturally? You can howl at her, play howling dogs on the PC etc. Mark the behaviour and put a command to it.
Begin to use the command to get a howl when you ask.
Then when she starts to bark at other dogs, say no and ask for the howl. If you persevere you should get the result that you want but you will probably get a bark...bark...howl.
You're right, dogs were selectively bred to bark more than wolves and it is their natural behaviour to bark at an intruder. FYI wolves do not howl at an intruder but rather to warn off potential intruders at a distance - so it would not be normal behaviour for either dogs or wolves to howl at something inside their perceived territory.
You would probably be better off teaching a 'shut the hell up' command. It would be a lot quicker and would have a greater success rate.
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Re: Can you train a dog to howl instead of bark?
[Re: Tanith Wheeler ]
#327504 - 04/15/2011 04:25 PM |
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Connie Sutherland's amazing "lawn guys" protocol works like nothing else when it comes to window barking.
Search "lawn guys" in the forum search.
I'm about to go use it at this very moment!
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Re: Can you train a dog to howl instead of bark?
[Re: Tanith Wheeler ]
#327505 - 04/15/2011 04:26 PM |
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Yes, I'd thought of the fact that a howl is a longer range warning. Actually, the most annoying part of Darwin's barking is when he hears another dog in the distance and jumps up angrily barking. So maybe there's hope there.
OK, perhaps an odd question ;-) But I may just try the thing with the recorded wolf howls. Could be interesting.
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Re: Can you train a dog to howl instead of bark?
[Re: Lauren Jeffery ]
#327511 - 04/15/2011 04:31 PM |
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Yes, the "lawn guys" is a good one. I've noticed that Darwin gets very upset when a particular dog (Kye) walks past, because our neighbour's dog (Mika) hates him and barks incessantly. After some work, Darwin now seems to recognise my command, "It's just Kye and Mika again!", and goes back to sleep.
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Re: Can you train a dog to howl instead of bark?
[Re: Tanith Wheeler ]
#327514 - 04/15/2011 04:34 PM |
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You would probably be better off teaching a 'shut the hell up' command.
Amen. I can't imagine why you'd want to encourage your dog to howl. I'd suggest channeling this effort into something useful. 
Cinco | Jack | Fanny | Ellie | Chip | Deacon |
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Re: Can you train a dog to howl instead of bark?
[Re: Tracy Collins ]
#327517 - 04/15/2011 04:39 PM |
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I'd say a quiet command would be better for everyone....but if you want to teach your dog to howl you'd need to mark it (assuming you were familiar with marker training) after finding a way to get the howl in the first place....
My dog howls and yips to the coyotes....can't say it's something I'd want in place of barking....and I'm not sure about your dog but mine does not sound very wolf like when he howls...he sounds like a very excited coyote singing to the tempo of fox chattering....not a great sound O_o
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Re: Can you train a dog to howl instead of bark?
[Re: Tracy Collins ]
#327521 - 04/15/2011 04:43 PM |
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You would probably be better off teaching a 'shut the hell up' command.
Actually, I'm not sure that I agree with this. While he certainly has to learn to stick to the rules of our pack, I think one should be wise in choosing how many rules to impose that go against his own nature. It's like insisting on "heel" while walking, even when he want to pee - or sniff someone else's pee. Forcing someone to behave against their nature can cause psychological damage. We humans in this pack have also have to adjust our behaviour now that we have a dog living with us, and appreciating that he wants to defend our territory from other dogs is part of that.
Just IMHO. This might be a controversial position, as I know that many people here have strong views on obedience. As always, I bow to wider knowledge than mine...
Edited by Arik Kershenbaum (04/15/2011 04:56 PM)
Edit reason: insert quote
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Re: Can you train a dog to howl instead of bark?
[Re: Arik Kershenbaum ]
#327555 - 04/15/2011 06:13 PM |
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You said it was in his nature to bark. Therefore trying to change it onto a howl argues against your point.
Clearly, everyone entitled to set their own house rules. But it has been my experience that dogs actually appreciate having human boundaries set for them.
Cinco | Jack | Fanny | Ellie | Chip | Deacon |
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Re: Can you train a dog to howl instead of bark?
[Re: Tracy Collins ]
#327600 - 04/15/2011 08:34 PM |
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Dogs bark and howl for different reasons. Both are communication.
Trying to teach one to howl "instead of" bark would be like my neighbor walking out the door and saying "Morning Bob" and then I answer with "four times eight is thirty two".
We both understand what the other said but there was no communication.
A dog has no need, desire or understanding of why you would do that. It goes against all it's instincts to howl a greeting when barking a warning fits the situation.
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