You may be already familiar with the fact that sleeping dogs are easily aroused by even the slightest of noises. These pets also serve as reliable guardians of homes and facilities as no one could go through the canine without getting unnoticed. Learn how strong is a dog’s hearing and what it means to have this seemingly supernatural power.
Human Ears Versus Dog Ears
People often remember dogs more for their sense of smell than for their sense of hearing. However, the latter is still remarkable when compared to that of a human. Suppose that you can hear someone yelling at 20 feet, or 6 meters, from your position. A domestic canine would easily detect that noise at a distance of 80 feet. This is equivalent to 24 meters, or slightly above the height of a 7-story building.
More amazingly, canine ears can pick up and identify sounds that human ears cannot do so. You can detect sound waves up to a frequency of 20,000 hertz. This unit of measurement refers to one cycle per second. Anything beyond that range is simply inaudible for you. On the other hand, pet dogs can hear sounds at frequencies between 40,000 and 60,000 hertz. This is the reason why canines are sensitive to vibrations.
Obvious Difference in Ear Anatomy
You might be wondering what is in the dog’s ears that gives the supreme advantage. In fact, human ears share the same inner structure as dog ears. Sound waves travel through the ear canal and reach the ear drum. These waves further vibrate tiny structures known as ossicles. Vibrations translate into electrical signals that travel to the brain via a nerve.
Take a closer look at a dog’s pair of ears and you would notice something that your ears cannot do. Canines have the ability to move their ear flaps. On the other hand, you have to turn your whole head towards the source of a sound. Dogs have a set of muscles that controls each ear flap and directs it to where the noise or vibration comes from. In other words, domestic canines have not only more powerful but also more flexible ears.
The link between ear anatomy and sense of hearing means that some breeds of dogs are better at picking up sound than others. Canine ears can be classified as prick, which appears upright and pointed. Another ear category is the folded, which drops loosely and points downwards. Prick ears can detect sounds more effectively than folded ears due to their shape and muscle function. This means an Akita has sharper hearing compared to a beagle.
Issues with Hearing
Regardless of breed, dogs generally face a weaker sense of hearing as they age. While a pet canine can detect sounds at up to 60,000 hertz in its prime, it may not hear anything that exceeds 50,000 hertz in the late stages of adulthood.
Aside from aging, ear damage can also impair your dog’s hearing ability. Damage often comes from microbial infection. This may happen just randomly, or when dog owners clean the ears improperly. Physical injury and constant exposure to deafening sounds also present risks. Furthermore, a puppy might be born already deaf because of problems during development.
Dogs can hear noises at a far greater distance than humans would. In addition to that, they can pick up sounds that are too high-pitched for people. Movable ear flaps are the keys to this amazing trait. Take care of your dog’s ears by following the right hygiene techniques and keeping your pet away from blasts of noise.