March 19, 2026, 9:51 am | Read time: 4 minutes
They howl at the vet, sing along with sirens, or greet their humans like opera stars–and regularly go viral. But what really lies behind the “drama” of Huskies, Malamutes, or other Nordic breeds? Is it stress, pure show, or simply breed-specific communication? PETBOOK asked dog trainer Katharina Marioth.
Nordic Breeds “Sing Better”
In fact, the range of vocal expressions is breed-specific, explains dog trainer Katharina Marioth. She refers to the work of behavioral researcher Dorit Feddersen-Petersen, who has extensively studied barking behavior and vocal range. Studies have shown that dogs of the so-called primitive type–breeds genetically closer to the original dog type–possess greater vocal variability.
“The more primitive type in them, the more variability within the voice,” says Marioth. These dogs have a lot of tonality, meaning a wide range of sounds, but differ less in the type of barking. In other breeds, such as terriers, it’s the opposite: less tonality but more different “bark sounds” that almost seem like different “bark words.”
Huskies Communicate More Through Voice
One theory to explain these differences involves facial expressions. Certain, more selectively bred breeds have an additional muscle around the eyes that enables the typical “puppy look.” Many primitive-type dogs lack this muscle. According to Marioth, it is believed that these dogs can express less through facial expressions and therefore rely more on vocal variability to communicate.
All Just Theater?
The question remains how to classify the loud howling at the vet. Is it just theater because “nothing really happens” during nail trimming? It’s not that simple, says Marioth. For one, the issue often starts much earlier: Many dogs of these breeds join in when they hear ambulance or fire truck sirens. Owners often find this cute and unintentionally reinforce it. The dog learns: When I howl, I get attention.
Rarely Genuine Stress Symptoms
On the other hand, it’s always an individual decision by the dog how uncomfortable a situation feels. Especially with nail and paw care, a lot can go wrong, but also a lot can go right. Marioth explicitly advocates for early medical training so that manipulations of paws and nails become a normal process for the dog.
As for the well-known social media videos, she has rarely seen genuine stress symptoms. Often, the dog has learned: When my paw is taken and I start howling, I get a break–and additional attention. “The behavior pays off,” she summarizes.
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Should You Break Huskies of Howling?
Even with the exuberant howling as a greeting, many owners wonder if they have to accept it. Marioth takes a pragmatic view: For the dog, it’s initially a completely normal form of communication.
Instead of trying to fundamentally “break” the behavior, you can specifically reward calmness. However, it’s important not to create an unwanted behavior chain–not allowing the howling first, then saying “Be quiet,” and then rewarding.
Not Just Listen–Also Look
At the same time, she advises looking closely: If the dog vocalizes when left alone, it should be checked whether it’s merely a reaction to external stimuli like sirens or if there’s actual stress behind it.
Apart from such problem areas, one can also accept that some breeds simply have a broader “vocal field.” Not every vocal expression needs to be suppressed–sometimes it’s enough to guide it into calmer channels.
About the Expert
Katharina Marioth is the founder of the brand Stadthundetraining and the KEML principle. She is an IHK- and government-certified dog trainer and behavioral assessor for dangerous dogs in the state of Berlin. In her daily business, she works closely with veterinarians, scientists, and other specialists on dog-related topics. With her knowledge and skills, she secured the title of Dog Trainer of the Year 2023 in the Sat.1 show “The Dog Trainer Champion.”