Noise hypersensitivity in dogs
Authored by Daniel Fink, MD, Chair, The Quiet Coalition
An article in Psychology Today discusses noise hypersensitivity in dogs, based on a pre-publication article in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior. The research method is based on a questionnaire focused on noises bothering pets and general information about the pet. The study collected data from around the globe through an online survey disseminated through social media and announcements in veterinary clinics.
Over 80% of the respondents were female, which makes one a little concerned about the generalizability of the results. I don’t think there is a significant gender disparity between male and female dog owners, although the high number of female respondents may just reflect the disparity in home responsibilities between women and men. An alternate hypothesis, discussed in the research paper, is that gender influences the relationship people have with their dog. Females may be more attached to their pets compared to male dog owners. Attachment could result in greater time spent with pets, increasing the likelihood of dog reactions to noise being noticed and reported.
Photo credit: Pixabay
The study grouped noise bothering dogs into three main categories: aversive sounds, environmental sounds and human sounds. Aversive sounds included fireworks and thunderstorms, environmental sounds included vacuum cleaners and sirens and human noises included clapping, yelling and laughter. Psychology Today writer Jessica Pierce shared that her dog doesn’t like it when people sneeze, cowering and pulling back her ears.
Risk factors for noise sensitivity in dogs included age, anxiety status, breed and size. Smaller dogs were reported to be more likely to be sensitive to noise. The findings are interesting but not generally surprising, since dogs have much better hearing than humans.
I often conclude my blog posts with the statement that, “A quieter world will be a better and healthier world for all.” Based on this new research, I think that includes dogs, too.
