How to Train a German Shepherd to Howl

Have you ever watched those funny videos online or on TV of dogs howling while people sing or play music? The dog helps everyone sing happy birthday or joins in on the Christmas caroling. It is hard not to smile when you watch something so hilarious and fun, and laughter is the best medicine, right? It is certainly something that we could all use a bit more of in our lives. 

What if you could teach your dog to howl too? Teaching your dog to howl on cue can be hilarious and fun. There is no doubt that it can bring a lot of smiles to people's faces, and maybe it will even encourage hesitant observers to join in on the festivities by singing too.

In addition to being a fun trick, howling can also serve many practical purposes. If you are teaching your German Shepherd how to track for hunting or search and rescue work then howling is a wonderful way for your dog to alert you to his whereabouts when he finds what he has been searching for. Howling is continuous and distinct. You can hear it from far away and it is less likely to be confused with the barking of other dogs. This makes howling an excellent alert signal for very specific things, especially when open areas or long distances are involved.

The success of this training will depend mostly on you discovering what your dog will howl in response to. If your dog tends to howl quite often on his own, then 'The Capture Method' will probably work quite well. If your dog tends to only howl when he hears a siren, such as a fire truck siren, then 'The Siren Method' will probably work best for him. If your dog tends to howl in response to the howling of other dogs, then 'The Imitation Method' is probably the best method for you to use. You will likely have to try several different recordings of howling dogs or sirens before you find one that your dog will howl in response to. If you are struggling to get your dog to howl then you might need to adjust the volume, repeat the same recording several times in a row, or act more excited yourself. If multiple different recordings fail to get your dog to howl, then you can try going to a place with actual sirens or howling dogs, such as dog parks with breeds of dogs that howl frequently present, or areas nearby hospitals or fire stations, where many emergency vehicles pass by every day with their sirens on.

Timing is important for teaching your dog how to howl. If you are using 'The Capture Method' then you will need to act quickly when you hear your dog begin to howl. You will need to quickly go over to him, tell him "Howl" while he is still howling, and then praise and give him a treat right after you tell him to howl. If you are using 'The Siren Method' or 'The Imitation Method' then you will need to tell your dog to howl right when you begin the recording, before he starts to howl, then you will need to praise him as soon as he starts to howl, and give him a treat after he has howled for one or two seconds.

To get started you will need lots of small treats that your dog loves. If you are using  'The Capture Method' then you will need a small Ziploc bag or treat pouch to place the treats in and keep with you. A small baggie or treat pouch can also be useful if you are using 'The Siren Method' or 'The Imitation Method'. If you are using these then you will also need a portable electronic device, such as a smart phone or tablet, that has the ability to watch videos or play recordings. If you are using 'The Siren Method,  you will also need one or more audio or video recordings of sirens, such as fire truck or ambulance sirens. If you are using 'The Imitation Method', you will also need one or more audio or video recordings of dogs howling. With all of the methods you will need good timing, patience, excitement, goofiness, and a willingness to try different things until you find what works for your dog.