As we neared the end of the holiday season in the United States, I found myself in a bustling store alongside other shoppers, inundated by the familiar sounds of the season, including the omnipresent holiday music. As the song referenced in the title of this blog played through the overhead speakers, I paused to reflect on what was happening around me and found myself drawn to the lyrics of the second verse:
Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
“Do you hear what I hear?
Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear?”
At that moment, it occurred to me how easy it is to assume that I’m having the same experience as those around me. My daily routines often reinforce this assumption. For example, while waiting in line for my morning coffee, I feel as though I’m sharing a collective experience with everyone in the café. However, a mere glance at the variety of drink options on the menu reveals just how different we all are.
Despite standing in the same store, hearing the same holiday music, with ostensibly similar tools (our ears) to process the sound, it’s unlikely that any of the other shoppers were analyzing the song’s lyrics as I was. Everything from our ability to detect sound to the focus of our attention creates a vast range of experiences and interpretations.
Mindful Reflection – Take a moment to pause and examine your surroundings. What do you notice? Focus on the soundscape. If others are nearby, ask yourself: are they hearing what you are?
Returning to the lyrics of the song, it struck me that it was the little lamb who asked the shepherd boy, “Do you hear what I hear?” Setting aside the impossibility of a lamb using language as humans do, the question prompted me to reflect on how our egocentric view of the world affects relationships, including those with our pets, like my dog, Oreo.
We know that dogs’ hearing is different from humans’, yet we often rely on verbal communication with them, perhaps suggesting that we ignore this difference in practice. It can be challenging to imagine life from a dog’s perspective. While the basic mechanism of hearing is similar (our outer ears collect sound waves, our middle ears amplify them, and our inner ears convert them into electrical signals) obvious physical differences, such as the placement and mobility of dogs’ ears, suggest that their auditory experience is unique.
For example, Oreo can move his ears in ways I cannot, despite childhood attempts to wiggle mine. This ability alone hints that his auditory perception might differ significantly from mine. Dogs are often said to have “better” hearing than humans. This is true in some respects but not all.
How is Oreo’s Hearing Different?
- Sensitivity to High Frequencies:
Dogs can hear higher-pitched sounds than humans. While humans generally hear frequencies between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz, dogs’ range extends from approximately 65 Hz to 45,000 Hz. This explains why Oreo might respond to ultrasonic sounds, like the vocalizations of mice scurrying around our campfire. These sounds, imperceptible to me, often are noticed with a, “Hey! What are you growling at?” - Hearing Sensitivity at Low Volumes:
Dogs can detect higher frequencies at much lower volumes than humans. For example, in the frequency range of 500–8,000 Hz, dogs hear sounds at 13–19 decibels lower than humans. You could imagine that as the difference between the hum of a refrigerator (about 40-50 dB) and the sound of a coffee grinder (about 70-80 dB). At frequencies higher than 8,000 Hz, this discrepancy in sensitivity gets wider. - Auditory Localization:
Despite their ear mobility, dogs are less precise than humans at pinpointing the location of sounds. Humans have a minimum audible angle of 1–2 degrees, while dogs’ is around 4 degrees. Score one point for me and all humans reading this!
Mindful Reflection – Recall a time when your experience felt vastly different from those around you. How did that make you feel? What actions did you take?
As a child, I suffered from migraines, which often included vivid auras that I struggled to describe. I distinctly remember attempting to explain “floating things” in the air to my parents, only to speak gibberish due to my limited vocabulary and the neurological effects of the migraine. Their inability to understand left me feeling isolated, frustrated and scared. Reflecting on this, I can imagine that Oreo might feel similarly when exposed to sounds that I am not responding to.
Sudden, loud noises like thunderstorms, fireworks, and gunshots often trigger fear responses in dogs, activating their fight-flight-freeze instincts. However, it’s not just these obvious sounds that can be unsettling. Research published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science highlights that high-frequency, intermittent noises, such as smoke alarm beeps, are more likely to provoke fear responses than low-frequency, continuous noises like a vacuum cleaner. Alarmingly, the researchers found that many dog owners misinterpret or overlook their pets’ fear signals, sometimes finding humor in their distress rather than addressing it with care.
Practical Tips for Creating a Pleasant Soundscape for Your Dog
- Check your hearing regularly.
Hearing loss can lead you to unintentionally add noise to your environment by raising your voice or turning up the volume on devices. - Keep your dog’s ears clean.
Regular ear cleaning prevents wax buildup and helps maintain their auditory health. If your dog swims often, ensure their ears are thoroughly dried. - Provide a quiet rest space.
Place your dog’s bed or kennel in a calm area, away from noisy appliances or devices that could emit high-frequency sounds even though you cannot hear them. - Anticipate and manage sound triggers.
Replace smoke detector batteries before they chirp, minimize loud appliance use when your dog is present and use noise-masking techniques during fireworks or thunderstorms. - Limit exposure to noisy environments.
While festivals, breweries, and doggie daycare can be fun, they often have high decibel levels. Monitor your dog’s stress signals and limit time in these settings when possible.
Common Signs of Stress in Dogs
- Vocalizations: Barking, howling, whining.
- Body movements: Pacing, hiding, trembling/shaking, spinning, digging, lunging, or freezing.
- Facial expressions: Lip licking, panting, yawning, grimacing, puckering or excess salivation.
- Tail position: Stiff wags, high or tucked posture.
By understanding and respecting our dog’s unique soundscape, we strengthen our bond and create a more supportive environment for them. For personalized guidance in identifying your dog’s stress signals or creating a more comfortable soundscape, schedule a complimentary 20-minute coaching session at sue.murphy@wavelengthwellbeing.com.
