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Dog howls at carpet commercial

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As we try to figure out why dogs howl at the Law and Order theme, Dennis Petrone of New Hope, PA, sends this clip of his dog, Joey, howling at a commercial for Empire Carpet.Petrone says Joey has done this since he first heard the ad, as a puppy of six or seven weeks. Now that Joey's eight, Petrone says, he howls at any mention of the spot, even if the TV's not on. "You can just say the phone number, and he'll go crazy," Petrone says. "You can just say the word commercial -- it's silly." He demonstrated for me over the phone, and the key words worked for Joey as commands.


Which brings us to a point made by celebrity dog wrangler Wendy Diamond of Animal Fair. Fair says the dogs that have howled their way into an Internet meme have learned to respond that way to Law and Order. Something in the music may have triggered the yarwling initially. Then it becomes a habit. Their owners sit down, the music comes on and the dog runs to the TV and howls. "What else is training but the same thing over and over?" she says. In Joey's case, he's howling on cue from a human -- and for the joy of baying at his favorite commercial. Petrone says the dog waits for the announcer to start the jingle and give the phone number before letting loose. "I think he enjoys it, because he wiggling," he says. "At least I hope he does." If your dog's a howler, send video evidence. Help us get to the bottom of this urgent mystery.P.S. Joey has lately started howling at the Golden Girls. Go figure.