Dog Hearing Facts: How Dogs Hear the World

Dogs can hear sounds at frequencies as high as 40,000 to 50,000 Hz, which is beyond human range.

Their hearing range is more sensitive to high-frequency sounds, which helps them detect ultrasonic squeaks and squeals made by small animals.

Dogs can also hear sounds from far away, with some breeds able to detect sounds from up to a mile away.

Their ability to pinpoint the source of a sound is impressive, with some studies showing they can locate the source of a sound within 6-8 seconds.

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Dogs have incredibly sensitive ears, capable of hearing around 4 times better than humans. This is because their ears are equipped with around 18 muscles in each ear, allowing them to rotate, tilt, raise, and lower their ears with ease.

Their hearing is so impressive that they can even hear electronic frequencies that are imperceptible to us, and can even detect the bodily vibrations of termites in the walls!

Dogs use their ears as a key element of body language, and there are several positions that can indicate their mood or intentions. Here are some common ear positions and what they might mean:

Dogs have incredibly sensitive ears, with around 18 muscles in each ear, allowing them to rotate, tilt, raise, and lower their ears with ease. This is why they can hear around 4 times better than humans.

Dogs' hearing is so impressive that they can hear electronic frequencies that are imperceptible to us humans, and even the bodily vibrations of termites in the walls. Their ears are also key elements of body language, conveying a range of emotions and intentions.

The shape of a dog's ear canal, like an "L", can sometimes trap dirt, debris, and even yeast and bacteria, leading to ear infections. This is why it's essential to keep an eye on your pup's ears and make sure there are no hidden grass seeds or signs of irritation.

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A dog's ear canals are closed when they're born and don't open up for the first few weeks of their life. This may be why puppies are more prone to ear infections, especially during this critical period.

Here are some common ear shapes you might find in dogs:

Dogs can hear sounds of a volume as low as 5–15 dB, which is much quieter than a human whisper (20–30 dB). This highlights just how sensitive their hearing is, and why they can pick up on sounds that are too faint for us to detect.

Dog coat color can play a significant role in a dog's hearing ability.

Dalmatians are a prime example, with 8% born deaf in both ears and 22% deaf in one ear.

White coat color is a common trait among dogs that are at risk of deafness.

In fact, 20% of Bull Terriers with a white coat are born deaf.

However, the presence of color patches can significantly reduce this risk, down to just 1%.

Piebald dogs, like the Dalmatian, also have an increased risk of deafness.

Smokey merles, which have gray or blue hairs mixed with white, are also at risk.

Roan dogs, with white or gray hairs mixed together, also have a higher risk.

It's worth noting that the gene that causes white coat and deafness also causes blue eyes.

Dogs can use hearing aids to help aging dogs who are losing their hearing. This can be a great option for older dogs who are struggling to hear their owners.

Protecting your dog's hearing is also important, especially in loud environments. You can use protective earmuffs made especially to fit dogs to prevent ear damage.

Dogs can be exposed to loud noises at places like construction sites or rock concerts, so it's essential to take precautions to safeguard their hearing.

Human hearing is sharpest at 1,000-4,000 Hz, which is why we can pick up on the nuances of human speech. Men speak at around 120 Hz and women at around 250 Hz, highlighting the range of frequencies we use to communicate.

A whisper clocks in at just 20 dB, which is incredibly soft. This is a good reminder that even the quietest sounds can be picked up by our ears.

Here's a comparison of human and dog hearing frequencies:

We can hear sounds from 20 feet away, but our dogs can hear them from 80 feet away.

Our dogs hear a much wider range of frequencies, including ultrasonic frequencies that are too high to be accessed by the human ear.

We can't hear ultrasonic frequencies, but some dogs can pick up on them.

Dogs have a more sensitive hearing range than humans, and can pick up sounds that are too faint for us to hear. They can even hear sounds from 80 feet away that we can only detect from 20 feet away.

Human hearing is sharpest at 1,000-4,000 Hz, but dogs hear a much wider range of frequencies, including ultrasonic frequencies that are too high for us to access. This is why they can hear a treat bag being opened from the next room.

Men speak at around 120 Hz and women at around 250 Hz, but dogs are tuned to high-pitched rustlings and squeaks, making them more effective at detecting prey and danger. A whisper clocks in at just 20 dB, but dogs can pick up on much fainter sounds.

Here are some key differences in human and dog hearing:

Dogs can even hear sounds that are too high for us to detect, such as bat echolocation sounds, a wider spectrum of birdsongs, and many insect chirps and clicks. They can even pick up on sounds that are embedded in music, like the high-frequency sound at the end of the Beatles' "A Day in the Life".

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Dogs can hear a wide range of frequencies, from 67 Hz to 45,000 Hz, which is much higher than humans, who can only hear up to 20,000 Hz.

This allows dogs to detect high-pitched noises, like the squeaking of a mouse, making them better hunters. In fact, their ability to hear higher frequencies helps them detect the presence of rodents and other critters.

Dogs can also filter out extraneous noise and hone in on important sounds, like their name and the sound of their owner's voice. This is made possible by their exceptional hearing abilities, which allow them to pick out their name in noisy rooms.

Here's a comparison of dog, human, and cat hearing frequencies:

Dogs' ability to localize and pinpoint sounds is also remarkable, thanks to their moveable earflaps and independent ear control.

Dogs can pick out their names in noisy rooms, thanks to their excellent hearing abilities.

With their sensitive ears, dogs can filter out extraneous noise and hone in on sounds that are important to them, including their name and the sound of their owner's voice.

This means that even in chaotic environments, dogs can zero in on their name and respond accordingly. It's not uncommon to see dogs perk up their ears and look towards their owner when they hear their name being called.

In fact, scientists believe that dogs can pinpoint the source of a sound to within 4 degrees, thanks to their independently moving earflaps and the way their brains process sound information.

Testing a dog's hearing can be a challenge. You can't just ask them to push a button like you would with a human hearing test.

To train a dog to push a button in response to a sound, you need to teach them that it dispenses a treat when they hear the sound. This process can be tricky.

The scientific answer is a BAER test, which measures activity in the hearing center of the brain. This is the gold standard for testing a dog's ability to hear.

Newborn puppies are deaf because their BAER response doesn't develop until around 10–14 days of age.

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High-pitched sounds can be a real issue for dogs, causing distress and even pain if they're loud enough. In fact, a study found that dogs have a hard time ignoring ultra-high pitched sounds, especially if they're both loud and high-pitched.

If you've ever noticed your dog leaping to attention at a high-pitched squeak, but your Pug seems oblivious, it's likely because they both heard the noise, but the Pug chose to ignore it. This is because head size, body weight, and ear size don't affect how well dogs hear high-pitched sounds.

Dogs can hear sounds that are way beyond the human hearing limit, including bat echolocation sounds, a wider range of birdsongs, and many insect chirps and clicks. In fact, some dogs can even hear a high-frequency sound on the Beatles album "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" that humans can't hear.

Dogs have a unique ability to localize and pinpoint sounds, thanks to their earflaps and muscles that allow each ear to move independently. This means they can focus the sound signal and pinpoint the source of a noise to within 4 degrees.

Here's a comparison of dog hearing frequencies to human hearing frequencies:

As you can see, dogs can hear a much wider range of frequencies than humans, making them more sensitive to high-pitched noises. This is why high-decibel noises (85+ dB) can be particularly distressing for dogs, and why animal shelters are working to reduce noise levels to alleviate sound discomfort.

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