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Dogs can hear tones up to 47,000-65,000 Hz, while humans can only hear up to 20,000 Hz. Additionally, dogs can hear sounds as low as -5 to -15 decibels, while humans can hear sounds as low as 0 decibels.
This pretty much explains how dogs respond to sound! Below, we discuss sounds only dogs can hear, how to help dogs cope with sounds they hate, and more.
Hearing in Dogs and Humans
Dogs can hear pitches that humans cannot, very high frequencies! By comparison, humans can hear tones up to 20,000 hertz (Hz), while dogs can hear up to 47,000-65,000 Hz.
That’s not all that dogs do to us when it comes to hearing, though. They can also hear quieter sounds than we can, and therefore have greater distances.
Humans can hear sounds as low as 0 decibels (dB). Dogs can hear -5 to -15 decibels when the sound is between 3000-12,000 Hz.
To sum up, dogs’ ears are much more sensitive than ours. That’s why your dog responds to noises you might not think are a big deal, like vacuum cleaners, fireworks, or even sounds you can’t hear at all! If your dog is barking “for no reason,” consider that they may actually be hearing things you can’t.
Because sounds tend to sound louder to dogs, they also sound scarier. This may be why so many dogs are afraid of fireworks and other noises.
How do we know?
All of the above are great, but you might be wondering how we know what dogs can hear! How can you test without dog ears yourself?
The answer is actually very simple: scientists give them hearing tests! They used to do traditional hearing tests where we had dogs push a lever when they heard a noise, and now we have technology that makes hearing tests with dogs much more accurate.
Instead of relying on the dogs’ reports, the scientists placed electrodes on the dogs’ heads so they could detect electrical activity in the brain. They then played the sound through the headphones and looked for activity — if they saw any activity, it meant the dog was hearing the sound!
This test is called the brainstem auditory evoked response or BAER hearing test. It doesn’t harm the dog, and it can also be used on hard of hearing or deaf dogs to see how much they have lost their hearing.
Are there any whistles that only dogs can hear?
Yes, there are dog whistles that only dogs can hear. These are often used to get a dog’s attention so they can be given a command. For example, if your dog strays too far, you can use a dog whistle to call him back to you on an off-leash trail.
Dog whistles don’t usually hurt dogs, but they can if used incorrectly. Do not whistle near the dog’s ears or blow at full force, as this can damage the dog’s ears.
What frequency do dogs hate? Is Sound Deterrence Ethical?
Dogs hate many sounds, and sometimes it comes down to individual dogs. For example, some dogs hate vacuum cleaners, while others don’t seem to mind the sound at all.
When it comes to frequencies dogs hate, they seem to get annoyed by sounds above 25,000 Hz, especially if the noise is loud.
That said, sound deterrents to dogs are unethical. Can you imagine someone playing annoying sounds at you when you do something they don’t like? What should I do if I hear a sound that hurts my ears?
When you add something, such as a sound your dog doesn’t like, to punish them, it’s called positive punishment. Aggressive punishment has no place in dog training, whether it’s using shock collars, hitting your dog, scolding, or using sounds that irritate or hurt them.
Positive reinforcement — such as providing rewards for good behavior — and negative punishment — such as taking away your attention when your dog misbehaves — are better options.
For example, if you have a lively puppy, you have a few options. These include redirecting them to the toy and praising them when they bite the toy, or getting up and walking away every time they bite. You don’t want to punish them by whistling!
Why Do Dogs Hate Certain Sounds, and How Can You Help?
Dogs tend to hate high-pitched and loud sounds. This could be because the sound is harsh, stinging, or frightening in their ears.
If you can, turn off the sounds that are bothering your dog. That’s easy if there’s something specific on the TV, but not if your neighbor is setting off fireworks or mowing the lawn.
There are even some things we do every day in our own homes that are unavoidable, like vacuuming or using a blender.
Fortunately, these sounds are less likely to harm our dogs—they’re more likely to be scared. Loud noises can be startling, and even more so if your dog doesn’t know where they’re coming from.
The best way to deal with these situations is to desensitize your dog to sounds. For example, you might offer your dog their favorite treat when you start the blender to show them it’s not scary. Then they’ll start looking forward to the blender turning on so they can have a snack!
Another method that works well is to play sound on your phone or TV at a low volume. Turn the volume down until your dog won’t respond, then gradually increase the volume over days or weeks.
You don’t want your dog to be stressed all the time, so watch their reactions carefully and only increase the volume if they feel comfortable. If they get scared, turn it down.
Make sure to keep them away from noise – for example, play a sound for an hour, not 24/7.
This method works well for fireworks, babies crying, and other loud, constant sounds.
Do dogs have trouble hearing people?
Dogs have no problem hearing people speak, but may have trouble deciphering different words that sound similar. For example, if you have two dogs with similar names, they may get confused or have to listen very carefully to understand who you are talking to. (I accidentally did this to my cats Frick and Frack!)
Dogs also sometimes only listen to part of what we say. For example, you shouldn’t teach your dog to “lie down” and “sit” because that would be confusing. Instead, most people use “sit” and “down”. (down means to lie down.)
Interestingly, how we talk to our dogs also matters. Like human babies, dogs respond best to high-pitched tones of praise (“baby sounds”). This tone activates the reward centers in their brains, making them more willing to listen, just as you would if you offered them something to eat after they did something nice.
Can dogs understand human speech?
Of course, listening and understanding are two different things. Just because dogs can hear us doesn’t mean they understand everything we say.
There is so much research on dogs and human language. This is something I’m very interested in, and I’ve noticed that “talking dogs” with buttons are teaching us a lot of new things about how dogs learn and understand words. I think that as more and more dogs gain the ability to “talk” to humans, we’ll soon have a lot to discover.
One thing is for sure though – dogs are not born to understand human language any better than humans! The more you talk to your dog and the more you teach them, the more human language they will understand.
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Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.