In a viral video on TikTok, a Shiba Inu perks up hearing his owner’s voice on the radio for the first time. Despite the owner not being there, it begs the question if dogs can recognize voices—or actually understand that it’s you when you ask to talk to your dog on the phone.
Have you ever been away from your furry best friend and wondered if they could actually hear and recognize your voice during a phone call? I’ve definitely been there – calling home while on vacation just to “talk” to my dog! It’s a common question many pet parents have, and today I’m going to dive into the fascinating science behind whether dogs can truly hear us through phones.
The Amazing Hearing Abilities of Dogs
Dogs have truly remarkable hearing capabilities that far exceed our human limitations. Here’s what makes their hearing so special:
- Dogs can hear frequencies between 40-60,000 Hz, while humans only hear between 20-20,000 Hz
- Our canine companions can hear sounds up to 4 times farther away than we can
- Dogs have 18 ear muscles that allow precise movement to locate sound sources
- What we can hear at 20 feet away, they can hear at 80 feet away
- Dogs’ ears can move independently to pinpoint exactly where sounds are coming from
This superior hearing developed from their wolf ancestors who relied on exceptional senses for hunting and survival Even though domesticated dogs may have lost some hearing range compared to wolves, hearing remains one of their sharpest senses (second only to their incredible sense of smell)
Can Dogs Actually Hear Phone Calls?
Yes, dogs can hear your voice through the phone! The science backs this up. Cell phones operate in a frequency range between 6,000-20,000 Hz, which falls perfectly within a dog’s hearing range. This means the sound waves produced by your phone’s speaker are well within what your dog can physically detect.
But here’s where things get interesting…
Signs Your Dog Recognizes Your Voice on the Phone
When your dog hears your voice over the phone they might show these telltale behaviors
- Sudden alertness – They perk up, ears forward, trying to locate where your voice is coming from
- Whining or barking – They’re excited but confused since they can’t see or smell you
- Head tilting – A classic sign they’re processing something interesting
- Jumping or running around – Pure excitement at hearing you
- Sniffing the phone – Trying to find your scent to match with your voice
- Pacing – Shows confusion about hearing you without seeing or smelling you
- Coming over to the phone – Direct interest in the source of your voice
- Pawing at the phone – Attempting to interact with the device
But I’ve noticed something interesting – responses vary drastically between dogs. One dog might go absolutely crazy with excitement hearing their owner’s voice, while another might seem completely disinterested in the phone. Why such different reactions?
The Confusion Factor: Why Some Dogs Don’t Respond
Dogs integrate all their senses to understand their world. When they hear your voice on the phone, something doesn’t compute – they can hear you but can’t see or smell you. This sensory disconnect can be confusing!
Several factors affect whether your dog will recognize your voice:
- Age – Puppies don’t develop hearing until about 4 weeks old, and senior dogs lose hearing range
- Breed differences – Dogs with upright ears typically hear better than those with floppy ears
- Phone speaker quality – Lower quality speakers might distort your voice
- Background noise – Can make it harder for dogs to isolate your voice
- How you speak – Using familiar phrases and excited tones improves recognition
Real-Life Experiences Vary Widely
The response to phone calls seems to vary dramatically between dogs. As one owner shared, her sister’s dog jumps around excitedly whenever they put her sister on speakerphone. Meanwhile, another owner reported never having any luck getting his dog to respond to his voice over the phone.
I think it really depends on the individual dog’s personality, experiences, and how well they can process this unusual way of hearing their human’s voice without the other sensory inputs they’re used to.
Video Calls vs. Phone Calls
With modern technology, many pet owners now use video calling apps like FaceTime or Skype to connect with their pets. This adds a visual component that might help dogs better understand what’s happening.
There are countless videos online showing dogs appearing to recognize their owners on video calls. The addition of visual cues seems to help dogs make the connection, though they still might be confused by not being able to smell you or physically interact.
Can You Train Your Dog to Recognize Phone Calls?
