Skip to main content

Video: Dog howls when he thinks he’s alone (spoiler: he’s not)

Why do dogs howl when no one is around? It could be separation anxiety

What do our pets do when we’re not around? Are they stealing our shoes? Watching TV (and trying to eat off it)? Or perhaps the dogs and cats are engaging in a battle of wits. It’s a question probably as old as pets themselves, and we’re finally getting some answers, thanks to pet cams. In this hilarious pup video, we see another dog who thinks he’s alone, and decides to go for a good howl… until he gets caught in the act.

Cooper the Golden Retriever opens our video with a long drawn-out howl of longing — he clearly misses his family and perhaps suffers from a touch of dog separation anxiety (his mom films from upstairs). The howling continues as the camera leans over to get a better glimpse of the sweet pooch. But then Cooper barks and looks up, catching her eye, and a priceless expression of shock comes over his face. The text reads, “I don’t think he realized I was home,” with a follow-up in the caption that says, “well… until he saw me lol.”

Many commenters attempted to describe this Golden’s hilarious reaction, including gothamthevampirecat who writes, “Dog ? said: whoooooo, hooooo…. Jesus Mom!!! ?.” Others narrated it a bit differently, with goodwerkshelper claiming, “He was like ‘Oh wait ✋️a damn minute.'”

It seems that everyone is able to get into the mind of Cooper to capture his loneliness and then happy surprise. Megan Parkinson remarked, “Just a golden retriever, golden retrievering ??,” which definitely rings true to anyone who’s ever had a Retriever as a furry friend.

Small dog howls at the sky while outside in the dirt
Alexas_Fotos

What’s the deal with dog howling?

We all know that howling comes from wolves, but why do our dogs continue to make these noises, especially when they know that nobody can hear? Most likely, a howling dog is lonely and might also have a bit of anxiety about being left by himself. It is a good idea to set up a camera to check in on your beasts every now and then and see what they get up to when you leave the house (a laptop will work just fine). Excessive howling can mean separation anxiety, and you may want to work with a trainer to reduce that. On the flip side, many dogs just talk a lot, which translates to howling in canine language. For some breeds, like the bayers, howling is so ingrained in them that they frequently make noise just to make noise.

If a dog howls by the door and no one is around to hear it, does he make a sound? It turns out, yes, at least in Cooper’s case. Even though he may have started sad, Cooper got a pleasant surprise when he discovered his mom was actually home and will hopefully learn that he doesn’t have to be so forlorn anymore.

Editors' Recommendations

Rebekkah Adams
Rebekkah’s been a writer and editor for more than 10 years, both in print and digital. In addition to writing about pets…
Why does my dog have the zoomies? Your pet’s crazy behavior, explained
The zoomies: Why dogs get them and if you should try to stop them
A white dog running

You’re just chilling in your home or backyard with your dog. Suddenly, they book it and start running around in circles. You would think they were trying out for the Kentucky Derby — that’s how fast they’re attempting to move — except they’re not a horse. The problem? You can’t figure out what’s going on or why they’re displaying this behavior. It can feel jolting and alarming for a first-time pet parent or one whose previous dogs never acted this way.

Your dog may have a case of the zoomies. The word sounds silly. However, it’s a real-deal dog behavior. Why do the dog zoomies happen? Should you be concerned? Here’s what to know about this often-seen, little-talked-about doggie phenomenon.
What are the zoomies, and what causes them?
Zoomies is a term used to describe a natural dog behavior that occurs when dogs get a sudden burst of energy. To get that energy out, the dogs dash around in circles (or figure eights) as if they’re doing laps around a racetrack. It’s like the Tasmanian Devil mixed with Allyson Felix.

Read more
Sorry Labs, you’re no longer America’s favorite dog (here’s what replaced them)
The French bulldog is now America's favorite pure breed
A French bulldog holds a leash in their mouth while standing in the grass

Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) releases a list of the most popular breeds in America. For 31 times in a row, the Labrador retriever stubbornly held onto the number one spot, like a dog with a chew toy. However, this breed has finally been ousted and slipped to number two while the adorable French bulldog secured the top. The 2022 most popular dog breeds shook things up, but why has this changed?

Why are Frenchies so popular?
The Lab continued to reign as number one for so long, likely because this breed is known for being friendly and versatile. What better pooch for a family? But as people, especially younger adults, continue to flock to cities, big family-oriented dogs might become less popular (though we should note that the top 10 still includes many large dogs).

Read more
Why doesn’t my dog like toys? Disinterest might mean something really bad
Find out what it could mean if your dog loses interest in toys
Dog sleeping near toy

Like humans, dogs are distinct individuals. Whether we're talking about their personality traits, funny habits, or toy preferences, no two dogs are exactly alike. While some dogs love squeaky toys, others might be frightened by the noise they make and prefer to play fetch. Similarly, some pups prefer carrying around stuffed animals, but others play tug of war with their favorite blanket.

Some dogs love their toys so much it can lead to toy aggression. But what happens if your dog doesn't like toys? As it turns out, it could be a sign of a troubling problem. We're here to help you get to the bottom of your dog's disinterest in toys.

Read more