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May 21, 2020

The real reason dogs howl at sirens

The real reason dogs howl at sirens
Dr. Chris Brown
by CHRIS BROWN

Most of us didn’t know we had a mini-musician in the family until the ambulance siren awoke something deep inside them. But while some people fear the sound is hurting their sensitive ears, there is a good chance they might actually enjoy it…

You see, the howl has been used by wolves for thousands of years as a form of social media where members of the pack are encouraged to ‘check-in’ and reveal their location. And despite your tame-wolf swapping the wilderness for the warmth of our homes, the purpose is still the same. When they hear the siren, that wailing pitch triggers their instincts into action and they howl back, telling the siren who they are and that they already own this territory. They’ll also match the siren almost pitch-perfectly. Well, almost. Adding extra incentive to their vocals is the fact the siren almost always disappears; making them believe their territorial claim works.
So while they won’t be signing any recording contracts, you can’t help but respect their commitment to hitting the high notes…and claiming your home as their own.

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