Re: [Harp-L] My dogs hate my harp playing

[b2becom@xxxxxxxxxxx]

James - I have had this same problem with harps causing howling from dogs.  I don't think it is because they are discerning harmonica afficionadas and can tell a good player from a poor one and thus are howling only because they wish I was more skilled.

I think it really triggers a pack behavior that goes back to their alsatian / wolf  roots.  My dogs also howl the same way when they hear sirens of any kind of in the distance. Kind of a pack warning response system - don't mess with our pack over here in our territory - kind of thing.  

Curiously though, I now have a new puppy in my life -  I am exposing her to my harp playing and she (shephard/lab mix) ONLY howls at my C harp.  I can play any other harp and she sleeps right through or if active, ignores it, but whenever I pull out the C harp, I swear without fail, she bolts upright, runs to me and desperately tries to lick my face, ostensibly to get me to stop - preferably immediately.  I think it really just tickles her inner ear with a certain vibration.

I don't detect any real ear distress on her part so I don't think I'm truly damaging her hearing or hurting her....  unlike my wife, who I recall way back when I first started playing, particularily on "Home on the Range", my first foray into the top octave - now there was someone clearly in audio distress, she would not howl, but the look on her face never failed to get me to stop immediately and go out to the woodshed.

--
Ross Macdonald


-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "James" <wasabileo@xxxxxxxxxx> 

> Ok you may all get a good laugh out of this but I have this delimia when I start 
> to wail groove. I have these two dogs (rescues): one is a lab mix and the other 
> a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (pictures avialable upon request) When I start to 
> blow, they start to wail. The sound of the harp hurts them. Especially when I 
> try to do any high not bends (ie Jimmy Reed,or Walters Hard Heated Women I have 
> to stop. has anyone has that experience and what have they done about 'Thanks 
> (enjoy the laugh) 
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