Dogs have exceptional hearing abilities, which they demonstrate in various ways. They can seemingly appear out of nowhere when you open a bag of chips or pick up their food bowl, or suddenly be by the front door when you grab their leash for a walk. These actions may make it seem like your dog has psychic powers and knows what you’re doing, especially if it involves something they like, such as scratches, walks, or food. However, this is simply your dog displaying their excellent sense of hearing. In fact, dogs can hear our heartbeats, sometimes even from across a room. Their hearing is so much better than ours that they can detect sounds that are beyond our range, including human heartbeats.
Signs Your Dog Can Hear Your Heartbeat
There are specific signs that indicate your dog is listening to your heartbeat, as well as general behaviors that suggest they are listening to something you can’t hear. Dogs that are attentively listening to something will usually remain still to minimize any additional noise their own bodies may produce. They will also close their mouths to quiet their breathing. Their eyes will be open and alert, and they may even stare at something that seems odd to you, like a wall or a corner of the room. This behavior indicates that they are listening to something inaudible to you.
You can also tell if your dog is listening by observing their ears. They may face forward or in the direction of the sound, twitch or swivel their ears, or tilt their heads to better determine the source and nature of the sound.
Regarding heartbeats, there are specific actions your dog may exhibit that indicate they are specifically listening to your heartbeat. Some dogs may rest their heads against their pregnant owner’s belly, suggesting that they can not only hear the owner’s heartbeat but also the baby’s. Other dogs may rest their heads on their owner’s chest when they are afraid or sad, as the sound of a heartbeat can be comforting and soothing.
Body Language
Signs that your dog is listening to your heartbeat include staring, being alert, head tilting, guarding, listening attentively, freezing their body, dilated pupils, and ears standing up.
Other Signs
Additional clues that your dog is paying attention to your heartbeat are cuddling up to your chest or belly if you’re expecting, having forward-facing ears and alert eyes, a closed mouth with a relaxed stance, and a calm demeanor.
The History Behind Dogs and Heartbeats
Dogs evolved from wolves thousands of years ago, and they still retain many behavior traits and abilities from their ancestors. Wolves, who had to hunt for their food, developed acute hearing to detect the sounds of quiet prey trying to evade them, including heartbeats. While domesticated dogs no longer need to hunt, their hearing abilities remain strong, albeit not as heightened as wolves’.
The Science Behind a Dog’s Hearing
While there are no specific studies proving that dogs can hear and listen to our heartbeats, there is evidence to suggest that it is possible. Dogs have hearing capabilities that are twice as good as ours, and their frequency range is higher, allowing them to hear sounds that are beyond our auditory range. Their larger and more mobile ears also enable them to pinpoint the source of a sound more accurately than humans.
Training Your Dog to Hear Your Heartbeat
There is no specific training required for dogs to hear your heartbeat since their hearing is naturally excellent. However, you can reinforce positive associations with your heartbeat by rewarding your dog with treats or scratches whenever they lay their head on your chest. Additionally, ensuring that you provide comfort and spend quality time with your dog will make them more likely to seek solace in your presence, including listening to your heartbeat. Show them love, and they will reciprocate in their own unique way.
“Dogs’ hearing is so much better than ours that they can hear our heartbeats from across a room.”
Tips & Things to Know
1️⃣ Dogs have an incredibly advanced sense of hearing, which allows them to pick up on sounds that humans cannot hear, including heartbeats. So, if you notice your dog exhibiting strange behaviors like staring at walls or tilting their head, they may be listening to something that you can’t hear.
2️⃣ Signs that your dog is listening to your heartbeat include staring, alertness, head tilting, guarding, and freezing. Their ears may also be up and their pupils dilated. If you’re expecting a baby, your dog may cuddle up to your chest or belly as they can hear both your heartbeat and the baby’s.
3️⃣ It’s believed that dogs developed their acute hearing abilities from their wolf ancestors, who had to rely on their hearing to hunt for food. While dogs no longer need to hunt, they still retain their sharp sense of hearing. Dogs can hear a wider range of frequencies and have larger, more prominent ears than humans, allowing them to pinpoint sounds and hear things that we can’t.
Frequently Asked Questions, Answered ✅
1. How do dogs exhibit their superior hearing abilities?
– Dogs exhibit their superior hearing abilities by teleporting across the house when they hear the sound of a bag of chips or their food bowl being opened, and by appearing by the front door when their leash is picked up for a walk.
2. Can dogs hear human heartbeats?
– Yes, dogs can hear human heartbeats, sometimes even from across a room.
3. What are some signs that indicate a dog is listening to something?
– Dogs that are listening intently may remain still, close their mouths to quiet their breathing, have open and alert eyes, stare at something that doesn’t make sense to us, and have their ears facing forward or twitching/swiveling.
4. Why do dogs listen to human heartbeats?
– Dogs may listen to human heartbeats for comfort and to calm themselves during times of stress. Some dogs also show an interest in listening to the heartbeat of an expectant mother, possibly indicating awareness of a baby’s presence.
5. How does a dog’s hearing compare to that of humans?
– Dogs’ hearing is significantly better than humans’. They can hear a wider range of frequencies, have larger and more mobile ears, and can pick up on sounds that our ears are unable to detect.
