What does it mean when a dog howls like a wolf?

There are several reasons why a dog might howl like a wolf: Boredom or loneliness, calling for the owner, calling for companions, which is a form of dog communication, or the dog might be feeling unhappy, anxious, or restless. It could also be that the dog is in heat and emits the howl to attract and respond to opposite-sex dogs.

Here are a few reasons why a dog might howl like a wolf:

Boredom or loneliness, or calling for the owner and companions. When a dog emits a wolf howl, it might be because they hear another dog doing the same in the distance, responding to one another for communication. For example, large breeds like Huskies or Alaskan Malamutes tend to enjoy howling, considering it a common occurrence. If you have a medium or large breed dog with a high energy level, like a Husky or Alaskan Malamute, they may howl when they have nowhere to release their energy, hoping to attract the attention of their owner or companions.
A dog might howl when they are feeling unhappy. If a dog is feeling anxious or irritable, they may emit a wolf-like howl. Many small breeds, such as Toy Poodles, also known as "Teddies," can mimic wolf howls. Without attention and comfort, they can even continue howling continuously.
The dog might be in heat. Dogs have a fixed estrus period each year, and many dogs emit wolf-like howls during this time to attract and respond to opposite-sex dogs.

Dogs were domesticated from wolves, and wolves use howls to communicate over long distances. Therefore, dog howling is a normal phenomenon. Dogs ancestors were wolves, and they communicated through howls to confirm their location. So, dogs occasionally howl too. If you don't want your dog to howl, it's recommended to show them more love and attention, gently stroke and caress them, interact more with them, and take them for a walk outside for about an hour every day to consume and divert their attention. This will give them enough security so that they won't howl anymore.