Samoyeds are intelligent and loyal dogs but most importantly they are one of the most adorable dog breeds on the planet but let’s say, you adopted or bought a Samoyed puppy and now it has grown quite well but all of a sudden, you heard a howling and therefore, now you are curious to know why your Samoyed would howl like a Wolf right?

Well, Samoyeds howl for a few reasons but mainly, it is to get the owner’s attention, saying “Hey I am here, give me affection” but Samoyeds also howl in response to high-pitched sounds such as sirens and music. However, their howls sound so perfect and close to a real wolf’s howl because Samoyeds’ genetics have a close relation or a closeness to real Wolves.

You see, a Samoyed’s howl sounds quite like singing. It is just breathtaking and most people even refer to it as the voice of a fluffy angel. It is kind of like barking, it can be normal and lively when a dog barks moderately but when they do that all day and night, that can be problematic. Howling can also get to that point sometimes but it is a rare occurrence.

Does a Samoyed howl because they are sad or in pain?

Yes, besides asking for attention or responding to high-pitched sounds from the environment, Samoyeds also howl when they are sad or in pain. You see, Samoyeds are pack-animals. So, when they are just alone, they howl for pack-bonding. This is also why a Sammy howls in response to other high-pitch sounds because these dogs think it’s other dogs and should let them know that “I am here to bond and make friends”. In other words, Samoyeds howl when they are sad and lonely.

Also, a Samoyed may howl because they are in pain. By howling, these doggos basically ask for help from their human. You could say that howl is a form of a cry since they are in pain or suffering due to some sort of a sickness.

Does a Samoyed howl because they are happy and excited?

Yes, Samoyeds also howl when they feel like they have achieved something. They express their happiness and excitement via many forms of communications and howling is one of them.

For example, although, Samoyed dogs are family-pets today, they are still hunters at heart and when they play a game with you and did well or chase after an animal and got them, they feel excited and happy, so they howl to let the owner know about their success and also ask for some praise.

In contrast, Samoyeds howl when they are angry and frustrated too. For example, Samoyeds like showing off their cuteness to their owner but if the owner does not notice them, they start howling out of anger and frustration until the owner shows appreciation and affection.

Do Samoyeds howl because they are really related to wolves?

Wolves communicate via howling with other wolves and especially with the wolves of their pack and It is assumed that by howling, wolves communicate locations by telling the pack members to come back to their territory and also, warn other wolf packs to not enter their domain. However, their howling can also mean expressing emotions such as showing affection.

So, in general, dogs are considered as domesticated wolves or descendants of wolves that also can howl. This ability to howl has been passed down to dogs within their genetics which can explain why dogs in the present day also can howl.

Mostly, northern breeds such as Malamutes, Huskies and Samoyeds are the ones that can howl. So, that brings me to a Samoyed’s howl. Samoyeds are a spitz-breed which means part of their ancestors are related to wolves. It is obvious when you see their wolf-like face, coat and the furry tail. So, beside the appearance, abilities such as howling is also a common aptitude you can see in this dog breed.

Also, a study done in 2011 found that Samoyeds are like a hybrid of wolves and dogs and they are the most related dog breed to wolves among the modern-day dog breeds. This has been found by carrying out DNA testing. Therefore, it is not a surprise that your Samoyed is also able to howl. In other words, do not worry about it. It is a natural ability of a Samoyed.

How do you teach a Samoyed to howl?

Although, howling is a natural ability of a Samoyed, they only do it when they want to and sometimes, they may rarely howl. So, how to teach your Samoyed to howl on command? Well, you have to start praising them at the smallest sounds, they make and that way, their howling instincts will get triggered and automatically, start to howl.

It usually starts off with a few little noises such as a little howl or a bark, but once you show affection and praise every time they make a sound, they start to want more appreciation and ultimately, will start making full howls. Then, if you also reward them with treats when they howl, they will be even more inclined to howl on command or even on their own.

According to the YouTuber Kait – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTPgmNB5m7VoBWT0lkkXaeA (Check her out, she has two beautiful Sammys and gives a lot of advice on raising Samoyeds)

Here is one of her videos:

Do Samoyeds howl because they are so talkative?

Yes, Samoyeds are certainly super talkative pets because originally, they were bred for hunting and working such as a guard dog or a reindeer herder. So, due to that original purpose of breeding, they are spontaneously energetic and want to be busy and express or spend that energy on by being playful and talkative such as howling which is one of the ways that a Samoyed uses to be expressive.

What to do when a Samoyed howls?

Well, for some howls, you do not have to do anything because it is natural and normal but for other howls, you may have to check whether it is out of happiness and excitements or some other reason. That means the howls that are for asking for attention or responding to a high-pitched sound from the environment are natural and surely, a healthy phenomenon.

But what if their howl means something else such as the Sammy is in pain or lonely and sad.

So how to know whether it is a howl that is normal and nothing to concerned about?

Well, firstly, check whether the doggo has a sickness by making sure if it shows any of the following symptoms along with howling

• The coat and the skin look abnormal
• Any lumps or bumps in the skin
• Bad breath or excessive drooling
• Watery-looking eyes
• Redness within the whiteness of eyes
• Coughing
• Struggle when breathing
• Chewing the tongue continuously
• Foaming around its mouth
• Low range of motion when moving
• No willingness to jump, rise or climb stairs
• Losing muscle mass of thighs
• Being less active
• Cloudy-looking eyes
• Dry hair and sheds excessively
• Balding and thin hair
• Urinating too much
• Stiffening
• Muscles are twitching
• Shaking
• Abnormal swelling

These are some of the most common indications that your Samoyed will give when it is having a sickness. So if you notice any of these along with its howling, then go to the family veterinarian as soon as possible and do an examination to ensure whether the Sammy is in pain or suffering from a disease. So that the doggo can get treatments and ultimately get well and cured.

Secondly, if your Samoyed does not show any signs of having a sickness, then, you can check whether the dog is sad or lonely by simply recalling whether you leave the Sammy alone at home for too long

Because a Samoyed is a pack-animal which means they are used to being with other dogs and if there are not any other dogs, you are his/her pack. In other words, the only interaction or the family, the doggo has is you. So your Samoyed naturally gets negative emotions such as sadness, anxiety and loneliness when you are not with him/her, .

As a result, the doggo might start to howl as a way to express its sadness and crave affection and attention from you. So, if that is the case, make sure to spend quality time with your Samoyed and that way, your four-legged wolf-doggo will stay happy with more happy howls instead of sad howls.

Final Thoughts

A Samoyed howling is a completely natural occurrence in their breed. They howl to get attention of their human and other dogs as well. Sometimes, a Samoyed may howl when they are sad and lonely or happy and excited or even it can be when they are in pain with a sickness too. However, as long as it is not because of a sickness or sadness, their howling is the cutest and one of the most beautiful and astonishing sounds you can hear as a pet-parent.

Featured image credit: Photo by Helena Lopes from Pexels