Akitas are energetic, strong, and loud. If you have one, you’d know how they howl whenever they want something, including your love.
Sometimes, their howling becomes more than just a call. If your Akita is constantly howling, you might want to pay attention.
Do Akitas howl?
Like many other breeds, Akitas are known to howl more than they bark. One of the primary reasons for Akitas to howl is a way of communicating with their human friends. They might also howl if they want to show leadership and dominance or are feeling some kind of discomfort.
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Do akitas bark or howl?
Akita is one of those rarer breeds that don’t bark needlessly but are heard howling more than barking. Although they don’t generally bark, they can be loud howlers.
The dominating silent hunters are notorious for their aggressive behavior but also quite popular for their instinctive and protecting howling when they are guarding!
Why do Akita dogs howl?
There are several reasons why the strong and sturdy Akita dogs howl the way they do. Some reasonable explanations may be:
Physical Injury or Illness:
One of the primal reasons Akitas howl more than usual may be linked to some sort of discomfort they are feeling.
If you notice that your Akita has been howling and struggling to walk or perform regular physical activities, you may want to run a check on its limbs.
Other times, if your Akita is feeling under the weather, they may want to communicate it with you through occasional howling.
Lack of physical activities:
Despite being such large dogs, Akitas are full of energy and require daily exercise to stay healthy, mentally and physically.
If you are out for too long or have been busy for a few days, you might forget to involve them in any physical activities.
This leads to annoyance and an irksome mood in many Akitas, causing them to howl, even if they don’t have any illness.
Dominating nature:
Akitas have it in them to show everyone that they are the boss, especially if you have more dogs in the house.
Other than that, as most Akita owners already know, two male dogs of this breed cannot dwell well in the same space.
In an attempt to show everyone that they are the leaders, Akitas tend to howl loud and clear. They may also exhibit the same if there are children around. Sometimes, they even howl to notify everyone they are about to marry!
Separation anxiety:
Not just Akitas, but many other breeds of dogs show aggressive behavior including howling and barking if their mental health is disturbed.
One reason for such behavior is separation anxiety from their human friends. If you leave them alone for several days, it is most likely that they will be seen to howl more and show fierceness towards others.
Natural temperament:
By nature, the characteristic of Akitas is dominating and protective.
They are always on alert when on guard and want to be a leader of any situation or group. In an endeavor to portray their bossy traits, Akitas make howling noises.
Sometimes when they are not diagnosed with any illness or injury and are not suffering from any particular mental or behavioral issues, you may want to assume they are howling just because they want to. It’s a part of being the breed they are.
What does it mean when an Akita howls?
Showing everyone who is the boss:
Akitas are large and sturdy dogs, both physically and mentally. When your Akita is howling a lot, especially when it is around more pets and dogs, you should know that they are simply announcing their leadership.
These muscular bodied and erected ear canines are characteristically, one of the most territorial dogs out there.
Furthermore, you must also remember that they do not get along with the same gender Akitas very well. Any time there is more than one Akita in a pack, you are bound to hear howling, growling, and eventual fighting.
Wanting your attention:
When Akitas howl more than usual, it could mean it is a way of grabbing your attention. Although Akitas are not clingy dogs who want all your time and attention, they sometimes howl to communicate certain things with you.
It could also mean that they simply miss you, and are suffering from anxiety or weakened mental health. This could also be more apparent if they are feeling down physically as well.
They could also howl to let you know that they want something, even if that is a toy or food. Additionally, if they have sustained an injury, they are more likely to show their disturbance through some loud howling.
Detecting a threat:
If you have an Akita outside your house, guarding the territory, don’t be surprised if you hear loud howls in the middle of the night. Akitas are great watchdogs and howl at any threats they think might harm themselves or their family.
Although they are not an unsocial breed, they do have a protective nature and have the instinct to howl that people or other dogs that they think might pose a threat to you, their human buddy!
Why does my Akita howl constantly when he is outside?
As we know, one of the basic temperaments in all Akitas is their instinct to be protective and stay on alert at all times. When they are outside, they encounter many people, situations, and other dogs that may seem like a threat to them.
Sometimes, Akitas howl when they are outside because they want to alert you and keep you safe from invaders. If they are outside and see more dogs, they might howl to show dominance and leadership as well.
How do I get my Akita dog to stop howling?
Proper training:
Prevention is always better than cure. If you have a young Akita, you should properly train them to avoid unnecessary howling.
Explaining to them when it is okay to howl and when it is not, through commands and simple language, can help with the excessive howling issue.
If your adult Akita is howling way more than you can take, you may want to contact a professional trainer.
Cater to their needs:
One of the basic reasons why your Akita is howling more than usual is because they wish to tell you something.
Pay attention to any sign of communication that they might portray along with the howling. If you notice signs of injury or sickness, you may have to contact the vet.
Spending time:
If you are not spending enough time with your Akita, it may become mentally drained enough to howl excessively. Separation anxiety leads to cranky behavior in dogs, including Akitas.
Make sure to play with them and show them affection, especially if you have been away for a while.
Is it OK to howl with your Akita dog?
If your Akita is howling excessively and constantly or it is something to want to prevent, it is not a wise idea to howl with your Akita. Howling with your Akita will only encourage him to howl further.
More precisely, before you decide whether it is alright to howl with your Akita for bonding and fun times, it’s best to know why they are howling. If it’s something they do rarely, and usually has a purpose for howling, you may join them once in a while.
Howling together with your pet is said to strengthen bonding and friendship. When your Akita howls for your healthy attention, joining the noise making session could make them feel more included as well.
What dogs howl the most?
There are several dogs that howl more than they bark, some breed more than the others. Here are few dogs that love to howl to communicate:
- Shetland Sheepdog
- Siberian Husky
- Alaskan Malamute
- Bloodhound Breed
- American Eskimo
How do you calm down an Akita?
One of the best ways to calm down an Akita is to have them exercise regularly through fun and interactive activities. You can simply throw in a tennis ball or frisbee and play fetch in your backyard.
Tug of war is a great game that will involve you spending quality time with your pet as well. Another activity that you can consider trying on a warmer day is swimming with your Akita. This would cool them, get them the required exercise and calm them as well.
Other than exercise, train them early to respond to your calm voice and listen to your commands of settling down. You may also want to get rid of anything that disturbs them or triggers them to become aggressive or restless.
Spend time with your Akita, and have quiet and peaceful environments where you and your pet can simply have a tranquil time.
Remember it is perfectly normal for your Akita to howl as it is in their nature to do so.
However, when the howling becomes too relentless and without reason, you may have to consider your training tactics from the beginning.
The good news is Aktias are easy to train and will adapt to their owners’ commands if trained correctly!