Dog Hearing: What Does A Dog Really Mean?

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Many legends circulate about the dog's hearing. Indeed, we sometimes lend the animal the ability to hear what is happening several miles away! It is not so.

The dog, however, has a hearing ability far superior to humans; it has the ability to perceive more sounds than humans and over greater distances. Discover our thematic file on hearing in dogs, you will finally know what your animal really hears.

Dog hearing: what does a dog really mean?

The dog's ear: how is it structured?

To better understand the functioning of hearing in dogs, it is interesting to understand the structure of his ear. A dog's ear consists of three distinct parts: the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear.

  • the outer ear consists of, on the one hand, the flag of the ear, a particularly mobile part because of the multitude of muscles that it understands and which can be oriented in many directions in order to better capture the sounds. It is also composed of the deeper external auditory canal, which ends in the eardrum.
  • the middle ear includes three small bones, as in humans. This is the hammer, the anvil and the stirrup. These bones transmit the sounds perceived by the eardrum to the auditory cells for interpretation. In addition, the middle ear is linked to the pharynx thanks to the Eustachian tubes.
  • the inner ear, even deeper, is a particularly complex organ. It consists of auditory cells, which are permanently linked to the acoustic nerve, and of an organ intended to maintain the balance by indicating to the brain where the dog's body is positioned in space. It is when it is injured that one observes disorders of equilibrium, in the dog as in the man.

The dog's hearing

The dog's hearing is particularly developed, which allows the animal to hear a weak sound emitted for several tens of meters. This feature is explained by its ability to perceive ultrasound, whose frequency is above 20000 Hz, and infrasound, whose frequency is less than 20 Hz, or vibrations per second. You should know that these sound frequencies can range up to 50000 hertz. In comparison, the hearing of the man, much less developed, is able to perceive between 16000 and 30000 hertz.

This difference is explained by the constitution of the dog's inner ear. Indeed, it has a multitude of sensory cells ciliated at the level of the cochlea, the so-called auditory part of the inner ear located in the temporal bone. The more these sensory cells - known as organs of Corti - are numerous, the more the ear is able to perceive acute frequencies. The capture of these is possible thanks to a complex process; the sound waves picked up by the inner ear deform the hair cells by the movement of the liquid contained in the cochlea and the dog can then perceive them. Thus, if the man can perceive a low intensity sound up to 4 meters on average, the dog can catch it at a distance of up to 25 meters! This ability allows him to perceive you from a distance. He thus knows with a little advance when his master returns home, perceiving the sound of his footsteps, his voice or the engine of his car at a longer distance. It also helps to explain why your dog sometimes stands up suddenly and seems attentive to a sound, even though you have not heard any noise. He, yes!

But that's not all! The dog also has hair cells at the entrance of the cochlea, in a median area between the middle ear and the inner ear, called oval window. The latter being nearly 20 times smaller than the size of the eardrum, it is able to capture ultrasound.

The dog also has the distinction of better distinguishing sounds than man. This is called auditory sensitivity. It is indeed able to perfectly dissociate two sounds without confusing them.

Finally, you will certainly have noticed, the ears of most dogs are larger than those of the man, in proportion to the size of the body. They are also more mobile since they contain more cartilage.Thus, the dog can move his ears as he wishes to better perceive sounds near and far thanks to their size; thus, the pavilion of his ear serves him as a sounding board much more effectively than in man. This is why the dog sometimes bends his head to one side when it is solicited by noise; it thus seeks to better perceive the sound produced in order to identify it more easily. In addition, be aware that the shape of the flag of the ear has little impact on the dog's hearing; a dog with droopy ears can hear as well as a dog with erect ears, it is enough for him to orient them well.

What does the dog really mean?

If the dog hears perfectly, he has also, as we have mentioned, the ability to hear what he wants. Since he is able to dissociate the sounds that cross, he can also decide to focus only on one. For example, he may choose to follow his master's footsteps amidst the snores of the wind, the rustling of the rain, and the barking of neighbors' dogs. He knows perfectly well when you come home, before the other human occupants of the house. Ditto for the postman! The dog can detect his presence before you and warn you. Convenient! Tracking dogs associate this ability with smell, which allows them to have exceptional abilities.

