Tricky one this (and not sure if this is the right section but doesn't seem to fit in anywhere else).

Walking my boy daily in a certain public place, have heard a dog howling its head off every day for last 5 days.  Trouble is - I think the location is a sort of friend and sort of neighbour's house (in this rural location of scattered population, people 3 miles away are classified as neighbours, and we're on friendly terms altho not close friends).  I know they used to tie their dogs up outside during the day, but not sure now.  However, yesterday when we did a v. late afternoon walk (finishing 4.55pm by which time it was v. nearly completely dark) there wasn't any howling, so maybe it's just outside whilst they're at work?  Also, after hearing the howling on Mon, pulled up outside briefly in car on way home, no howling then either.  I'd consider these people decent and know they care for their dogs (look in good condition, get walked daily) but am concerned.  It's been really cold and snowy here.

Don't like to approach them, fear causing offence (which could start off resentment long term, and you can't afford to be on bad terms with the few neighbours round here) and my concern may be totally unjustified (it may just be separation anxiety causing the howling, and they may have a nice warm outside kennel).  But feel a responsibility.  Thought of anonymously calling RSPCA but that's a very serious step and as I say, it may not be justified at all.  What would others do?

You could always say that another walker has mentioned it to you and you thought you'd better let them know.

If the dog is a male it could simply be that he can smell a bitch in season- though if as remote as you say less likely.

Would you consider just mentioning it to them- if out they may not even be aware and if decent people will not want their dog to suffer.

It is tricky isn't it- if it was your dog what would you prefer? I guess my concern would be for the dog first.

This happened to me but the howling was coming from a house to the back of our house. I decided after a few days that I would go and investigate and it was an older bitch that used to howl inside if she was left alone and annoyed the north ours do they decided to tie her up outside and she stopped howling because the neighbours didn't complain.

I gave then some 'friendly' advice and let them know that moving the problem to somewhere else was the way to resolve it and suggested they tackle the separation anxiety and make sure she was warm and comfortable when they were out or even better if they could resolve that leave her with her mother who lived round the corner. Never heard a peep out her her since .

Think Freelancer ahd best idea. Approach it frompoint of view of third party, I did this with a localneighbour who's dog drives us all wild barking. Said it was 3rd party and they have tried to amend it.....not worked but moretodo with owners inability, age etc rather than anything else.

Thanks all.  Have just heard there's a community meeting in a few days' time, so am hoping to bump into her there and casually mention have heard dog howling "somewhere" ...

Dog walker back next week as well, usually comes 3 x week but been off poorly, so if no joy with the above, will ask her how she'd feel about casually dropping in to mention it ..."is everything alright" maybe - (is ex-vet nurse & v. sympatico person ..)

I fostered some dogs a few years back, great dogs, good manners, reasonably well trained and (I thought) fine when left alone as when I left they'd curl up in their beds and they'd be there when I got back fast asleep.  What I didn't know until my neighbour mentioned it was that they howled from the moment I started the cars engine till the moment I got home and turned the engine off.  Of course I couldn't hear the howls through the double glazing and over the engine noise but the neighbours could through the paper thin walls.

Maybe - as they are out when the dog howls, they just don't know?  Personally, I'd want to know.

true luddingtonhall, I would too if mine.

However - same place again today for lunchtime walkies - blissful silence - no howling at all!  Amazing how it cuts thru to your emotions when you do hear it tho, I think it must be specially designed to press our protective buttons!

I thought people might like to know the upshot of this.

About a month ago I stopped by on impulse (tho it was still hard!) and spoke with my neighbour/friend.
Turned out that they'd adopted the dog about a year ago from a gent who'd died ...they said they had no idea why it sometimes howled.  However, not rocket science to assume it's still grieving (tho how can we be sure of course). 

Meanwhile I joined Twitter, and guess wot, there was someone else living just a coupla miles away who I didn't know, but who'd also heard/been upset by it when walking their dogs, and was just about to report to RSPCA!  Put them in the picture and that won't happen now, so I'm glad the neighbour was spared that as basically they are caring owners and don't deserve that.  Still cuts you to the quick to hear the howling tho.

oh thats good to know,i sometimes hear a dismal howl on a certain walk,suspect dog shut in shed,yes it does tug at your heartstrings.Feel I ought to do something,havnt heard it for ages now ,though.Also,I cant bear to hear babies cry,I got one of those noise cds for my dogs,theres a baby crying on it,makes my eyes leak!And they also leak when I play my"even wolves dream"cd,withe the lovely voices of wolves howling at the beginning!Thanks for the update!

Just as a by the way, my lot (Ridgebacks so not a known howling breed!) sometimes have a good howl - and they are a happy bunch. Oddly enough it's the telephone ringing that sets them off. They don't do it if I'm in the house but I always know if I've missed a call when I'm in the garden. Most odd :)

Mine do that too - even when I'm in the house as well. Three rings and they tell me I'm too slow!

I have just bought a new kettle that has a siren sound when it has boiled, I couldn't believe it when 2 of my 4 wheatens howled when the siren came on, they never howl. So I had to start training them out of it, then I found the switch to turn the alert off!

I hope the bereaved dog settles into it's home,must be very strange for a dog when all they knew changes. Two of mine were confused when my husband was away on holiday for a week, he normally walks the older two and one was quite distraught at being taken a different route!

That's funny, my dad would play his harmonica at a certain pitch and it was guaranteed to get the dogs howling. I wonder if your telephone hits the note!!

As a child a played the recorder, Mum said she knew I was playing it before she heard it as our cocker would be howling his head off, I would try and play it quietly but he still heard some notes s I'd be told to stop.