Guitars give off a pleasant noise that most humans love. Some dogs even seem to like guitar sounds or appear to be relaxed by them since it is a distraction from other noises.
Why Are Dogs Scared Of guitars?
Some dogs are petrified of guitars, however. They will bark, shake, growl and seem hostile towards the guitar. There are many theories as to why this happens. Dogs are confused by the object and may think it is a threat to them or their owners. The sound the guitar gives off doesn’t necessarily hurt a dog’s ears, but to some, it can be a bad sound, one they don’t like or understand. It is important to help your dog feel comfortable around guitars if they seem disturbed by them. Make sure they know the guitar is safe and that it is not a threat to them.
Why Are Some Dogs Terrified Of Guitar Noise & Freak Out, While Others Love It?
Some dogs love them, some dogs hate them, guitars! It can be a funny thing to us when a dog is scared of a guitar. But think of it from a dog’s point of view. What is this strange looking wooden object with all sorts of strings and noises?
A simple fear of the unknown could cause a dog to freak out at a guitar. Or perhaps, it’s the shrill noises coming from the strange object. It could be hurting their ears or making them uncomfortable. Other dogs may love guitar! Some dogs are filled with anxiety listening to the world around them, so playing music to distract them from the outside can be very soothing.
What Exactly About Guitars Is My Dog Scared Of (The Look? Noise? Sounds? Vibrations?)
There are a few reasons as to why exactly dogs are scared of guitars.
- Appearance
- This strangely shaped object that makes noise can appear very frightening and weird to a dog.
- Sound
- Even though guitars don’t necessarily hurt a dogs ears, the alarming noise can frighten a dog
- Vibrations
- The low vibrations a guitar gives off can also bother a dog
How Well Can Dogs Hear a Guitar Decibel Range?
Dogs’ decibel levels can range from 85-122 dB. With a guitar dB range being between 60-80 this means a dog can hear the high end of a guitar’s decibel range.
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At Full Volume, An Acoustic Guitar Can Range From ? Db. How many Hz?
The average range of an acoustic guitar at full volume is about 60-80 dB. Standard guitar tuning has 440 Hz.
Are There Specific Frequencies Or Notes Of A Guitar That Upset Dogs [High Pitches?,The E String?]
Dogs typically hear Hz frequency ranges between 67 and 45,000. Guitars generally have a standard Hz tuning of 440, and the E string at 329. A guitar can not really make a sound high enough to be very upsetting for dogs.
Does Guitar Noise Hurt A Dog’s Ears?
Guitars do not have a high enough pitch to hurt a dog’s ears. If they are howling or whining when the guitar is being played, it is not because they are in pain, but they are trying to talk with the sound.
That being said, like humans, if a dog is exposed to very very loud music many times, they can experience hearing loss. If it’s loud for you, it’s loud for them.
Why Do Some Dogs Whine, Howl, Bark, And Pee] When They Hear guitars?
You’ll notice some dogs howling or whining along to the music, maybe even peeing themselves. Dogs often howl when they hear high pitched noises like sirens, babies crying, and musical instruments. We’ve found that this is instinctually coming from their wolf ancestors. Dogs are designed to howl in response to certain noises like wolves would howl back at other howls if they were lost. It is a social behavior.
Sometimes, dogs will even pee when they hear a guitar. This could be because they are excited by the noise, or even frightened.
Is Howling At Guitars Singing Or Are They Scared?
Dogs are neither scared nor singing along to the fruit when they howl with the music. They are simply responding to what they hear.
Are Dogs Scared Of All Musical Instruments [Violins, Pianos, Trumpets & Others]?
Guitars and pianos are about on the same level for a dog and it’s hearing. While violins and trumpets can be a higher pitch and playing them loudly or playing certain strings can be piercing to a dogs hearing. Instruments like harmonicas have the perfect sound of howling for a dog, so while it doesn’t hurt their ears, they will howl a lot more when a harmonica is around.
I Am A Professional Guitarist. How Can I Train (Counter condition / Desensitize) My Dog Not Be Scared Of Guitars So I Can Practice At Home?
It’s not necessary to stop playing guitar simply because your dog doesn’t like it. There are steps you can take to train and desensitize your dog so they won’t mind you playing.
- First, you can try praising your dog with treats while you play. Repeat “good dog” and give them pets and treats while playing so they know they are safe.
