Videos of dogs howling to music have long been found on social media. Some users consider this a random reaction to sounds, while others suggest that dogs may inherit vocal abilities from their ancestors — wolves.
A group of researchers from the United States decided to find out whether domestic dogs can actually distinguish pitch and adapt their howls accordingly, or if this is merely an instinctive reaction to music devoid of any "musicality," the media reports.
According to biologists' observations, the collective howl of wolves consists of unique voices with varying frequencies, indicating a lack of a unified sound. Each individual has unique vocal characteristics, creating an effect of diversity in their howling "ensemble."
Some researchers have hypothesized that such behavior is an evolutionary trick that creates the illusion of a large pack for the listener. This could be beneficial for deterring predators or competitors.
Experts suggest that wolves must consciously alter the tone of their voice in response to the actions of their peers; however, there is currently no convincing evidence for this.
Since investigating this hypothesis in the wild is challenging, scientists turned to domestic dogs — the closest relatives of gray wolves (Canis lupus), which allows for easier observation and analysis of their behavior. It is believed that modern dogs and wolves share a common ancestor, which explains their similarity in DNA (almost 99%).
If dogs can change the pitch of their voice in response to music, it may indicate that they possess a basic ability for vocal adaptation.
A group of biologists, dog trainers, and animal psychologists from the U.S., led by Aniruddh Patel from Tufts University, chose two ancient breeds for the experiment — four Samoyeds and two Shiba Inus — to investigate their vocal abilities.
Pet owners were invited to play their dogs' favorite music and record their howls. The music was initially played in its original form and then processed by changing the pitch three semitones up and down to explore the dogs' reactions to changes in pitch.
Researchers considered the data reliable if a dog howled at least 30 times for a duration of no less than one second. They analyzed whether the dogs changed the pitch of their voice in response to musical changes.
The results of the experiment showed a clear division: all four Samoyeds demonstrated musical sensitivity, altering their howls according to the pitch of the melody. Although they did not perfectly mimic the notes, they attempted to reach higher notes when the pitch was raised and lower notes when it was lowered.
However, the two Shiba Inus participating in the experiment showed no reaction to changes in pitch, continuing to howl as usual. Patel noted that this might be related to genetic differences — even among ancient breeds, the ability to imitate sounds can vary, and perhaps among a larger number of Shiba Inus, there would be musical individuals, but in this experiment, only the Samoyeds succeeded.
The experiment demonstrated that Samoyeds are capable of sensing changes in pitch and adapting their voices to the melody. This discovery is significant not only for dog trainers but also for anthropologists studying the origins of music and singing in humans.
Previously, many researchers believed that singing arose as a byproduct of speech development. However, the findings of Patel's team challenge this theory, as dogs do not possess complex speech but can adjust their howls to external sounds.
The authors of the study suggest that if dogs can change the pitch of their voice without complex training, such an ability may have emerged in humans even before the formation of speech. This could mean that the coordination of voices in a group arose as a separate evolutionary mechanism to strengthen social bonds.
Researchers also attempted to answer the question of the purpose of this ability in dogs. During the experiment, the animals did not show expectations towards their owners, as if begging for a treat for the "concert." They behaved differently, raising their heads and looking into the distance, which could indicate a connection with someone invisible. According to the authors, music may serve as a substitute for the wolf's howl for dogs, creating a special social state to support their peers with their voices. Thus, howling to music likely serves a social function, maintaining a sense of connection with the group.
Nevertheless, the results of the study should be approached with caution. Firstly, the sample size was small — only four Samoyeds and two Shiba Inus. Secondly, it is impossible to observe wolf behavior in the wild, so conclusions about the ancient roots of "musicality" are based on analogies with domestic dogs. Additionally, the Shiba Inus did not respond to music, which may indicate individual characteristics of the animals.
The scientific work is published in the journal Current Biology.
The article "Singing" dogs may help uncover the origins of vocal skills in humans first appeared on the K-News website.
