Yes! Not only do basset hounds howl, they do so with conviction!
It is a beautiful sight to behold a basset hound harkening his fellow hunter to follow him with a low baritone resonating through the prairie, and it is just as endearing to watch your basset put on a show in the living room with a lazy howl from the couch.
Howling, often used interchangeably with baying, is a sustained, deep cry (though not always in the sad sense) that can signal a wide array of communication.
What is Baying?
It can be easy to assume baying and howling are synonyms, but there is a subtle difference. Think of baying as a hound dog’s communication when he is on the job helping his owner query out prey on the hunt or picking up on a scent, whereas a howl indicates distress, sadness, loneliness, or perhaps feeling hunger pangs.
Why do Basset Hounds Howl?
Basset hounds will howl for a myriad of reasons. What follows is a thorough list of common causes for a long, drawn-out howl!
Strong Scent
If a basset hound detects a strong scent, whether it be a rodent nearby or emanating from the ground, a basset hound will throw her head back in long-pronounced bays.
If the scent is in the ground, the basset hound will paw frantically at the dirt, intermittently sticking her nose in the hole for long, drawn out sniffs, as she continues to dig up the rodent.
Other times, it may not be obvious where the scent is coming from, as the wind may carry it from a distance, but nevertheless putting your basset hound on high alert, baying with conviction. Take note—someone or something may be encroaching!
Sirens
The pitch and frequency of a siren will also set your dog off on a howling spree. You may notice your basset cock her head to the side for a moment, as if considering where the sound is coming from, then open up her chest and belt out a nice, sustained howl for as long as the siren blares its horn. Sirens from emergency vehicles, tornado warnings, and even fog horns will put your hound in howling action until the sound stops or is out of range.
Musical Instruments
Skilled musician or not, Basset hounds have a hard time composing themselves when someone is playing a wind instrument or the piano. At home we have an old family harmonica and a upright piano that our children like to play on from time to time. This puts our basset hounds in a tizzy, first whimpering out a few high-pitched pleads to stop until full fledged howls fill the house. When it’s time to practice our instruments, we keep the basset hounds out of ear shot before playing a few tunes on the ol’ jaw harp or tickling the ivories.
Distress
Basset hounds will also howl if they are in distress. One basset hound my wife and I adopted from a basset hound rescue mission had abandonment issues. At one point, we attempted to set him up in the garage and left for a short time to see how he would do. Unfortunately, the acoustics of the garage amplified the howling, reverberating his distress for the whole block to hear. We remedied the situation by finding him a companion.
Scared
When the hair stands up along the top of the basset hound’s body from the shoulders to the tail as he howls, you can be certain your hound is scared—but that doesn’t necessarily mean he is in attack mode. For example, while my hound was in the front yard accompanying me during some yard work, a neighbor walked by and petted our dog. However, our neighbor ended the friendly pet a little too quickly and aggressively, to which our hound responded with a sudden howl that surprised our neighbor in turn. Nevertheless, our neighbor recovered quickly—knowing that basset hounds are very friendly—and joined our hound’s howl matching his tone in unison. Just as quickly as the hound and neighbor had been startled, the neighbor had a good laugh before continuing on and my dog settled back into resting by my side as I raked the leaves.
Sudden Surprises
A sudden knock at the door or a ring of the doorbell will also set off a howling spree. The knock could be a soft friendly rap on the door from a friendly neighbor, loud staccato knocks from a package delivery, or even a doorbell ring from a TV show—they all have the potential to rouse a howl with equal treatment. And if you’re an active family on Halloween night passing out candy, then you are in for a full night of hound howlin’!
Hunger
Say your basset hound had a particularly active day hiking along the beach of your local lake. Sure you fed him when you got back home, but maybe not enough. You can expect some half-hearted howl, something in between a low grumble and a whine, signaling that he is not quite satisfied. Ask him if he is still hungry, and he will often scale up his low grumble whine into a modulated half-howl intermixed with little barks to confirm his message.
Empathy
It really doesn’t take much to get a basset hound belting out a hearty howl. Simply open your chest, throw your own head back, and let your inner hound fill the room with throaty ARROOO!! and your basset will be right by your side in a dramatic duet.
Lookin’ for Lovin’
Don’t be surprised if your basset hound is feeling especially affectionate and wants some lovin’ in return. If you’ve settled somewhere cozy to take a little break and your hound is a little needy, he’ll hop up in your lap like a house cat for a good pet. Ignore this blatant request and he will take it to the next level with short, subtle howls to get your attention.
Let’s Play!
Perhaps you’re in another room and you hear some howlin’. As you check on what the commotion is about, your basset hound stops and looks at you with those pleading basset eyes and her toy at her feet. Well, you know what that means: time to play some tug-a-war or go for a romp around the yard!
Jealousy
Sometimes a basset hound will be fervently working on a chewing bone while the other watches forlornly (perhaps he devoured his a little too quickly or decided to bury it instead!). The jealousy swelling inside your basset’s bosom may be more than he can stand and will howl his little heart out.
Boredom
Though basset hounds may appear low-level energy dogs, they actually thrive on action. If a basset hound doesn’t get enough attention or becomes neglected, she just might emit a low, heartbreaking howl. Dogs are active and social animals, and basset hounds especially need to be engaged consistently with daily walks, play time, and interactions for good mental health.
I Gotta Pee!
If a basset hound is housebroken and especially considerate of the no-peeing-in-the-house rule when she really, really has to go, then she will stand directly in from of you with that half whimper, half low howl, beseeching you to let her out to relieve a full bladder. At that point, I apologize like crazy for binge watching my favorite TV show a little too long and run out the back door with her so she can respond to the call of nature. Meanwhile, I’m sure to praise her for her patience!
To Alert Their Owners
One day the hounds were in the backyard snoozing in the sunlight when they suddenly hopped up and started howling. I didn’t notice anything, but I followed them to the side of the house. Sure enough their ears and strong sense of smell detected something I couldn’t, a neighborhood friend returning a weed whacker I let him borrow to the side entry of the backyard. Though it was a non threatening situation, it’s always nice to know that the hounds are on high alert even when they are soaking up the sun rays on a lazy day.
Communication
Howling can simply be dog-speak for “Follow me!” or “Look this direction!” and a great way for a basset hound to establish his presence to others.
Should I be worried if my Basset Hound is Howling?
For the most part, no. Howls emanate from your basset hound as an innate and essential characteristic of her breed. It is a primal reaction that serves a myriad of purposes.
However, if your basset hound is howling incessantly with shrieks or howls accompanied with yips, then something is definitely wrong. At this point, take care to tend to any visible wounds or make a trip to the veterinarian if the issue is not visible or obvious.
Final Thoughts on the Basset Hound Howl
Although basset hounds have a wonderful howl to behold, it really doesn’t happen too often, especially in comparison to the world of wolves who use it for establishing territories, reestablishing contact if they’ve broken from the pack, or as a group just before the hunt. Much of this is not the case for the basset hound’s domesticated context.
As similar as basset hounds are, every basset is a little different, but you will pick up on your hound’s nuanced communication as you become familiar with their full scale of various howls.
Consider it just one of the many endearing traits basset hounds have to offer that round out their classic character.
