The range of hearing in a dog is amazing.
It ranges from 20 cycles per second (cps) up to about 35000 cps.
Any level above 20000 cps is considered to be ultrasonic.
In humans the range is from 20 cps up to 20000 cps.
The fact that the dog can hear the ultrasonic sounds of some animals enables it to find and catch prey and therefore survive.
Dogs can locate the source of a sound very precisely.
This is learnt very early in life and you can watch their ear flaps move while they are trying to locate a sound they have heard.
If watch very young puppies at play, you will see that they look around a bit at a loss as to where sounds are coming from.
If you move, the puppy will have a better chance of locating where you are.
In an adult dog they can pin point you very accurately.
Problems will only arise if the dog has suffered some illness or is getting old both of which may have affected the hearing.
How does what a dog hears cause problems?

• Dog react to ultrasonic sound, we as humans can not hear, and it may cause them to become very excited and run around barking.
  How often do owners say "Quiet, there is nothing there"?
• If the dog is aging it sometimes becomes deaf.
  If you think your dog is losing the ability to hear increase the use of hand signals.
  This will mean that if the dog loses hearing completely, you will still be able to communicate with it.
  
• Dogs can react and very quickly get very excited by sounds they hear.
  Things such as picking up the lead, a car engine, open or closing a particular door and the owners footsteps on the drive.
  
• When some dogs hear sirens and certain types of music they can cause a nuisance by howling.
  

How can we use their hearing ability to improve their behaviour?

1. A hissing sound, air passing through your teeth, will always cause a reaction in the dog.
   The words "sit" and "stand" or "sshh" are therefore good words to use.
   
2. A high pitch voice is a better way to command your dog.
   Women, therefore, have a great advantage over a man with a low pitched voice.
   
3. When working with a young puppy at a distance, you should always move away whilst you are calling it to "come" to you.
   The movement you make will make it easier for the puppy to locate and then run to you.
   

3 ideas for using your voice which you should use in your dog training.