A song for the dogs

It was introduced last December in New Zealand. The song is A Very Silent Night, based on the traditional carol we all know. It's being touted a howling success by New Zealand's Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, sponsors of the CD fund raiser

Humans cannot hear the song. Only dogs highly tuned ears can hear the high pitched frequencies.

There was one report of a rampaging dog attacking a radio and destroying it when the song was played.

Mostly though, the reaction was peaceful..For many dogs, it was a sing-a-long.

I do know that dogs like to be sung to.

At least, my granddog does. He belongs to my daughter and son-in-law.

One day while visiting them, I was sitting on the loveseat, petting Jakey, their year old schnauzer. I began softly singing a little tune to him, inserting his name as often as I could.

He put his paws on my knees and listened and listened.

When I stopped singing, he reached out his paw as if to say, "Sing it again."

I did.

Now whenever I go visit, I must sing his song. He cocks his head, listening for his name.

He can be busy in another part of the room but when I begin singing, he immediately runs to where I am, and takes his listening stance. He loves to hear "his song."

That, of course, isn't the same as hearing silent Silent Night for dogs only.

The CD hasn't been introduced to America as yet, but it will be, I'm told..

Jakey's playmate and sister is Belle, another schnauzer. She doesn't care about arias. She'd rather play ball. Now Jakey doesn't know or care what a ball is He certainly isn't going to chase one down the hallway.

That's a boring game to him. He will attack Belle and try to steal the ball away, but he isn't interested in chasing and retreiving. He leaves that kind of nonsense to the girls Chewing on a rawhide bone is a lot more macho.

He does find squirrels immensely interesting. He goes into a frenzied dance whenever he sees a squirrel trespassing on his lawn,

I'm wondering if Jakey would like the video of The Mississippi Squirrel Revival by Ray Stevens. I'm sure he would have enjoyed taking part in that revival service at the First Self-Rightous Church in Pasadena.

Belle too. That would beat chasing a rubber ball or listening to silent songs.

Don't you think?