The “Frenchie Death Yodel”

It started out innocently enough. A recent post on our Facebook page mentioned our surprise at the enormous bark that came out of a Basset Hound when we knocked on his owner’s door. It was a sound we would have expected out of a dog at least 100 pounds heavier.

We went on to add that researchers in Hungary found that humans have a remarkable ability not only to categorize various types of dog vocalizations, but to understand their emotional content—in effect, to “speak canine.” And then we asked: Are there breed specific barks?
Our answer was “sure,” when we considered the Basenji’s yodel or the Old English Sheepdog’s Pot-Casse bark. As it happened, we also noticed over the years that every Basset Hound we ever met had a deep, impressive bark. Hardly scientific, but there it was.  Facebook readers shared their opinions on breed specific barks, and that’s when a reader told us to do an internet search on “frenchie death yodel.”

Oh my.

You have to hear it to agree with the description, and you might want to let your own dogs out before listening. Just saying.

Think that’s a “one off?” Thing again.

There’s are more videos. Lots more, but you get the idea.

The “death yodel, “once heard and never forgotten, has alternately been described as “nails on a chalkboard to the power of ten,” the sound of an animal caught in a trap, a herald announcing the end of the world, or what it sounds like if you mix a jet engine with the squallering baby. What it usually is, however, is a Frenchie expressing their opinion about being left alone or indignant over his or her present circumstances.

And here we thought the Toller Scream was memorable:

Who wins? Toller or Frenchie?

Image: “Le Scream” by Mike Holzer, owner of dogwagart is available for purchase here

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