My two dogs don't pay much heed to my playing fiddle or dulcimer or a friend playing guitar, flute or tin whistle. Sometimes they try to lick my face if I suddenly start singing. I have met dogs that do howl along with a fiddle, however. I agree with people who have written that sometimes when dogs join in, they are enjoying themselves rather than indicating displeasure. I think if they were annoyed they'd be more likely to either go and hide or to growl and/or bark.

One year at the Willie Clancy week in Miltown Malbay we met a very talented dog who would sing along when my late friend Alex played harmonica. The dog stopped and started along with the music and varied his pitch appropriately, even to the extent, I thought, of straining his voice. It did seem to me that he was trying to join in and sing along and when the music stopped he would sit and wait expectantly for more.

My dogs don't pay much attention to tv unless they hear other dogs. Sometimes they howl in response, which is quite amazing. One dog starts, the other responds and it escalates from there - with a variety of pitches - until my fascination gives way to my fear of complaints from the neighbours and I tell the dogs to shut up.

It would be interesting to hear more about how the Anglo and English concertinas sound different from each other and whether other dogs show the same discrimination as Capt. Birdseye's dog does.