While you can’t change your dog’s physical hearing capabilities, you can help them learn to associate phone calls with positive experiences. Here are some tips:
- Use consistent phrases and excited tones when calling
- Have someone at home reward your dog when they show interest in your voice on the phone
- Practice regularly so your dog learns this unusual form of communication
- Use speakerphone for better sound quality
- Try video calls to add visual cues
Remember that every dog is different – some may never show much interest in phone calls no matter how much you try, while others might naturally get excited.
The Science of Dogs and Phone Recognition
The ability of dogs to recognize voices over the phone involves fascinating brain processes. When a dog hears a familiar voice, even through a device, their brain activates in similar ways to when they hear that voice in person.
However, phone communication presents unique challenges:
- Phone speakers often have limited frequency ranges
- Digital compression can alter subtle voice characteristics
- Dogs rely heavily on integrating multiple senses (smell, sight, and sound)
- The disconnect between hearing your voice but not sensing you otherwise can be confusing
This is why your dog might cock their head to the side when hearing you on the phone – they’re trying to process this unusual sensory experience!
Fun Facts About Dogs’ Hearing
Did you know?
- Dogs can hear the ultrasonic squeaks of rodents that are completely silent to human ears
- A dog’s hearing begins to develop around 2 weeks of age but isn’t fully functional until about 4 weeks
- Just like humans, dogs gradually lose their ability to hear higher frequencies as they age
- Dogs with pointy, erect ears typically have better directional hearing than those with floppy ears
- Some dogs can be trained to respond to sounds so quiet humans can’t detect them at all
What Dog Owners Say
I’ve talked with many fellow dog owners about this topic, and the experiences are truly across the board:
“My Lab goes absolutely crazy when she hears my husband on the phone – she runs in circles and barks until we hang up!”
“I’ve tried calling my dog multiple times while traveling, but he just ignores the phone completely. I don’t think he recognizes my voice through it.”
“Our family dog knows the sound of the ringtone I use when I call home. She starts getting excited before they even answer!”
“My dog gets confused and starts looking behind the phone, trying to figure out where I’m hiding.”
The Bottom Line
So, can dogs hear your voice over the phone? Absolutely yes – the science clearly shows that dogs have the physical capability to hear the frequencies produced by phone speakers.
Do they recognize it’s you? Probably, especially if they’re familiar with your voice patterns and you use distinctive phrases or tones they know well.
Will they respond? That’s where things get unpredictable! Some dogs show clear recognition and excitement, while others seem confused or disinterested. This likely depends on your individual dog’s personality, age, hearing abilities, and how well they can process this unusual sensory experience.
If you want to try calling your dog, use a speakerphone, speak in excited tones, use familiar phrases like “walkies” or “treat time,” and have someone at home observe their reaction. You might be surprised by how they respond!
My Experience
I’ve tried calling my own dog, Baxter, during trips away. Sometimes he perks up immediately at the sound of my voice, tail wagging and searching for me. Other times, he gives the phone a confused look and walks away. I’ve found he responds best when I use the specific high-pitched voice I reserve for our play sessions – then his ears perk right up!
Have you tried calling your dog over the phone? What was their reaction? Every dog is unique, and their responses to phone calls are just another fascinating aspect of these amazing animals we share our lives with.
Remember, even if your dog doesn’t seem to recognize your voice over the phone, rest assured they’ll be overjoyed when you return home in person – with all their senses able to confirm it’s really you!
Owners Already Talk To Their Dogs
If you think your dog knows the sound of your voice you aren’t alone. Back when people had landlines and answering machines some people would call home to talk to their dogs because the audio would play in real-time in the house. Now, many dog cameras have two-way speakers that allow you to not only see your dog but also talk to them. By doing so, you can help redirect a dog who might be barking at a noise outside the window or calm a dog who is stressed or anxious about being left alone.
Many dog owners believe the sound of their voice can be comforting to their dog and will even call home and ask a family member or pet sitter to put the dog on the phone or video call. Although some dogs seem confused by where their owner’s voice is coming from, most dogs do seem to recognize the voice they are hearing belongs to their owner.
