Sirens and Howls

[monty55]

Good morning.

Earlier I was drinking my coffee, smoking my pipe, and pondering a question that I have ask myself a time or two over the last several years. What ever happened to dogs howling at police and emergency vehicle sirens? When I was a lad growing up in Houston, every time a siren could be heard every dog in the neighborhood started howling, including my own. Now days a siren goes off and our dogs just lay there like nothing happened. Nor do I hear any other dogs in our vicinity start to howl at the sirens.

I figured somehow sirens have changed since I was a boy, but how, why?

Your thoughts on this observation are quite welcome!

Cheers!

 

[TheIronMonkey]

This makes me think of this video which always gives me a chuckle:

I'm not sure why one doesn't witness this that much.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Desensitization


Emergency services have become more widely available and sirens are more normal of an occurrence.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Just a guess, but I’ll speculate they altered the frequency of the sirens to correct the issue with the howling.

 

[kcghost]

A good a guess as any.

 

[monty55]

Desensitization


Emergency services have become more widely available and sirens are more normal of an occurrence.

I thought about that. But I grew up in the large city of Houston. I'm now in a small college town. All in all, I'd say it's about the same.

 

[monty55]

Just a guess, but I’ll speculate they altered the frequency of the sirens to correct the issue with the howling.

I pondered that at well. It's possible.

 

[didimauw]

I've seen a couple that do still. Across from where we were sitting during the Waukesha parade massacre, there was a husky on a third floor balcony that was howling at the fire trucks in the parade.

Also my neighbor has a husky that lives outside all year round, ?, that howls at the police sirens.

 

[mikethompson]

I've never heard a dog howl at a siren. Did that usually happen?

 

[beefeater33]

Monty, they just need to be taught. You need to go out and howl as loud as you can next time you hear a siren...................... I mean REALLY Howl! Like for 10 minutes or so. I'll bet all the dogs in the area will join you.
You'll probably be able to hear them still howling from the local mental institution too!!...........

 

[scloyd]

Our beagle, Boomer (RIP), howled at sirens and trains blasting their horns at the RR crossing down the street. If he was out in the backyard and train was coming...I would bring him inside so not to disturb the neighbors.

 

[brian64]

What ever happened to dogs howling at police and emergency vehicle sirens?

It's probably all the psychotropic drugs in the water supply.

 

[anotherbob]

just based on observation it might be a couple things. One the sirens do sound different then they used to. Not quite as annoying. I think people also treat their pets in general in a more pampered way (which is good), and are more aware of how to keep them comfortable.
Though one of the ones I love is the dog that flips out every time you walk by and then one day just gets used to you and now runs over to the fence to try and play.

 

[Franco Pipenbeans]

The pitch of sirens have changed?

 

[AJL67]

The see it on television so much that it's just the norm, as was said they are desensitized to it. Yup it's televisions "fault" lol

 

[mso489]

It would be really pleasing to think some thoughtful dog-loving siren maker adjusted the frequency for the comfort of our canine friends. I've noticed with various cats over the years that the kittens react to sirens and fireworks but become more blasé as they age. Loud unfamiliar noises will usually rouse animals, but once they are accustomed, like people, they become indifferent.

My boyhood dog George would howl when I played the harmonica and violin. I sometimes howled when I played the violin myself.

 

[lraisch]

My daughter is training a livestock guardian dog at her farm and just yesterday posted a video of the dog howling at some sirens.

 

[monty55]

I've never heard a dog howl at a siren. Did that usually happen?

Absolutely! Every time back in the 60's and 70's, maybe into the 80's.

 

[monty55]

It's possible I'm around completely different breeds of dogs now than 50 yrs ago.
To be honest, I do miss it. I always got a laugh at the dogs howling at sirens when I was young.

 

[monty55]

Monty, they just need to be taught. You need to go out and howl as loud as you can next time you hear a siren...................... I mean REALLY Howl! Like for 10 minutes or so. I'll bet all the dogs in the area will join you.
You'll probably be able to hear them still howling from the local mental institution too!!...........

Your probably right! But I don't have the energy for that lol.