Dog who howls at the 'phone

[Clydesdaleclopper]

I have a 4 year old wolfhound who is an absolute star in every way except when the telephone rings. If I don't answer it by the second ring he starts to howl and won't stop. It's then pointless to answer the call as I can't hear a thing. I've tried changing the ring tone, telling him off, putting him outside (then he just annoys the neighbours by continuing to howl). Does anyone have any suggestions of other things I could try?

Rehome him to me.

I love wolfhounds.

Could you try making him howl then giving a treat or something - at which point, if he stops, you give the command 'quiet!' ?

The problem is I can't get him to howl at any other time. I even tried getting him to bark so that I could teach him the quiet command but that didn't work either. A friend pretended to attack me while he was on the lead - the idea being that the dog would bark and try to protect me, instead he hid behind me

my brother's dog (Collie cross) howls when the phone rings.

He started it after he started having mild epileptic fits (the dog), and our theory is that the ringing hurts his ears.

Does he do it for all phones? ie for mobiles as well as the house phone? Has this always happened or is it a new thing?
Our collie used to howl if the house alarm went off, and when we played the pitchpipes (for tuning my violin). It may be that your phone makes a sound that you can't hear but he can.

lol... my dog howls at the end of corranation street.... always makes me jump

My dog howls when I start howling. What do you mean, you don't all sit there and howl at your dog until the dog starts howling too?

Note to self: must get out more, must get out more...

get a phone that vibrates or flashes? or plays a song instead of rings?

get your dog some ear muffs?

Hi,

I've got whippets which also do the same, only for the house phone though. My cross breed (who also has epilepsy strangely enough?!) starts them off and the others join in. I took the easy option and changed the melody on my phone, but other than that I would take heed of Ruby and try to desensitise him by phoning yourself repeatedly (using a mobile before I get accuse of being dim ). Hopefully he'll soon get bored.

The next time I speak to my mum I'll ask her what she recommends as she's a dog trainer.

SB

Two of mine do it!

Thanks everyone. I'll try the treats thing as liver seems to have magical properties for getting him to do things .

Funnily enough he isn't bothered by the mobiles but it isn't the particular ring on the house 'phone that is causing it because we have tried different ones.

Have you tried a different phone? It may be that the phone itself is making a noise when it rings, nothing to do with the ring tone (possibly a high pitched squeak?) Could you maybe borrow a different phone from work or a neighbour? Does he howl if the phone rings at someone else's house and you are visiting? A howl is usually a sign of distress, and dogs have very sensitive hearing.