How to take care of your dog's hearing?

A dog can become deaf, like the man. This pathology is common with age. In addition, sounds with a frequency greater than 90 decibels can be very painful for your pet, so avoid them at the risk of damaging the hearing.

The maintenance of your pet's hearing also requires good hearing hygiene. The L-shape of his ears makes the maintenance of this sensitive organ somewhat more complex. Anyway, never wash your dog's ears with a cotton swab! You would only repel the dirt in the bottom of his ear and you risk damaging its outer part.

Clean your dog's ears with a specific and adapted hygiene product.

The dog has by nature a self-cleaning ear. Thus, any pain, any change in the color of the epidermis or any flow of internal liquid should be considered suspicious. Consult your veterinarian without delay, he can prescribe a treatment to eliminate the source of infection (scabies, otitis media, bacteria, etc.).

Dog Hearing: What Does A Dog Really Mean?

FAQ - 💬

❓ What does it mean when a dog hears you?

👉 Your dog might not understand everything you say, but he listens and pays attention similar to the way humans do. The researchers discovered that dogs — like humans — respond not only to the words we say to them, but also to the emotional tone of our voices.

❓ What sound does a dog mean?

👉 4:458:1111 Sounds Dogs Make and What They MeanStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAlso whine when they are separated from a valued companion. Want some attention are scared or are inMoreAlso whine when they are separated from a valued companion. Want some attention are scared or are in pain yelping a Yelp or a whimper is typically a sign that a dog is in pain.

❓ What do dogs hear when we talk?

👉 1:183:17What Dogs Hear When We Talk!Start of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThey would know that maybe we aren't in the mood or but just quite angry or we're not happy byMoreThey would know that maybe we aren't in the mood or but just quite angry or we're not happy by something whereas if you're quite jolly. And quite talkative.

❓ How do you know if your dog is trying to tell you something?

👉 Generally, one bark is to alert. Multiple barks mean he is trying to tell you something – anything from hunger to needing attention. Yipping or whining – A pup usually yips or whines when he is uncomfortable or lonely. You will probably notice yipping as you leave or when you put him in his crate.

❓ Do dogs talk to each other?

👉 How dogs communicate with one another is based on a system of common signals. Obviously, dogs can't talk, so their "language" is comprised of other signals—primarily body language, such as movement and positioning of the ears and tail, as well as how a dog positions himself near other dogs.

❓ How do dogs sense other dogs?

👉 Dogs also have a good scent memory that can identify other dogs they have not seen for years and who was the dominant member of the pair simply by smell. When dogs belonging to the same family are separated for a while, they use the sense of smell to catch up on things.

❓ Why does my dog stare at me?

👉 Just as humans stare into the eyes of someone they adore, dogs will stare at their owners to express affection. In fact, mutual staring between humans and dogs releases oxytocin, known as the love hormone. This chemical plays an important role in bonding and boosts feelings of love and trust.

❓ Why do dogs talk back?

👉 Dogs talk back to their owners either because they are seeking to bond with them, they have learned that this behavior brings them rewards, they're feeling possessive or intimidated, or they just don't feel like doing what you want them to do.

❓ How do dogs pick their favorite person?

👉 Dogs choose their favorite people based on positive interactions and socialization they have shared in the past. Like humans, dogs are especially impressionable as their brains develop, so puppies up to 6 months old are in their key socialization period.

❓ Why do dogs follow you to the bathroom?

👉 If your dog follows you into the bathroom, it's likely a result of their animal instinct and pack mentality. Canines who do this are referred to as “Velcro dogs,” due to their desire to be attached to your side. They may follow you around, even to the bathroom, to protect a part of their pack.

❓ What are the 3 warning signs your dog is crying for help?

👉 Wincing, Whining or Crying All three of these actions indicate an injury or some kind of pain your dog is experiencing.

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