Canine sound production, perception, and processing

The first part of the chapter explains the mechanisms underly- ing the production of canine vocalizations with particular ref- erence to the structures mainly involved in the emission of the different sounds. Spectrographic analyses of the most common dog vocalizations are also presented. Hypotheses about the neuroendocrine control of canine vocalizations result directly from studies that analyze the relationships between hormones and behavior with particular reference to vasopressin and vo- calizations emitted during competitive behaviors. The second part of the chapter deals with canine brain auditory pathways involved in vocal perception with particular reference to the different specializations of dogs and human brain areas in pro- cessing distinct types of auditory signals. Finally, effects of vo- calizations on behavior and development are discussed.