Why do Werewolves move there arms back behind themselves when they go to howl?

[Transform me]

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.postnukecomic.co m/drespage/werewolf2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.postnukecomic.co m/drespage/pen.html&h=700&w=538&sz=82&hl=en&start=158&tbnid=UvNtoy59Wx5JMM :&tbnh=140&tbnw=108&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwerewol f%26start%3D144%26gb v%3D2%26ndsp%3D18%26 svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den %26sa%3DNI always see pictures of them doing that. Even if there howling or just ending there transformation.
They always put there arms back liek there stretching...

[chasingmidnight]

Um... I really couldn't tell you. I know they always seem to do that in pictures, but I'm not sure that they really do that...

[Transform me]

O ok well thanks for at least answering the thread. :D

[chasingmidnight]

Any time. It gives me something to do, too. I'm sooo bored... zzzzzzz... :D

[Transform me]

Lol. Ok. If you find out anymore about that please let me know.

[chasingmidnight]

Ok. I will. I think it's just because it's easier to put your head back if your arms are back, too...

[Goth Girl]

Well, as humans, just go ahead and try howling afew times. First keeps yer arms in front of you and try it, then move yer arms behind you. You'll notice that as you inhale yer chest is less constrained when yer arms are back. They don't get in the way of yer rib cage. That's just what I alsways figured and from trying it it seems logical.

[Tiamot]

Tilting back the head opens the air way, and arms are likely thrown back to allow for the chest to expand more readily. It's all about taking a deep breath. Try taking a very deep breath and letting out a forceful sound with your arms crossed, and your head down, and then try it with your arms back and head tilted. You can easily notice the difference. Some artists probably keep this in mind, however most are just drawing on physiological norms.

[dracosn]

It definitely has to do with the increased airflow when howling. As stated before if you were to try to howl in the two different situations you would find it easier when your arms are back and not restricting the airflow from your lungs. Some singers use the same technique when they have to really get the volume of their voice out further. Then again howling is just a form of singing even though I think the howling has more of a meaning and feeling behind it. So basically it’s probably just an observation by artist into the real world mechanics of their art forms.

[chasingmidnight]

Oh yeah. Why hadn't I thought of that?!! You guys are much smarter than I at times.

[BlackRosePhantom]

Then again howling is just a form of singing even though I think the howling has more of a meaning and feeling behind it.

Actually, howling is the wolves way of communicating over long distances. If a pack of wolves smells/hears/sees (their far-sight is excellent) another wolf(s) they will let out a defensive howl. If the attack party (in a big pack or else the entire pack hunts) takes down a kill they will give out a gathering howl to, what else, gather the pack together. Wolves also have other different types of howls to communicate as well.

Get on topic, having the arms back could also act like an extra counter wait, especially if the werewolf is transforming back into human form. When the werewolf loses its tail, having it's air back could keep it from losing balance and ultimately falling on it's face in human form. That's my input.

[Transform me]

Lol. Thanks for the info.
I just howled outloud outside, with the 2 different ways...
uhm.. my neighbor thinks im really strange now...

Anyways thanks for the posts.

[Rele WT]

I can howl perfectly fine either way. Actually, when I howl it makes my dog come over, I must only be able to do the so-called 'gathering howl' because he comes every time I howl.

Anyways, yes, it would have to do with the air thing.

[BlackRosePhantom]

I can howl perfectly fine either way. Actually, when I howl it makes my dog come over, I must only be able to do the so-called 'gathering howl' because he comes every time I howl.

Anyways, yes, it would have to do with the air thing.

What do you mean by "so-called"? The difference in howls are the pitch and constancy (gathering howls are more high pitched and is usually just one long howl where the pack's howls are in unison while and defensive howl is a bit lower in pitch and there clearly isn't just made up of one howl as well as not being in unison, it sounds almost like a pack of dogs barking).

[dracosn]

I can see the problem transform me if you were to go out and howl I would think that someone would notice it. Especially if you live in a well populated area. Knowing my luck if I went out and howled I wouldn’t be herd by a person or neighbor because of where I live but most likely a pack of wolfs or some other woodland creature hopefully a bear wouldn’t come that would suck. They usually steal our pumpkins after Halloween I don’t know why I bother with them anymore.
And blackrosephantom the reason that I stated that the howls are like music is because of the pitch and tone differences between the different types of howling, even though most of the time it is just barking sounds. Anyway to me it has a music like quality, if I didn’t think that it would probably drive me crazy at times along with the big cat sounds of the night.

[Transform me]

He just happened to be taking the garbage out. I didn't know he was there lol. I feel embarassed...

[BlackRosePhantom]

I can see the problem transform me if you were to go out and howl I would think that someone would notice it. Especially if you live in a well populated area. Knowing my luck if I went out and howled I wouldn’t be herd by a person or neighbor because of where I live but most likely a pack of wolfs or some other woodland creature hopefully a bear wouldn’t come that would suck. They usually steal our pumpkins after Halloween I don’t know why I bother with them anymore.
And blackrosephantom the reason that I stated that the howls are like music is because of the pitch and tone differences between the different types of howling, even though most of the time it is just barking sounds. Anyway to me it has a music like quality, if I didn’t think that it would probably drive me crazy at times along with the big cat sounds of the night.

You said that it "is" singing not "like" singing. Also, I guess that you're never lonely.:D

[Rele WT]

What do you mean by "so-called"? The difference in howls are the pitch and constancy (gathering howls are more high pitched and is usually just one long howl where the pack's howls are in unison while and defensive howl is a bit lower in pitch and there clearly isn't just made up of one howl as well as not being in unison, it sounds almost like a pack of dogs barking).

I'm just saying that wolves and dogs probably don'tthink of it as a gathering call. I know there're different pitches and things.

[BlackRosePhantom]

I'm just saying that wolves and dogs probably don'tthink of it as a gathering call. I know there're different pitches and things.

Howling is part of their language. Of course, they do probably just think of it as another message that they give to each other like humans don't see the phrase "Ladies and gentalmen" as as something to get our attention. We can reconize it as one, but we don't think of it as one. The same might be true for wolves and dogs. Is that or isn't that what you mean?

[dracosn]

I guess that the music and singing is in the ears of the beholder. I live in the Adirondacks so yes we have a lot of things out in the woods near us. It has not stopped me from doing some camping outside though. Unfortunately people and animals can get a little too close today I saw a coyote that had been hit by a car, poor thing it was huge I bet it made a heck of a dent in the vehicle. O well it’s not the natural order but it is the cycle of life. :shrug:

[Aeolus]

Why? it's simple.

They have a thorn in their butt and they are trying to take it out. :D

NOTE- that was not meant to harm the feelings of any werewolf fans, they're awesome.