Owner Sees French Bulldog Home Alone Howling on Pet Cam, Then Realizes Why

A quick glance at the home pet camera turned unexpectedly emotional for one owner after she caught her dog howling alone.

Shantel Giraldo told Newsweek via TikTok that she left her dog, Peter, a nearly 6-year-old French bulldog, at home alone for a couple of hours-something he is accustomed to, though it still leaves her heartbroken every time. The pet camera allows her to check in on him remotely, with the first few minutes always being the hardest to watch, as he usually howls for 10 to 15 minutes.

In a video posted to the TikTok account @peterthefrenchbulldog, Peter sits silently, gazing toward another room. Then, as if announcing his loneliness to anyone willing to listen, he lifts his head and unleashes a dramatic howl. With no one calling back to him, he looks back at the other room, hopeful someone would walk through the door.

Giraldo wrote in the caption that the video left her “crying,” especially after it dawned on her that dogs may howl when separated from families to signal that one member of the pack has been left behind.

Why Do Dogs Howl?

There is no single meaning to a dog’s howl, an article from the American Kennel Club states. Instead, experts describe it as a form of vocal communication that can serve multiple purposes, including attracting attention, signaling location or responding to separation from people or other animals.

Research suggests that howling is deeply rooted in canine social behavior. While wolves use howling as a long-distance communication tool, similar patterns appear in domestic dogs, though the behavior varies widely by breed and individual personality.

A 2023 study published in Communications Biology found that dogs from breeds genetically closer to wolves-often referred to as “ancient breeds”-were more likely to respond vocally to howling, including by howling themselves. The researchers suggested that domestication and selective breeding may have influenced how frequently modern dogs engage in this type of vocal communication.

Domestic dogs inherited many communication behaviors from their wolf ancestors, including howling. Although barking became more common through domestication, many dogs still howl in situations involving excitement, social separation, environmental sounds or attempts to communicate with family members.

Do French Bulldogs Howl?

French bulldogs are generally not considered frequent howlers, though like many dogs, they are capable of a range of vocalizations depending on context, including barking, whining and the breed’s famous grunting.

Peter’s howl may sound dramatic, especially as it begins shortly after his owner leaves, but for him, it is nothing new.

“The first time Peter ever howled was when his grandma came over to play and left when he was just a puppy,” Giraldo said. “Occasionally, he howls when we leave if he thinks we are going on a trip without him.”

Over time, the behavior even became something of a shared ritual in the household. Giraldo said the family will howl along with Peter, a habit that began when the dog was about 3 years old.

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This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 10:14 AM.