Do You Hear What I Hear?
February 15, 2008 at 8:05 pm 2 comments
Actually, I can’t hear a thing on this video and I’m pretty sure you won’t either. According to the folks at the New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the soundtrack was recorded at an ultra high frequency that dogs can hear but humans (even teenaged ones) can’t.
It’s kind of a cute idea and proceeds from sales of the CD go to support the NZSPCA, but my dogs rated it four paws down. Even young Audie, who responds to whispered commands, had no interest in it whatsoever when I played it right in front of his face. I also asked my 18-year old neighbor to check it out. She agree that it was cute, but admitted she couldn’t hear it as well.
If you want to know more about the video and CD, check out this article from the UK’s Telegraph:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/15/wdog215.xml
As a break from the slick, high-tech production of the NZSPCA video, I decided the have the dogs review a simpler, must more low tech video designed for dogs that I also found posted on YouTube. They ADORED this one. In fact, both Zip and Audie jumped up into my lap to get a better look at the screen shortly after it started. The beasties cocked their little heads and peered intently at the speakers every time the title was repeated on this little gem:
Entry filed under: amazing, dog, dogs, rescue. Tags: music, sound.
Smartdogs' Weblog 
1.
Audie's Gramma | February 16, 2008 at 3:00 pm
In a controlled prospective study of Western Pennsylvania dogs (N=1), I got an ear-prick at the “silent” video. Pip, Mother o’ Audie, listened intently with ears in full GSD mode, but did not look at the computer or localize in any way.
WHAT WERE THEY TELLING HER?! Oh I am in shit now!
I’d have hoped that you would be a little more discriminating, given the werewolf dog threat that you yourself have identified.
Squeaky Deaky was beneath notice. She actually turned her back on it.
2.
ramin | February 17, 2008 at 11:59 am
If the sound really is in the range that humans can’t hear, it is more than likely that your speakers aren’t capable of reproducing the sound. From my fuzzy recollections on the subject on tonal ranges in speakers, even fairly expensive speakers can’t reproduce the whole scale that humans can hear.
With that part of geekery behind me, thanks for a blog I’ve enjoyed reading so far on doggy subjects.