Dogs and Selective Hearing

[fureverywhere]

An interesting question...I just came in from a walk. Opened the front door and came in to sit at the computer. It took Callie a good fifteen minutes to come down and say hello. With all the wrinkles in his face he must have been snoozing on the bed. However if the mail carrier or somebody even just tosses an ad under the porch door, both dogs become instantly possessed. Do they know the sound of me coming in compared to a stranger at the door? Gofigya

 

[jujube]

 

[Butterfly]

I think they pretty much tune out "ordinary" sounds in their environment when they're sleeping. Bonnie can sleep through all kinds of things, but if a dog walks by on the other side of the street, she is instantly awake! Same for the very quiet sound of me opening the cabinet door where her treats (among other things) are kept. I swear she can hear that sound if she is outside on the other side of the backyard.

 

[fureverywhere]

Funny I came home from work tonight very late. It was the second coming...MOMMYS HOME, EVEN THOUGH WE WILL TRIP HER WE MUST RUN UP AND DO A HAPPY DANCE RIGHT NOW...MOMMY IS HOME! The cat's look with disgust, top up the food bowl a bit human, we've lost an ounce here...

 

[Wilberforce]

My two definitely have selective hearing and I have just tested it while I am was typing... They are both asleep on a fur rug in front of the fire .

I called out one of the regular commands " it's pee pee potty time, " I got no response, not a flicker (it is by the way raining very heavy outside)
'
I called out the next one which I do every night "Oh it is 9 o 'clock, it's treat time " With that my two Chihuahuas which previously looked unconscious flew across the room.

Yep they know and they react .

They even have the looks that go with the reactions, eg. none, as in example one, they don't even change their breathing. Then there is the ..you are kidding look when I insist they go out in the rain. The ..I didn't do it look when they are caught in the act. The I didn't mean to do it when one of mine hides till I find her. Oh and she uses the smug one then too. The ..you can't make me look... The please don't beat me look when I insist on something, I should add they have never ever been even threatened with a tap let alone a beating!! I could go one but I am sure many of you know what I mean.

Yep they know.

 

[fureverywhere]

The bull breeds are notoriously stubborn in addition to incredibly people pleasing. Sometimes they will be in yard when the neighbor goes into her yard. The first call of Get in Here! Callie might stand there looking quizzical to see if I'm serious. If I add Don't make me come out there! He drops his head and scurries up the stairs.

 

[Carla]

I think they have expert sense of smell--I'll bet if you brought in someone he didn't know, he'd have been there. I guess Callie can interpret the tone of your voice to know when he's pushed the limit! My neighbor's dog sometimes will bark at someone in the park in back of us, they will holler "shut-up" and the dog actually stops barking. When we had dogs, they never listened that well! The funny thing about that dog, he'll usually bark at me. He is jet black, a large breed but I'm not sure which. A couple times when I was working in the back, the dog came close to the property line very quietly and just stared at me. When I looked up, he was staring me right in the eye and startled me--he almost looked like a bear. Funny.

 

[fureverywhere]

I really used to be afraid of many dogs...I was a Cat Person...but I learned go quietly with small breeds and love and kiss the large breeds. Especially with a serious pup, everyone is afraid of me...but this person wants to hug and kiss? Oh I love you too!