Dogs could become stressed by noises produced inside the house in daily tasks, such as when we put on the microwave, the washing machine or we vacuum. This is the conclusion reached by a group of researchers from the University of California at Davis (USA) after analyzing high-frequency intermittent noises inside homes with pets.
Many think that it is only the big noises that can cause anxiety in dogs, such as those generated by storms or fireworks, however, they have shown that ordinary noises can also act as triggers of these stress spikes in dogs. animals.
The research, which has been published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science, has found that it is the intermittent high-frequency noises that are most likely to cause anxiety in the dog, such as the signal of a smoke detector that is running out of power. battery, and not continuous low-frequency noise.
Dogs often tremble, cower, recoil, put their ears back or pant when they are afraid of a noise
Many times we do not pay enough attention to the body language of our pets, which could reveal to us that something is wrong. For example, some of the signs of anxiety in the dog that the study points out are trembling, shrinking or shrinking back, and among the symptoms of stress are turning the head, panting, licking the lips, putting the ears back, place the head below the shoulders or show a hardened body musculature.
Owners underestimate their dogs’ fears
The study was carried out thanks to a survey of 386 dog owners who analyzed their pets’ responses to household sounds and 62 videos about dog behaviors and human reactions. The results showed that most of the owners underestimated the fear of their dogs and many of them reacted with an attitude of amusement to these events.
“There is a mismatch between owners’ perceptions of fear and the amount of fearful behavior that actually exists. Some react more amused than concerned. We hope this study will make people think about the sources of sound that might be causing their dog’s stress, so they can take steps to minimize their dog’s exposure,” said Emma Grigg, lead author of the research.
Another of the research findings is that very loud or high-frequency noises could also be painful for dogs, since they have a higher range of hearing. The researchers urge people with dogs to be more aware of their body language and to avoid being exposed to noise at home, such as taking them to another room when the microwave is put on or when they are taken for a walk. while someone else vacuums.
.
