dogs

Question
Why are dogs vocal cords different than ours? Can you send me a picture of a dogs and humans vocal cords ?

Answer
Actually there is very little difference between human vocal cords and that of other species, including dogs.

Harvard biologist Tecumseh Fitch is quoted saying "If somebody did a weird transplant where a singer got a dog's vocal cords, they could probably do a good job of singing."

The larynx is a cartilage "box" located in the throat that contains the vocal cords. It is nicknamed the "voice box" and the Adams Apple seen in the throat is the edge of the cartilage. Sound is made as air rushes over the flaps of muscle that make up the vocal cords, much like sound air makes when rushing past the taut opening of a balloon.

In humans, the position of the larynx is relatively low in the throat, allowing the tongue greater freedom to move and shape sounds. On the otherhand, a dogs larynx is almost even with the mouth, severely limiting their ability to control how the tongue moves to form a variety of sounds.

Humans can change the sounds of their voice by raising and lowering the larynx and relaxing the muscles in the larynx to extend the vibration of sound. They also use their lips to refine the sound coming from their larynx to form individual syllables. Dogs do not have this ability and are limited to a small number of bark, growl and whining sounds to convey emotion.

Here is a diagram of the canine larynx:
http://www.provet.co.uk/cardiorespiratory/5a8c9d1.htm

which you can compare to the human larynx to see that there is very little difference:
http://www.acumedico.com/Vocal_3.gif