Senior Dog's Howls Delight Owners After He Took Months To 'Start Using His Voice'
Sometimes, a rescued dog gains confidence quickly. Other times, it takes longer for an animal to feel comfortable and secure, living in a new home with loving owners. Take, for example, a 10-year-old golden retriever named Bruce. In a sweet Instagram video captioned "His soulful howl is genuinely the most beautiful sound I've ever heard 🥹," one of Bruce's owners talks about the pooch's progress. "We rescued him back in October of 2024, and it took him a couple months to really start using his voice," she says. "He's got three different vocal sounds that he likes to do."
First is the "soulful howl," which Bruce's owners have heard just three times. Second is the "happy woo," which is the joyful noise that the senior pup uses whenever his owners come home from work. And, finally, is the "guard dog" sound. Even though Bruce is a gentle soul, he has a loud bark that is threatening enough to frighten away potential intruders.
"I wonder what he's saying when he does the soulful howl," pondered one viewer, and another shared, "I love the woooos. My Lab X Hound woos when he's excited and I cannot hear it enough!" One person exclaimed, "The sound of happiness!! Sing it, Bruce!!🎶🐾💜🐾🎶"
The many types of noises that dogs make
Dogs can make a whole array of communicative noises, ranging from barks and whines to howls and rumbles. A bark can convey many different messages, depending on the pitch, the volume, and the pooch's body language, and most dog owners learn over time how to interpret these different barks.
One bark might convey a friendly hello, but another might signal aggression or fright. A whine might indicate fear, pain, or just impatience for dinnertime, while a howl might be a way of getting attention. Some dogs howl when they hear music. A rumble sounds like a purr crossed with a growl, and it likely indicates a contented canine. And then there's the growl. Dogs usually growl to show anger or fear, but a play growl is an invitation to frolic.
Want to read more heartwarming stories about dogs like Bruce who thrive after being rescued? Check out this abandoned puppy who transforms into a ray of sunshine after being found with a swollen paw, and this abandoned senior dog who has a complete turnaround after finding his new family.