What Sounds Can Only Dogs Hear?

Written by Katelynn Sobus
Published: January 20, 2023
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Dogs can hear pitches up to 47,000-65,000 hertz, while humans can only hear sounds up to 20,000 Hz. In addition, dogs can hear sounds as quiet as -5 to -15 decibels, while humans can hear down to 0 dB.

This explains a lot about how dogs react to sounds! Below, we’ll discuss what sounds only dogs can hear, how to help dogs cope with sounds they hate, and more.

Dog vs. Human Hearing

how far can dogs hear

Dogs’ hearing is much more acute than ours.

©Mary Swift/Shutterstock.com

Dogs can hear pitches that humans can’t, up to very high frequencies! For comparison, humans can hear pitches up to 20,000 hertz (Hz), while dogs hear sounds up to 47,000-65,000 Hz. 

That’s not all dogs have on us when it comes to hearing, though. They can also hear quieter sounds than us, and therefore from further away.

Humans can hear sounds that are as quiet as 0 decibels (dB). Dogs can hear -5 to -15 dB when the sounds are between 3000-12,000 Hz.

All of this to say, dog ears are much more sensitive than ours. This is why your dog reacts to noises that you might not think are a big deal, like the vacuum, fireworks, or even things you can’t hear at all! If your dog barks “at nothing,” consider that they might actually be hearing a noise you can’t.

Because noises tend to sound louder to dogs, they can also sound scarier. This might be why so many dogs are afraid of fireworks and other loud noises.

How do we know?

All of the above is great, but you might wonder how we even know what dogs can hear! How can you test it without having dog ears yourself?

The answer is actually pretty simple: scientists give them hearing tests! While they used to give traditional hearing tests, where we had the dogs push a lever when they heard noise, we now have technology that makes hearing tests for dogs even more accurate.

Instead of relying on the dogs’ reporting, scientists place electrodes on a dog’s head so that they can detect electrical activity in the brain. They then play sounds through headphones and look for activity–if they see any, it means the dog is hearing the sound!

This test is called the Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response or BAER hearing test. It doesn’t hurt a dog, and it can also be used for hard-of-hearing or deaf dogs to learn how much hearing they’ve lost.

Is There a Whistle Only Dogs Can Hear?

Dog Trainer Using Dog Whistle

Humans can’t hear the pitch of dog whistles.

©SpeedKingz/Shutterstock.com

Yes, there are dog whistles that only dogs can hear. These are typically used to get a dog’s attention in order to give them a command. For instance, you might use a dog whistle to call your dog back to you on an off-leash trail if they get too far ahead.

Dog whistles won’t normally hurt dogs, but they can if used improperly. Don’t blow the whistle right by your dog’s ear or blow it at full strength, as this can hurt your dog’s ears.

What Frequency Do Dogs Hate? Are Sound Deterrents Ethical?

stressed dog panting

Sound deterrents are an example of positive punishment for dogs, and not particularly ethical.

©Patrick H/Shutterstock.com

There are many sounds dogs hate, and sometimes it comes down to the individual dog. For instance, some dogs hate the vacuum, while others don’t seem to mind the sound at all.

When it comes to frequencies dogs hate, they seem annoyed by sounds over 25,000 Hz, especially when the noises are loud.

That said, sound deterrents for dogs are unethical. Can you imagine someone playing an annoying sound at you whenever you did something they didn’t like? What about a sound that hurts your ears?

When you add something, like a sound a dog doesn’t like, to punish them, this is called positive punishment. Positive punishment has no place in dog training, whether it’s using a shock collar, hitting your dog, scolding, or using sounds that irritate or hurt them.

Positive reinforcement–like offering treats for good behavior–and negative punishment–like taking away your attention when your dog misbehaves–are much better options.

For instance, if you have a nippy puppy, you have a few options. These include redirecting them to a toy and rewarding them with praise when they bite the toy instead, or getting up and walking away each time they bite. You wouldn’t want to blow a whistle to punish them!

Why Do Dogs Hate Certain Sounds, and How Can You Help?

how far can dogs hear

Because they can hear sounds of such high pitches, many are sounds are too loud for dogs.

©9gifts/Shutterstock.com

Dogs tend to hate high pitches and loud noises. This may be because the sound is grating on their ears, it hurts them, or they’re afraid.

When you can, turn off sounds that bother your dog. This is easy if it’s something specific on the TV, but impossible if your neighbors are shooting off fireworks or mowing the lawn.

There are even things we do day-to-day in our own homes that are unavoidable, like vacuuming or using a blender.

Luckily, these sounds aren’t likely hurting our dogs–it’s more likely that they’re fearful. Loud noises can be startling, and it’s even scarier if your dog doesn’t know where they’re coming from.

The best way to handle these cases is by desensitizing your dog to the sounds. For instance, you might offer your dog their favorite treat when you start the blender to show them it’s not scary. They’ll then come to anticipate the blender turning on so that they can have their snack!

Another method that works well is to play sounds on your phone or TV at a low volume. Turn it down low enough that your dog doesn’t react, then gradually increase the volume over days or weeks.

You don’t want your dog to be in a constant state of stress, so watch their reactions carefully and only increase the volume if they’re comfortable. Turn it back down if they become fearful.

Make sure to give them breaks from the noise–for instance, play the sounds for an hour, not 24/7.

This method can work for fireworks, baby cries, and other loud, ongoing sounds.

Do Dogs Have Trouble Hearing Human Speech?

Dog laying on rug

Dogs respond most positively to what some might call a “baby voice.”

©N K/Shutterstock.com

Dogs don’t have trouble hearing human speech, but they can have trouble deciphering different words that sound similar. For instance, if you have two dogs with similar names, they might get confused or have to listen very carefully to understand to whom you’re talking. (I accidentally did this with my cats, Frick and Frack!)

Dogs also sometimes only listen to parts of what we say. For instance, you shouldn’t teach a dog “lie down” and “sit down,” because that can be confusing. Instead, most people use “sit” and “down.” (Down meaning to lie down.)

Interestingly, it also matters how we speak to our dogs. Like human babies, dogs respond best to a high-pitched, praising tone (a “baby voice”). This tone activates reward centers in their brain, making them more likely to listen, just like when you give them a treat after they do something good.

Do Dogs Understand Human Speech?

Basset Hound Mix

Unfortunately, dogs can’t understand every word we say to them.

©Karen Dole/Shutterstock.com

Of course, hearing and understanding are two different things. Just because dogs can hear us, doesn’t mean they understand everything we say.

There’s so much research being done on dogs and human language. This is something that greatly interests me, 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 we’ll have a lot of new findings soon as more and more dogs gain the ability to “talk” back to their humans.

One thing’s for sure, though–dogs aren’t born knowing human language any more than humans are! The more you talk with your dog, and the more you teach them, the more human words they’ll grow to understand.

Up Next…

The photo featured at the top of this post is © SpeedKingz/Shutterstock.com

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About the Author

Katelynn Sobus is a writer at A-Z Animals where her primary focus is on pets including dogs, cats, and exotics. She has been writing about pet care for over five years. Katelynn currently lives in Michigan with her seven senior rescue cats.

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Sources
  1. American Kennel Club, Available here: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/sounds-only-dogs-can-hear/
  2. Europe PMC, Available here: https://europepmc.org/article/med/6719811