# Pet Owners - Sound of the TV or other source on or off when you leave for work? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 20, 2016, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-owners-sound-of-the-tv-or-other-source-on-or-off-when-you-leave-for-work/752722 "2016-04-20T13:59:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SUZ\_MAC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e8cbc/32.png) [@SUZ\_MAC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SUZ_MAC)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-owners-sound-of-the-tv-or-other-source-on-or-off-when-you-leave-for-work/752722/1 "2016-04-20T13:59:25Z")
When I am home I typically have either music playing or the TV is on. There is always sound in my house until I go to bed. When I leave for work each day I turn whatever is on off. I’m wondering if I should leave something on for my dog since when I’m home he is used to it. What are your opinions and what do you do? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-owners-sound-of-the-tv-or-other-source-on-or-off-when-you-leave-for-work/752722/2 "2016-04-20T14:02:59Z")
I would think your dog might enjoy a little quiet time. We leave everything off when we leave. Dogs haven’t complained about it. ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-owners-sound-of-the-tv-or-other-source-on-or-off-when-you-leave-for-work/752722/3 "2016-04-20T14:27:55Z")
I leave everything silent. Analyzing the random/ambient sounds in the house and neighborhood is the dog’s only \*entertainment \*for the day. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-owners-sound-of-the-tv-or-other-source-on-or-off-when-you-leave-for-work/752722/4 "2016-04-20T15:22:21Z")
We usually turn everything off when we leave the house. Sometimes, if I have to leave the house while the baseball game is on, I will leave it on, but that’s more for me, so I can see what’s happening the minute I walk in. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-owners-sound-of-the-tv-or-other-source-on-or-off-when-you-leave-for-work/752722/5 "2016-04-20T15:27:41Z")
I like silence. Unless there’s a specific TV or radio program that I want to catch, I don’t turn anything on. I don’t even turn on the computer’s sound unless I’ve found a video I want to watch. So when I’m not home, it’s still quiet… well, as quiet as it can be when our idiot pug sees something amiss in her yard. But no TV or anything for the critters. Everyone once in a while, I’ll come home to the bedroom TV playing. I used to think the cat was walking on the remote, but my husband thinks it’s being triggered by something outside the house. Still, that’s the only way the TV will be left on. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-owners-sound-of-the-tv-or-other-source-on-or-off-when-you-leave-for-work/752722/6 "2016-04-20T18:06:40Z")
We leave it on. They haven’t complained.🙂 We figure it keeps them from obsessing over random noises. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-owners-sound-of-the-tv-or-other-source-on-or-off-when-you-leave-for-work/752722/7 "2016-04-20T18:11:18Z")
I turn everything off when I leave the house. My dog doesn’t seem to pay any attention to the TV or stereo when they’re on. He’s perfectly happy to nap when I’m gone. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-owners-sound-of-the-tv-or-other-source-on-or-off-when-you-leave-for-work/752722/8 "2016-04-20T18:12:57Z")
I’ve never left on noise in all my years of dog ownership. I do have friends who leave the TV on for their pug, but I don’t really know why. Especially because she barks at every damn thing on it when we’re there. ---
**Author:** ![SUZ\_MAC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e8cbc/32.png) [@SUZ\_MAC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SUZ_MAC)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-owners-sound-of-the-tv-or-other-source-on-or-off-when-you-leave-for-work/752722/9 "2016-04-20T18:18:25Z")
Thanks for the reply’s. I feel guilty sometimes when I leave in the morning. Today was one of those days. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-owners-sound-of-the-tv-or-other-source-on-or-off-when-you-leave-for-work/752722/10 "2016-04-20T18:21:32Z")
I always leave the house silent when I leave. If there’s a sound my dog would be interested in hearing, it’s going to come from outside anyway. Edit: I wonder if she’s perturbed when I come home: “Man, what’s up with you turning on all that noisemaking stuff? Do you know how quiet it’s been here all day?” ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-owners-sound-of-the-tv-or-other-source-on-or-off-when-you-leave-for-work/752722/11 "2016-04-20T23:06:57Z")
I leave the radio on for my dogs. I don’t know why. Always have tho. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-owners-sound-of-the-tv-or-other-source-on-or-off-when-you-leave-for-work/752722/12 "2016-04-20T23:23:10Z")
From some polls I’ve seen a lot of people leave the TV or radio on for cats and dogs. Like about 1/3rd if I correctly recall. That seems pretty silly to me. Nothing gets left on. I do wonder now if they mind - until now I didn’t give any thought to them being used to Mom having the TV on from 1 or 2pm on up until she died last month. Oh well, it’s only a couple of hours later til someone’s home with them now. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-owners-sound-of-the-tv-or-other-source-on-or-off-when-you-leave-for-work/752722/13 "2016-04-20T23:39:51Z")
I had a cat who would turn on my TV when he wanted to (more for the warmth of the cable box he would then sleep on, though the sound may be a secondary reason). I don’t feel they need them unless they let you know. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-owners-sound-of-the-tv-or-other-source-on-or-off-when-you-leave-for-work/752722/14 "2016-04-21T00:13:00Z")
My dog prefers silence. He leaves the room if there’s music or tv on. He doesn’t like loud voices, either. I keep everything off when I leave and he goes and sleeps on my pillow (where he knows he’s not allowed.) What the hell. It works for us. ---
**Author:** ![urban1a](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47c2d/32.png) [@urban1a](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urban1a)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-owners-sound-of-the-tv-or-other-source-on-or-off-when-you-leave-for-work/752722/15 "2016-04-21T01:17:06Z")
Somewhere (maybe on Roku) there is a pet channel; maybe just for dogs. I never watched it but it is supposed to provide entertainment for home alone dogs. I wonder if they show dog porn? Bob ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-owners-sound-of-the-tv-or-other-source-on-or-off-when-you-leave-for-work/752722/16 "2016-04-21T01:17:10Z")
Considering how sensitive dog hearing is, and how many dogs go deaf as they get older in our noisy society, you might might to consider letting your poor dog have some silence while you are at home as well as when you are gone. Might decrease your risk of needing hearing aids later in life as well. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-owners-sound-of-the-tv-or-other-source-on-or-off-when-you-leave-for-work/752722/17 "2016-04-21T01:33:15Z")
I turn off the TV in the lounge at work when I come in at 7:00 AM that some moron left running loudly all night. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-owners-sound-of-the-tv-or-other-source-on-or-off-when-you-leave-for-work/752722/18 "2016-04-21T11:05:28Z")
My husband turns everything off. He claims the dogs like listening to the outside sounds. I leave the TV on very low. One of my dogs hangs out on the couch closest to the TV. I really think he enjoys watching it, LOL. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-owners-sound-of-the-tv-or-other-source-on-or-off-when-you-leave-for-work/752722/19 "2016-04-21T11:13:26Z")
I leave a radio on for the parrot in the room with the birdcage. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-owners-sound-of-the-tv-or-other-source-on-or-off-when-you-leave-for-work/752722/20 "2016-04-21T11:48:43Z")
I take the dogs and parrot to work with me each day. If I’m going out after work, the dogs have each other’s company and the parrot has the budgies’ squawking (which he can mimic). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pet-owners-sound-of-the-tv-or-other-source-on-or-off-when-you-leave-for-work/752722.md?page=2)