Study finds which dogs are more likely to respond to wolf howls

A study evaluating dogs’ responses to wolf howls found conclusive evidence that some breeds are more likely to respond with their own howls than others.

Wolves typically use howling for long-distance communication with others, to mark territory boundaries and to determine the location of other wolves, which in most cases also respond with howls, explained scientists, including those from Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary.

The tendency of dogs — descended from wolves — to respond to the howls of their wild cousins ​​was evaluated based on the breed, age and sex of the former by scientists who recently published their findings in the journal communication biology.

However, some dog breeds have been known to howl in response to noises such as bells, sirens, or music, while many others never howl once in their lives, despite being capable of doing so.

In the new study, scientists looked at whether certain breeds were more prone to howling and whether this was linked to their genetic proximity to wolves.

They tested about 70 purebred family dogs by playing recordings of wolf howls and observing the dogs’ reactions in a lab.

Not surprisingly, the results suggest that breeds genetically closer to wolves were more likely to respond with their own howls, while modern breeds responded by barking instead.

“Although howling is present in the repertoire of most breeds, it appears that due to changing social environments, it has lost its functionality, such that modern breeds do not use it in appropriate situations,” said study co-author Fanni Lehoczki.

Scientists also found that the dog breeds that howled more also exhibited more stress-related behaviors in this situation.

They hypothesized that older races, genetically closer to wolves, might be able to process information encoded in wolf howls better than modern races.

“Therefore, ancient breeds of our study could become stressed when they encroach on a pack’s territory and howl to avoid it, just like wolves do,” said Tamás Faragó, another author of the study.

The study also found that the genetic effect on howling appears to occur primarily in older dogs over the age of five, suggesting there may be an experience-related or age-related personality effect.

“It is possible that consistent with our hypothesis that howling that occurs at higher levels of stress is a fear response – older dogs are more fearful, which has been suggested by previous studies, but these speculations need further investigation,” said Dr . farago .

Scientists also found that neutered male dogs that lacked testosterone howled more in response to wolf renditions, suggesting howling might be linked to male sex hormones.

“Since it has been suggested that neutered male dogs are more anxious, this finding may be consistent with our findings of responsiveness and more stressed behavior. Therefore, the dog’s howl may mean, ‘I’m scared, don’t come any closer,’” said Dr. Lehoczki.

Based on the results, human domestication and selective breeding have “profoundly changed” dogs’ vocal repertoire, as well as their perception and production of howls.

“Our results suggest that domestication significantly affects vocal behavior: Howling, a key, species-specific form of communication in canids, is being resolved and gradually eradicated from the canine repertoire,” the scientists write in the study.

Source