Deaf Dog Hope Howls in Her Sleep

Deaf Dog Hope
March 2017

Imagine being pulled from the depths of sleep by your dog howling in the night. A dog barking or howling in the night wouldn't be unusual if they were outside; or they heard something that has caused them to wake up. Now think about if it is a dog who was born deaf who is howling, but most important, she is still asleep while she howls.

Since adopting Deaf Dog Hope on December 29, 2013, she has woken me up only a few times with her slumbering howls. It is a sound that is completely different from a hearing dog's howl. It is an extremely mournful, soulful sound, which wraps around my heart and squeeezes as I hear it and as it slowly diminishes. It leaves me lying there in the lingering silence wondering what has triggered the howl; and how in the world could Hope connect to her ability to howl - making the sound, having been born deaf??

Shortly after adopting Hope, I was absolutely surprised when she barked the first time, and it was and still is ear splitting. I realized because she cannot hear herself, she has no volume control, so to speak, causing the high decibel rated barks. Her dreamful howl isn't even ear-splitting or loud, which is why it is such a lonely, gut-wrenching sound.

I know I shouldn't have been surprised with her barks, because God gave animals instincts. These instincts tell the animal how to be the animal they are, to include their form of communication, even if they are taken away from their mother and handraised by a human.

This howling situation is different. Hope has never howled while awake. My other dogs have howled in response to the coyote populations yips and howls and from sirens. Hope hears none of it. Even if she sees my dogs howl, she does not join in.

Deaf Dog Hope with her favorite toy - a
Spiky Ball.
March 2017

As a child, I had huskies who loved to howl, so I understand a hearing dog's desire to howl. It is part of going back into their wolf ancestry. Howling is a form of communication, just like barking is. Howling can attract attention, can be used to make contact with another dog, announce their presence, warn other animals to stay out of the howling dog's territory, be an alert to danger, or used to search for another pack member. Some howling is caused by high-pitched sounds like emergency vehicles' sirens. While other howls can be caused by extreme pain. There are some dogs who even howl out of boredom or loneliness.

Whatever the reason, howling is part of a dog's instincts. Unlike humans who have to be taught how to do everything, include talking, God has embedded howling and barking in a dog's genetic code. The nagging question I have is - how does a deaf dog connect to her ability to howl when she doesn't have the above hearing triggers to cause it, doesn't have injuries to cause pain, is inside safe from predators, and most importantly - is asleep? Since it is an eerie, sorrowful howl, where is Hope in her dreams, what is she connecting to that creates such a distressing, heart-breaking sound?

I am left puzzled, wishing I could read Hope's thoughts in those moments. If you have a deaf dog and have experienced the forlorn slumbering howl, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

I am including several pictures of Hope playing. She is so fast, it is difficult to get clear pictures. Over a hundred pictures where taken in two days time trying to get some clear ones for you to enjoy.

All pictures are copyrighted © to Tracey R. Simmons,

creator of Paws4Hearts Rescue, 2017.