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 Howling at Sirens

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Steven_L
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PostSubject: Howling at Sirens   Howling at Sirens Icon_minitimeThu Jan 28, 2010 4:38 pm

Just sorta curious, around here dogs howling at sirens is something that you hear sometimes. I was wondering if your dogs (or neighbors dogs) do this too? I know my two don't but I've heard some in the neighborhood do it.

I have my theories on why it happens but what do you guys think (or maybe have read?) about this interesting behavior?
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Ann
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PostSubject: Re: Howling at Sirens   Howling at Sirens Icon_minitimeThu Jan 28, 2010 6:02 pm

I've got my own theory, too. I've heard the argument that sirens are painful to their ears and after watching my Rotties, who are notorious howlers, for many years, I don't think pain has anything at all to do with it. We've had ambulances come down our road and the dogs don't even seem aware of the loud, short blasts they make, not even at close range. What they DO notice (and they get such soulful expressions when they do) are the warning sirens or fire trucks...the ones with the long trailing sounds. I'm pretty well convinced they think they're other dogs in the distance who are simply saying "we're out here", and they respond. When I've had a houseful of dogs there is something I've noticed that other people may never have the opportunity to observe. The dogs howl in distinctly different tones. It's quite deliberate. If they start to howl and are making a similar noise to another dog, they'll stop or maybe yip a couple of times and then change octaves. That's what makes me think (more than anything else) that they are simply identifying themselves to those other dogs (sirens) in the distance.
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Steven_L
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PostSubject: Re: Howling at Sirens   Howling at Sirens Icon_minitimeThu Jan 28, 2010 6:41 pm

I was thinking the same thing too! I never heard the theory about sirens causing them pain. I would think if that were true more dogs would wimper or be scared, no? I was thinking that they though the sirens sounded like dogs howling, and even if they distinguished the second a dog that didn't starts howling they WILL start howling thus everyone gets all worked up.lol. (Did that make sense?Nervous)
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Betterdog4u
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PostSubject: Re: Howling at Sirens   Howling at Sirens Icon_minitimeThu Jan 28, 2010 6:44 pm

Ann wrote:
I've got my own theory, too. I've heard the argument that sirens are painful to their ears and after watching my Rotties, who are notorious howlers, for many years, I don't think pain has anything at all to do with it. We've had ambulances come down our road and the dogs don't even seem aware of the loud, short blasts they make, not even at close range. What they DO notice (and they get such soulful expressions when they do) are the warning sirens or fire trucks...the ones with the long trailing sounds. I'm pretty well convinced they think they're other dogs in the distance who are simply saying "we're out here", and they respond. When I've had a houseful of dogs there is something I've noticed that other people may never have the opportunity to observe. The dogs howl in distinctly different tones. It's quite deliberate. If they start to howl and are making a similar noise to another dog, they'll stop or maybe yip a couple of times and then change octaves. That's what makes me think (more than anything else) that they are simply identifying themselves to those other dogs (sirens) in the distance.

Chip howled, Neka howls, and Sarge (the Lab down the street) howls.

I feel the same as Ann in that it also seems to me that they think they are identifing themselves. Sarge is a very high pitch, Neka is very low and the emergency vehicles are somewhere in the middle.
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schnauzkyLVR
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PostSubject: Re: Howling at Sirens   Howling at Sirens Icon_minitimeFri Jan 29, 2010 4:04 pm

mine only did it once when we were outside for a walk and a fire truck drove right by us with its sirens on and it was the funniest thing ever, lol. ive never seen my lil guy howl and it was hilarious. He hasn't since..but it's interesting why that happens.

my parents doberman used to howl when my mom played the piano. he'd sit next to her and howl every time she hit a note. hahaa.
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Steven_L
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PostSubject: Re: Howling at Sirens   Howling at Sirens Icon_minitimeFri Jan 29, 2010 6:52 pm

schnauzkyLVR wrote:

my parents doberman used to howl when my mom played the piano. he'd sit next to her and howl every time she hit a note. hahaa.

Lol, thats cool, the only time Junior ever howls is when we come home Cool
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PostSubject: Re: Howling at Sirens   Howling at Sirens Icon_minitime

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