Ellie is no ordinary pooch – this howling dog became a hit worldwide from her powerful vocals! Known as Elliehowls, she now has over 500K followers on TikTok and almost 15K on Instagram. People can’t get enough of her yodeling and howling antics, and we can see why. Here’s her story.
“I told my then-boyfriend, now husband, that I wanted to go to the dog rescue just to look,” her owner said. “I always wanted to go and just look at the dogs, because I’m obsessed with dogs, but this time was a little bit different.”
Love at first howl
When Ellie’s mom walked into the shelter, she immediately laid eyes on the adorable pup. Ellie was the first dog she saw when she walked in, and her mom knew it was fate.
“[She was] in her crib, looking at me with these puppy dog eyes; she was so quiet and calm, and she kind of just looked at me, and we both knew.”
Ellie’s mom said she can’t quite explain it, but they just had an instant connection. She just felt in her heart that she should take Ellie home. Now, her owner says “she truly is one of the best things to ever happen to me.”
Ellie isn’t just a howling dog, either; she can also say “I love you!” There’s nothing better than hearing those three words from your fluffy friend.
The dog’s full name is Ellie May, and her owner says she howls when she’s happy. That’s where she gets her online username, Ellie Howls!
“When we howl, she howls,” her owner says. “She is truly like a huge part of our lives, and she brings so much happiness to us and everybody around us.”
Ellie is just a normal, happy, howling dog
“She loves to do anything outdoors; she just wants to explore and she never wants to come inside,” her mom says. “But, when she is inside, she loves to cuddle on the couch. She just loves to be around us and be with us.”
They have another dog as well named Gigi who is three years old. She’s a Yellow Lab mix rescue that started off as a foster, but she’s now become part of the family. She and Ellie go on lots of adventures together, and truly enjoy each other’s company. According to Gigi’s Instagram, she growls when she’s happy, so her username is Gigigrowls. To each dog their own!
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Ellie’s mom says another thing the howling dog loves is swimming. Some dogs shy away from the water, but others like Ellie dive headfirst and love getting their fur wet!
“Her version of swimming is a little different than other dogs,” her mom says. “She stands on her back paws and splashes with her front paws, and she could do this for hours!”
Not only is this a hilarious thing to watch, but Ellie seems truly happy while “swimming.”
Ellie the howling dog is a lucky pup, indeed
Ellie is fortunate to have found such a wonderful family, but not all rescue dogs get so lucky.
“There are so many dogs at the rescues that need loving homes and so many dogs that might not ever leave the rescue,” the dog owner explains. “It really brings so much joy knowing that you can bring one of those dogs into your life, and show them love, and they will return the love.”
Adopting instead of shopping is a great way to help out an animal in need. There are so many loving dogs to choose from at rescues, and many of them make great family pets.
“It’s amazing, and I would encourage anybody who’s on the fence about it to just go and start as a foster dog or cat parent. That way, you’re helping the animal and you might just find your forever animal that way. And, if you don’t, you get to be a big part of their life by placing them in somebody else’s home, and you can keep doing that until you find the right one.”
More information on what makes dogs howl
Howling is just another way for dogs to communicate (and perhaps channel their inner wolf)! Other than barking or shrieking, howling gives dogs another medium of communication. Some common reasons dogs howl include:
- For attention
- To alert their owner to nearby threats
- Communicate or make contact with other dogs
- Response to high pitched noises or sounds (such as sirens)
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These are some of the positive reasons for dogs howling. However, excessive howling could signal an underlying condition or mental issue.
Common troubling reasons for dog howls include:
- Separation Anxiety: this happens when your dog is alone for long time periods. The howling is often combined with other anxious behaviors like scratching, pacing, or tearing up items.
- Medical problems: howling may be your dog’s way of communicating that something is wrong with them. If they start to howl more often, cry, or shriek, you may want to take your dog for a checkup.
- Sounds: Dogs respond to certain sounds, such as sirens, by howling. It may seem annoying, but it usually stops as soon as the noise fades away.
In conclusion, howling is a primal instinct that dogs have. Since they come from wolves, this makes perfect sense. Some people believe dogs howl as a sign of boredom or loneliness. Others think that they howl to search for a dog companion or communicate their location with pack members. In a way, howling acts as a “telephone call” with other dogs since the sound travels for long distances.
Final thoughts: cute howling dog becomes internet sensation
Not only is Ellie a loving, friendly dog, but her howling habit has earned her many fans! When her owner posts on her Instagram or TikTok page, people can’t help but laugh at her wolf-like habit. Dogs howl for many reasons, but Ellie’s owner says that for Ellie, it’s simply a sign of happiness. She loves to copy her owners when they howl, too!
Does your dog howl at the moon, sirens, or just because? We’d love to hear your thoughts and comments!
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