Can Dogs Purr? Decoding Canine Rumble Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Dogs have many ways of letting their humans know what they want, but is one of those ways purring? While dogs can’t purr in the same way that cats can, some dogs can make a rumbling sound that’s similar to purring when they’re happy or relaxed. This sound is highly individual and breed-specific, not all dogs can make it, and it’s often tied to a dog’s mood.

In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into a variety of interdisciplinary research that spans veterinary science, animal behavior, and acoustics to learn more about the sounds that dogs make.

We’ll examine studies that address topics ranging from the structure of a dog’s vocal cords to the emotional and communicative contexts in which dogs might produce a sound that resembles purring. This complex approach will provide us with a comprehensive insight into the capabilities and restrictions of dog vocal behavior.

Barking, Whining, and More

The sounds dogs make are as diverse as they are meaningful. While dogs don’t purr like cats, they can make a low, continuous rumble that Superb Dog calls a soft growl or burr sound when they are happy or anticipating a positive interaction. These rumbles, which are often mistaken for purring, are just one type of sound in the dog’s vocal repertoire.

From the classic bark that can mean anything from excitement to alarm to the high-pitched whine that can signal a dog’s anxiety or need for attention, each sound has a purpose in the dog’s communication system, according to the American Kennel Club.

The growl, which is often a warning sound, is a stark contrast to the happy rumbles identified in Hepper’s study, which are more similar to the feelings of comfort or pleasure that a cat’s purr is thought to convey.

When combined with body language, these sounds make up a complex language that dogs use to communicate with their human family members and other dogs. It’s important to be able to recognize and distinguish between these sounds—for example, to know that the rumble a dog makes when it’s being petted on its belly is very different from the growl that may precede a dog snapping at someone to protect its resources.

This knowledge will enable us to explore the fascinating anatomical adaptations that make the wide range of dog vocalizations possible.

Anatomy of Dog Vocal Cords

The dog vocal system is a highly specialized and detailed system that allows for a wide range of sounds. According to PubMed, the detailed interaction of vocal fold abduction and adduction—that is, the movement of the vocal cords apart and together—is a key component of canine phonation.

In the article, C W Mineck investigates the three-dimensional anatomy of the canine laryngeal muscles and how their contractions control the barks, whines, and other sounds that dogs make.

In contrast to cats, whose vocal cords have a neural oscillator in the brain that produces the continuous purr, dogs don’t have this specific mechanism, which is why they can’t purr. However, the different parts of the dog’s vocal tract enable them to make a variety of sounds, including purr-like rumbles that can indicate different emotional states, as noted in PMC.

In addition, the effect of a dog’s breed and size on the sounds it makes is also important. The article ‘Voice-Sensitive Regions in the Dog and Human Brain Are Revealed by Comparative fMRI’ in Current Biology by the authors demonstrates that the dog’s vocal tract, including the size and shape of the larynx and the length of the vocal cords, are critical to the acoustic properties of the sounds it makes.

This knowledge of the anatomical and physiological differences between dogs’ vocal tracts helps us understand the emotional content of a dog’s vocalizations, including the purr-like sounds that are often misunderstood.

Understanding Dogs’ Emotional Rumbles

The purr-like sounds that dogs make, often referred to as “rumbles,” are thought to be a sign of relaxation and contentment based on Hepper’s research. These sounds are created by vibrations in the vocal cords and are linked to a range of emotions.

While cats use their larynx and diaphragm to produce these sounds, dogs use their diaphragm and larynx, and the sounds are thought to be a way for dogs to communicate how they are feeling. Hepper’s research shows that these rumbles can even have a significant physiological impact, helping to reduce stress and even alleviate pain in dogs.

The fact that dogs’ breathing patterns are linked to these soft, rumbling sounds also suggests that they are a sign of relaxation.

This is especially true when the sounds are accompanied by other body language signals like squinty eyes, a wagging tail, or a head tilt, all of which are signs that a dog is feeling relaxed and happy.

That said, it’s important to make sure that you’re interpreting these sounds correctly, as a rumble could be misheard and interpreted as a growl, which could be a sign of pain or aggression, according to Superb Dog. This is why it’s important to consider the context in which the sounds are made and to pay attention to the other signals that the dog is giving off.

Understanding the emotions that dogs are trying to communicate with their rumbles can help us better understand their behavior and learn to interpret the nuanced but meaningful ways that dogs communicate.

The Complexities of Animal Vocal Behavior

Animal vocalizations play a crucial role in animal social behavior and are the result of a number of evolutionary adaptations, as Sonja A. Kotz explains in PMC.

Birds, cetaceans, and some mammals are involved in vocal learning, which is a complex process that leads to the development of species-specific sounds and the ability to mimic the sounds of other members of the same species.

For example, orcas and bats are known to engage in vocal matching, which is when they match the acoustic features of their calls to the calls of other members of their group to signal group identity and promote cooperation, according to American Scientist.

Meanwhile, a study in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B explains that the evolution of dogs and humans has led to the development of voice-sensitive areas in their brains that are specialized for processing vocal sounds, which has enabled the development of complex communication systems in both species.

These areas are also responsible for the ability to mimic sounds and the rhythmic aspects of vocalizations, both of which are important for effective communication and the expression of emotions within a species.

In addition, dogs’ vocalizations may be further enriched by the fact that they produce purr-like sounds, which is another example of the complexity of canine vocal behavior.

Understanding the roles of vocal matching and rhythm in animal vocal behavior can help us understand how dogs may use their vocalizations to facilitate social interactions and communicate their emotions. This research not only highlights the complexity of animal vocal behavior but also helps us better understand the vocal behavior of our canine friends.

Wrapping Up: Insights on Dog Vocal Behavior

So, in our quest to understand the sounds that dogs make, we have learned that while dogs don’t purr in the way that cats do, they do make a purr-like sound when they are happy. This sound is similar to a low growl or a “burr” sound, as Superb Dog put it.

Hepper says that while these sounds are often associated with happiness, they aren’t always positive and can also be associated with stress or even sadness, which shows just how complex these sounds can be.

Dogs and cats have very different physiological systems that produce these sounds. Studies have shown that dogs have the vocal cords and other structures that allow them to make a variety of sounds, including the comforting purr-like sound that they make. This knowledge isn’t just interesting from an academic perspective, it also helps us bond with our dogs by allowing us to better understand and respond to their needs and feelings.

Understanding the complexity of animal communication also helps us understand the emotional lives of our dogs. Dog owners and dog lovers who understand the body language that goes along with these sounds can form a deeper, more empathetic relationship with their pets. When we understand what our dogs are saying, we can communicate with them in a way that is both fulfilling and helps both of us live our best lives.