- Move the guitar to a different room. Play somewhere else, away from your dog and from where it sleeps.
- If your dog barks at your guitar, have your dog sit in front of the instrument. When your dog barks try the “leave it” command. When the barking stops, reward them with a treat. Continue until there is no more barking.
What Not To Do With A Dog Who Is Afraid Of guitars?
Approach the situation carefully. You can further damage your dogs fear of the guitar by doing sloppy movements. Playing too loudly with them around, moving the guitar suddenly or in their direction, having the guitar next to their bed or where they sleep, can all further damage the relationship between guitar and dog.
Should You Comfort A Dog Scared Of guitars?
It is a good idea to comfort a dog who is afraid of guitars. It wouldn’t be very proper or nice to let them continue being afraid. Make sure they are comfortable, and praise them while playing.
My Puppy Hates It When I Practice The guitar?
Puppies, like babies, are still learning and discovering the world. They also require a lot of attention. New things are often frightening to puppies, especially things that make noise. It could appear your puppy hates the guitar because they are still learning, and they want the attention you’re giving your guitar.
Why Is My Old Dog Suddenly Afraid Of guitars?
Just like humans, old dogs begin to lose their senses. Their hearing, eyesight and even smell can begin to diminish. It can be hard for a dog to adjust to this new lifestyle. If your old dog is suddenly afraid of the guitar, it’s possibly because they are losing their hearing or eyesight. The noises coming from the instrument may no longer sound familiar and it may look completely different than it did once before.
My Dog Is Getting An Increasingly Severe Fear Of Guitars [Trembling & Pulled So Hard]?
It’s better to nip your dogs fear sooner rather than later. If you notice the fear starting, take action to prevent any further damage. However, if it’s becoming more and more severe, you can train them and show them guitars are okay with positive reinforcement.
Do Some Dogs Enjoy Guitar Sounds?
Some dogs may actually seem to enjoy guitar sounds! Just like in humans, to dogs, the guitar can be a relaxing and soothing sound for dogs. Sometimes, dogs are anxious of the outside sounds and having something to distract them is very helpful.
How Can I Get A Dog To Enjoy Guitar Sounds?
No one is completely sure if you can force a dog to enjoy guitar sounds. If they don’t like it, there are only things you can do to make them comfortable and tolerable of it. Positive reinforcement with treats and kind praise, or perhaps, separation from the dog and the instrument, may be your best answers.
Whenever I Start Practicing My Guitar, My Dog Starts To Shiver?
If you notice your dog starting to shiver when you play guitar, it’s a good indicator that they are fearful of the object. The best thing to do is to stop playing, and tell them it’s okay. Make them comfortable and reward them while you continue to play. Show them that the guitar isn’t something to be afraid of.
Are guitars Dangerous To Dogs?
There isn’t anything about guitars that are specifically dangerous to dogs. The only thing to keep under concern is how your dog may react around a guitar. If your dog is fearful of guitars and barks or growls at them, they may attack the guitar.
Can & Do Dogs Destroy guitars?
If you find that your dog really hates your guitar, it is best to keep it out of reach because they will destroy it or even pee on it. Since a guitar is such an unknown object to a dog, and they don’t understand the idea of one, they may mistake it for a toy or possibly a threat.
Do dogs like music?
While there is no real data proving if dogs like music, we do know that music can help them if they are feeling stressed or anxious. For some dogs, music can be a soothing distraction from the world around them. For other dogs, they could care less or even hate it. It really depends on the dog.
Do guitars hurt dog’s ears?
While some dogs appear frightful of guitars, the frequency of a guitars’ sound is not high enough to hurt a dogs’ ears. Electric guitars still don’t have a frequency high enough to hurt dogs ears. Although, if an electric guitar is played loud enough (through a loudspeaker) it can cause some long term damage to a dogs ear drums. It is the same in humans.
My rescue dog is scared of my guitar!
Getting a rescue dog is a wonderful thing and everyone should always consider adopting a dog before buying from a breeder! However, it is important to keep in mind that rescue dogs can come with a lot of a trauma background and they may be much more skittish and afraid of many things. If your rescue dog appears to be scared of guitars, they may have had a terrible experience with guitars in the past, and they associate guitars with a bad memory or experience.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3872313/
