Comments on: Why do dogs howl at fire truck and police sirens?

By: Lola

Lola — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 07:51:53 +0000

a lot of people think it hurts their ears but this is uncorrect the pitch of the sirens are the same as a howling wolf or dog and when dogs hear that sound they are answering that howl from the sirens maybe to tell them “hey this is my territory” or to say”yes im here where are you”

By: flecksable_flyer

flecksable_flyer — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 07:23:29 +0000

Sometimes, they can even tell the difference between ambulance and police sirens! When I lived in Berkeley, CA back in the mid 70′s, the neighborhood dogs would start howling, but only to the ambulance sirens. Never to the police or fire truck sirens. The howling would follow the path of the ambulance and then stop when the siren stopped. It was really eerie, like they all knew the song and had taught it from one generation to the next. I only lived there a few months in the winter, and I have never heard it repeated anywhere else. Dogs definitely have their own language.

By: Esmerelda

Esmerelda — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 07:04:22 +0000

High pitched loud noises signal danger in the animal kingdom. They are probably just adding their voice to the warning.

By: janet_james1948

janet_james1948 — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 06:13:19 +0000

Because it is shrill and hurts their ears

By: micki

micki — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 05:52:32 +0000

Canine hearing is far more advanced than humans…the sirens hurt some dogs ears while exciting/tickling others…the howl is their response to that, and you can usually tell by the tone of it whether they enjoy it or if it hurts them. If they like it, join in…they’ll get a real kick out of that!!!