Is your smart home a headache for your dog?
When all the bells and whistles literally sound that way for your pup
Your vacuum is programmed to start at 8 a.m. The electric kettle timer turns on at 8:15 a.m. for your morning tea, and the coffee pot already has hot coffee inside from the 7:30 a.m. scheduled start time. The motorized blinds are opened just enough to let sunlight into your bedroom and living room after the alarm goes off.
You glance over at the smart home security camera to make sure there was no funny business overnight — after all, one of the neighbors has guests who always mix up your home with theirs even though your video doorbell and smart locks are clearly visible. You are ecstatic with how cool your home is. You barely have to touch anything.
It’s all automatic, and “The Jetsons” would be proud. Your dog would say otherwise, and she’s had it up to here with you buying smart technology. Are all of these tech devices hard on her ears? Yes and no, but there are steps you can take to help her feel more comfortable with it. After all, she finally got used to the bristle broom you used to use once she found out it could recover all the squeaker balls she keeps rolling under the couch.
According to a PR News Wire press release from the 2019 Media Post, 69% of U.S. houses own at least one smart home product. And a Consumer Technology Association (CTA) study confirms that 83 million households and approximately 22 million homes own more than one smart home product. Meanwhile 85 million U.S. homes own a pet. It’s safe to say some of these people have both in their homes, possibly more cleaning technology than anything considering how much fur sticks to everything. Even if it’s just a TV, the flickering from LED lights can be harmful to dogs, too, according to AARP.
So how can the two coexist when dog hearing is three times more sensitive than human hearing and all your gadgets sound like a smoke detector with a low battery — or worse, one that won’t stop going off?
Recommended Read: “‘Hear’ your dog out on pet ear health ~ Understanding just how sensitive your dog’s ears are to loud noise”
First, unless you absolutely cannot control the volume on your smart tech devices, turn them down a bit. You only need the alarms to be loud enough for you to hear them, not blasting loud enough to be heard on the other side of your home.
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Second, “Snooze” from a battery alarm clock is wearing your dog out already. If you have other devices that ring, whistle or beep excessively, turn them off much sooner.