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The ears of a dog

10 things you didn't know about your dog's ears

You probably know that dogs have an excellent hearing range. They are the first to notice a small sound or a distant doorbell. But can some dogs hear better than others? And how much better can they hear than us? Check out the 10 facts below to learn more about a dog's hearing.

  1. feiten over oren hond

    While some people have the unique ability to move their ears, this is not common. Dogs, however, have more than a dozen muscles in their ears, specifically for movement, allowing them to tilt, turn, lift, and lower their ears.

  2. Dogs move their ears to hear better but also to express emotions. The posture/position of a dog's ears says something about their feelings.

  3. Protective and working breeds like the Collie or German Shepherd were developed to detect problems quickly. It's not likely that their hearing differs much from other breeds, but these breeds may choose to listen more carefully than others. For a Collie protecting a herd from predators, its hearing is its first line of defense.

  4. A dog's ear is essential for balance. In fact, inner ear infections are a common cause of dogs losing their balance. Visit the vet if your dog struggles to maintain its balance.

  5. Dogs can hear at much higher frequencies than humans. Some dog whistles take advantage of this range by creating a sound that only dogs can hear.

  6. Human hearing is limited to a wavelength of 20 - 20,000 hertz. A dog, on the other hand, can hear tones within the range of 15 – 50,000 hertz.

  7. Research has shown that dogs hear about four times better than we do. A dog doesn't hear a sound 'louder,' but rather 'better' and 'farther.'

  8. Puppies are born deaf but can generally hear within a few weeks. Although this seems dangerous in the wild, there are also advantages. The short gestation period allows the dog to resume the search for food more quickly.

  9. Some breeds, such as Dalmatians, are prone to hearing problems. Older dogs can also develop hearing loss.

  10. Dogs can filter and tune certain sounds. For example, a dog can sleep through a loud conversation but will wake up immediately when it hears its food bowl.

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Image source: WilleeCole Photography/shutterstock.com