If one person in the room yawns, this attack goes to everyone. Even as you read these lines, you intuitively want to take a deep breath. Scientists have not yet come to a consensus on why this mechanism is so contagious, but they have studied another no less contagious action – howling. Probably everyone noticed: first one dog will vote, and then the others will join. What is the reason for the choir singing? Is howling as contagious as yawning?

To answer this question, you need to consider lifestyle and communication skills in general. Dogs are highly social animals, mostly like humans. And to live among them, you have to learn to somehow communicate with them.

“Speak” as body language and with the help of vocal skills in a package. Howling, growling, barking and whining are integral parts of intraspecies communication. Humans have not yet learned to translate the language of animals, but that does not mean that the sounds produced by dogs and wolves are just a meaningless series of sounds.

Songs can be heard at a distance of up to 10 km from the singer and for some reason strain the vocal cords. With the help of howls, dogs communicate remotely with other herds or individuals, inform and recognize each other, claim their rights over territory and females. Unless they’re talking about politics, who knows… Howling has different meanings, depending on the many nuances that the human ear can’t see. But why are you always howling in unison?

To show who is responsible. In the case of wolves and wild dogs, the number of votes indicates, among other things, the number and social status of individuals in the group. Solitary and small herds are usually quiet so as not to attract the attention of a large and aggressive group of strangers.

So dogs howl when no one is around, only in a very good company.