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Two years ago I blogged about how noise pollution takes a toll on our health: “Noise is linked with heart attack and stroke because it creates chronic stress that keeps our bodies in a state of constant alert.” But humans aren’t the only ones who are hurt by noise. According to a study reported in Healthy Pet, the sensitive ears of our four-legged friends are even more prone to being stressed out by noise than we are.
How many people do you know that leave the television blaring all day — and how many of them have pets?
90% of dog owners discuss behavioral problems with their vets, and in many cases, both veterinarians and psychologists say, your pet’s irritability and nervousness can be at least partially attributed to in-home noise pollution.
Adjusting the volume and types of sound that permeate your home can be beneficial for you and your pet. If animal caregivers can create a two-hour “noise break” for themselves and their animals on a Sunday morning and pop in a comforting CD, they may notice how incrementally distressed they become afterward, as noise reintrudes on their lives. “When we consider the psychological sress that noise induces,” says veterinarian Narda Robinson, “it pays to give noise control and music therapy serious consideration. I think we’d all be happier if we quieted down.”
To find out whether or not your home is too noisy for your dog, Healthy Pet recommends that you find a free half-hour and take a “sonic inventory” —
Write down all the sounds you can identify, including fridge noise, the TV, hair dryer, vacuum, computer, stereos, traffic and sounds from the street.
Notice your dog’s physical reaction to these sounds. Does he move closer to or further away from the noise source? Does he bark when you turn on the stereo or run the vacuum?
Rate the sounds on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the most ignored by your dog and 10 drawing your dog’s most intense response.
Identify which sounds in your home you can turn down or mask when your dog is present.
Then leave us a comment and let us know what you found — what’s driving your dog nuts?
(Awesome crazy dog picture by unidentified Ning admin. Nice shot!)
Comments (11)
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How about dog noise that can drive we humans nuts? I have dogs to both sides of my backyard, which means I can’t even go outside without having them bark incessantly at me. I think I’ve enjoyed being in my backyard about 4 times since I moved in over 2 years ago.
posted by nutmeag on 10-9-2009 at 8:15 am
We live about half a mile from the rail road tracks. Every time the train goes by our dog howles like crazy. We finally decided that the train noise hurts her ears. We now try and have her inside when the train comes. She still becomes aggitated, but doesn’t howl.
posted by Rissa on 10-9-2009 at 9:06 am
Our house is pretty quiet most of the time. On those rare occasions, though, when we have a houseful (especially kids), if the noise becomes too much for our dog, she just goes upstairs and gets on my bed. She knows her limits, I guess, and just removes herself from the situation.
posted by Hyacinth on 10-9-2009 at 9:14 am
We use pneumatic tools for various chores like working on the cars, reroofing the house, things like that. Our dog can’t stand the noise the compressor makes or when we have to drain the pressure when we’re done. He goes nutty and then starts chewing up his toys to release the stress. We try to send him off on a car ride with someone whenever we use the compressor now.
posted by Cathy D on 10-9-2009 at 9:41 am
My dog bays every time a fire truck goes by. Not such a great thing when I live so close to a firehall. Strangely, she enjoys being outside when the lawn is being mowed. She likes to herd the person mowing.
posted by CH on 10-9-2009 at 9:47 am
I’ve noticed that during the day when the boys are at school and my husband is at work, my dogs are very calm and quiet. But the kids come home, the husband comes home, the TV goes on, rush hour traffic starts passing – and the dogs start barking. And running. And just generally acting crazy.
So.. yes. I’d say the noise over-stimulates and annoys them as much as it does me.
posted by Kelly on 10-9-2009 at 10:14 am
I too live by train tracks (so close that my walls shake asthe train passes). my little dog, Daphne, gets so scared when the train passes! she will either jump into my lap, or lay ON my feet, or hide under the bed. I am definatly moving in a few mts when my lease is up, i think it is too much for BOTH of us to handle.
posted by megan on 10-9-2009 at 10:46 am
We have an old dog that is completely deaf. Who cares if there’s a thunderstorm or if it’s the Fourth of July and fireworks are going off! He used to hide in the shower downstairs, but now, meh, no big deal.
posted by Lyn on 10-9-2009 at 12:12 pm
My dog will go hide in my bedroom if I have the tv on to loud (like during football games). I don’t think it bugs him to much though, as he doesn’t become agitated, he just leaves the room.
posted by TJ on 10-9-2009 at 4:23 pm
The cat. And the feeling is mutual. In return, their constant hissing, whining, barking, and meowing drive us nuts. I’m going to try the “noise break” thing – we have the tv on all the time when we’re at home, and since Holly is used to quiet while we’re at work, all the noise may be causing her some anxiety. Interesting…thanks for the post!
posted by Lynley on 10-10-2009 at 12:29 am
My corgi hates the blender, food processor, stand mixer, vacuum,hairdryer, espresso machine, and oddly enough the sound of me buttering toast. I don’t get that one.
posted by stephanie on 10-10-2009 at 2:38 am