How Dog Hearing Works
Dogs are able to hear sounds of up to 50,000 vibrations per second. The structure of their ear muscles allows them to do this. Dogs can tilt, lift, and rotate each ear independently from one another. This movement helps them locate where sounds come from and the ability to hear more sounds at once.
A dog’s ear is made up of dozens of muscles and three parts. Muscles control ear movement and the direction the outer ear faces while allowing the ear shape and rotation to change to capture sounds.
The outer ear provides sensitive hearing because it adjusts the shape of the ear according to where a sound comes from. Once the ear is rotated and tilted in that direction, the sound can then be funnelled to the inner ear.
While the basic anatomy of a dog’s ear is similar to a human’s, there are a few differences that give them superior hearing.
Dogs have 18 additional muscles in the ear to fine-tune their hearing and localize sounds, even from a great distance.
Dog Ear Length and Hearing
The size and shape of your dog’s ears affect how well they can hear. If your dog has upright ears, like a Border Collie or a German Shepherd, they have better hearing than a dog with floppy ears, like a Cocker Spaniel or a Coon Hound.
Dog breeds like Poodles, who have lots of hair around their ears can develop hearing difficulties if the hair isn’t trimmed properly.
Ear shape also plays a role in amplifying sounds. Floppy ears are more difficult to reposition or tilt, so it’s harder for these dogs to hear things far away. Perky ears are easy to move around, tip, tilt, lift, and flatten, and therefore “hear” better.
If you pay close attention to which dog breeds have which types of ears, their ear shape, and hearing ability are closely linked with the job they are bred for.
A German Shepherd, for example, has perky ears that are extremely well adapted to hearing and locating far-off sounds. This working breed is frequently used in law enforcement and the military to track and hunt down people, narcotics, bombs, and many other things. Their hearing helps them do this effectively.
Now, look at the ears of a hunting dog. Labrador Retrievers are often used for duck hunting. Their owner shoots a duck, while the dog’s job is to retrieve the bird and bring it back. This breeds floppy ears to muffle sounds to a certain extent, so the dog’s hearing is less likely to be damaged by the sound of a loud shotgun.
Of course, there are always exceptions to what dogs can be trained to do, but in general, ear shape directly correlates to what a dog breed’s intended job is.
What Frequencies Can Dogs Hear?
At a low sound frequency, you and your dog can hear about the same: about 20 Hz. This changes with high-frequency sounds. Dogs can hear high-frequency sounds three times better than humans. This is why dogs respond better to high-pitched voice tones.
The average human can hear high-pitched sound frequencies at about 20,000 Hz. A dog can hear frequencies as high as 65,000 Hz.
Dogs can also hear soft sounds that we can’t. Sound intensity is measured in decibels, with 0 decibels being the average sound intensity. Negative decibel ranges indicate sounds too soft for a human to hear. Dogs can hear sounds that range between -5dB and -15dB. These are sounds too quiet for human ears to detect.
The sensitivity of dogs’ ears explains why dogs can become so fearful of loud noises like fireworks or thunderstorms. If we perceive noise as loud, dogs hear it way louder.
How Far Can Dogs Hear?
Since we don’t measure sound in distance, this question is somewhat difficult to answer. How far your dog can hear also depends on many factors, like wind, background noise, pitch, and obstructions in the sound path.
On a clear day, a dog can hear sounds up to 40 miles away. However, the normal range of hearing will allow your dog to hear sounds roughly ¼ mile away. You, on the other hand, can hear at a distance of about 100 feet.
If your dog is barking at “nothing,” pay attention. It’s possible that they have detected something far away that you can’t.
How Far Away Can Dogs Hear Thunder?
A dog’s fear of thunder isn’t solely based on the sound, although that is part of it. Since thunder also gives off static electricity and barometric pressure, it’s not just the sound that tells your dog it’s coming. However, your dog can hear low-frequency rumbling far off in the distance, long before you can.
Most experts agree that dogs can detect a storm about 15 to 20 minutes before it happens.
Dogs and Fireworks
The sound of fireworks going off is extremely high-pitched, which is why dogs are so sensitive to it. The effect of fireworks on dog behaviour is so extreme that some locations have banned firework use altogether.
The high-pitched wail of a firework, followed by a bang, activates a dog’s fight or flight response. The noise indicates a threat and a dog is inclined to run. Some dogs hide under the bed or under furniture in an effort to avoid the threat.
Dogs can hear fireworks between 80 feet and a mile away.
Hearing in Different Breeds
While all dogs have a very keen sense of hearing, some breeds rise above others in their abilities. We alluded to this earlier when discussing ear structure.
Dogs who have the best hearing also tend to stay calmer in crowded, busy situations. They have steady temperaments and are acutely aware of everything around them.
Most of the time, the larger the ear, the better the hearing. In the case of dogs, floppy ears are the exception. Since they can’t lift their ears up to capture sound, floppy-eared dogs won’t hear quite as well as dogs with perky ears (but they still hear better than you). Interestingly, however, this rule isn’t universal, as Labrador Retrievers have some of the best hearing of any dog breed.
Here are the breeds of dogs with the best hearing abilities:
Labrador Retriever – This dog breaks all the rules about hearing and ear structure. Labs have exceptional hearing abilities, despite having floppy ears.
Poodles – As long as their hair is properly groomed, Poodles can hear their owners from up to a mile away.
German Shepherd – This breed’s exceptional hearing and smell make them an incredibly loyal and reliable working dog.
Lhasa Apso – In Tibet, this dog is used to warn people of impending earthquakes and avalanches, and to find survivors of these tragedies.
Cocker Spaniel – As a hunting breed, Cockers can hear their prey before the prey hears them.
Miniature Pinscher – These adorable dogs will alert you to the smallest noise.
Chihuahua – The world’s smallest dog also has finely-tuned ears that make an excellent warning system.
Miniature Schnauzers – Schnauzers hear frequencies twice as high as humans. This breed was originally charged with the task of hunting vermin and rats.
Boston Terrier – This breed’s finely tuned hearing makes them sensitive to crowds and loud living situations.
French Bulldog – French Bulldogs detect sounds from very far away and often tilt their head back and forth to locate it.
Conclusion
Hearing is one of a dog’s most reliable senses, next to its sense of smell. Dog hearing differs from human hearing because they can detect frequencies that we can’t. This is why dogs are often alert to things that we don’t and the quality that makes them such good protectors and guide animals.
