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by Keith Grossman on 09 July 2010 - 02:07

Axel is a high drive dog; if it moves, he's on it. We have bats. I like bats...they are the environmental equivalent of a canary in a coal mine and because I refuse to treat my lawn or use pesticides in my vegetable garden, they are safe here to flit about, each of them consuming as many as 6,000 mosquitoes each night.

In the course of them doing so, they do not go unnoticed by my pup who will run rampant about the yard chasing them. My question is how does he track them? It is dark; there is no way he is chasing them on sight alone. Do you think he can hear either the sound of their movement or their sonar?

by 4pack on 09 July 2010 - 02:07

Good question, I have no idea??? They fly too fast to really see and pretty silently. Maybe the dogs can hear the sonar. We don't have many bats here but we do get a few here and there at night at the park. I'd not want my dogs catching one but they don't try, too busy playing ball.

by VonIsengard on 09 July 2010 - 02:07

Oh, he can absolutely hear them. No doubt.

by Kalibeck on 09 July 2010 - 02:07

Yep. Absolutely. If my dogs can ignore the hundred or so cars that go by here each day & only line up to greet mine, even when I'm still 15 minutes out (my husband attests to this, & my time to arrive home from work is varied), that means they can hear the subtle variences in engines, frame noise, whatever...& know it's my car. Just watch they don't grab one, bats can carry some nasty pathogens. jackie harris

by Rusty Christian on 09 July 2010 - 02:07

Interesting, we have bats as well but I've never noticed them chasing them. It would be interesting to know what they are attracted to.

by eichenluft on 09 July 2010 - 02:07

my dogs don't notice them, but I haven't seen many dogs that are interested in moving things "from above" - have seen a few, not many. I'd guess that he can see and hear them. They make audible clicking and squeaking sounds that I can even hear (if the bats are close enough) so Im sure the dog can hear them clearly.

molly

by rainforestscouts on 09 July 2010 - 02:07

Keith,

A quick google search provided the following information. Bats produce echolocation frequencies of 20kHz -100kHz. Dogs can hear frequencies of up to 46kHz. So I guess it is possible that he is picking up on their sonar.

Kal,

My dog does the same thing. I always know when my wife is within 50yds because her car is the only one that he barks at.

RFS

by RLHAR on 09 July 2010 - 02:07

Sound and possibly scent as well.

My girl is very atuned to anything above her, one time she stopped on a walk and studied the air for a good 30 seconds before I realized she was tracking a kite high above us.

by Avery Hill Kennels on 09 July 2010 - 04:07

My pups do the same when they have run of the yard at night when it is cool and bats and moths are flying around bug wackier in the yard,(bats trying to catch moths) pups are not discriminating , anything big and moving they love to try to catch!! I am such a looser this is the best part of my day watching the dogs just be dogs!!! LOL

by Sheesh on 09 July 2010 - 18:07

He can hear them! :-) Pics please Keith- :-) Theresa

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