Scientists have now found that our dogs really do understand our spoken language and can even recognize people’s voices. In a study from the University of Sussex in England, scientists looked at whether dogs were able to recognize a word when it was said by different people who they didn’t know. The study chose random words that were not associated with training cues or commands to ensure dogs didn’t have preexisting understanding. The researchers found that the dogs that were able to recognize a word said by different people, could also recognize different people based on voice alone. Previously, speech perception, or the ability to recognize a word spoken by different people, was thought to be something unique to humans.
Another recent study from researchers at the Department of Ethology at Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary discovered that dogs could recognize their owners just by the sound of their voices. The study was looking at the unique acoustic parameters that help people to recognize each other, and if dogs do the same. Researchers looked at 28 different dogs and owners. As part of the study, the dog’s owner and a stranger were hidden behind walls. Then, the dog owner’s voice was played from the owner’s hidden location and the stranger’s voice was played from their location. They found that the dogs were able to find their owners based only on voice most of the time.
To see if dogs also relied on their sense of smell to locate their owners, the researchers then played the owner’s voice from where the stranger was hidden. In these cases, the dogs followed the audio of their owner’s voice when it was played from the stranger’s location even though the owner’s scent wasn’t there, proving the importance of voice recognition.
Try a Voice Experiment At Home
Curious about how your dog will react to the sound of your voice? You can try some experiments at home with your own dog to see if they can recognize your voice. Think of it as a fun game to play with your dog.
To start, you can record your voice on your phone and play it back to see how your dog responds. Then, the test can begin. Start by hiding in your home and talking loudly enough for your dog to hear you. If your dog successfully finds where you’ve hidden, you can make things a little more challenging. Using the recording of your voice, have a friend play the recording from a hidden location in your home and see where your dog goes.
Just note that if your dog seems upset, stressed, or distressed, make sure to come out of hiding right away. But otherwise, testing your dog’s ability to recognize your voice can be one social media trend that’s a fun challenge for dogs and people.
Owner Records Dog’s Reaction to Its Favorite Words – 1343940
FAQ
Can dogs recognize voices over the phone?
There’s good evidence that dogs can recognize voices over the phone. “Their strong sense of hearing allows them to pick up on familiar tones and vocal patterns, even when transmitted through a phone,” says Dr. Fossum.
Why does My Dog Hear my Voice over the phone?
This ensured that they stayed away from predators. As mentioned above, puppies develop this sense early on in life. The frequency of a cell phone falls within a dog’s hearing range at 6,000 to 20,000 Hz. Because a dog links all of its senses together to draw conclusions, hearing your voice over the phone can be very confusing.
Do dogs know if you call a dog on the phone?
It all depends on the technology and the specific dog. Interestingly, studies show that dogs recognize individual voices and are far more responsive to tone of voice than specific words. So if you call your dog on the phone, remember to use a happy, positive tone. Can Dogs Recognize Us in Photos?
How far can a dog hear from a phone?
Our canine pals can also hear up to about 4 times the distance that we can as people. What we can hear at 20 feet away, they can hear at 80 feet away. If a dog’s hearing hasn’t started fading with old age, it is very possible that your doggo will recognize your voice on the other end of a phone.
Can dogs recognize different people based on voice alone?
The researchers found that the dogs that were able to recognize a word said by different people, could also recognize different people based on voice alone. Previously, speech perception, or the ability to recognize a word spoken by different people, was thought to be something unique to humans.
How do you know if a dog recognizes your phone?
Your dog will give you some signs if they recognize your voice over the phone, including alertness, barking, whining, jumping up, pacing, and sniffing. Other signs to watch for are coming over to the phone, staring at the phone, and pawing. Dogs’ hearing is one of their best senses, aside from smell.
What do dogs think when they hear your voice on the phone?
Dogs can hear your voice over the phone, they can also hear it from about 4-5x the distance than you can. Its probably confused as when it hears your voice it expects you to be there and not coming from a little box. As well as that, your smell is nowhere to be ‘smelled’.
Can dogs recognize voice through a phone?
Do dogs forgive you for yelling at them?
What does my dog think when I’m on my phone?
Dogs may act out when you are on the phone at home because you are talking and no one else is around. Like Ziggy, they don’t understand technology and so they may assume you are talking to them. The fact that they do not understand what you are saying or what you may want them to do makes for a stressful situation.