How Can Kennel and Vet Staff Protect Their Hearing From Barking?

Yes, kennel and veterinary staff can protect their hearing, and it starts with knowing how loud a kennel really gets. When NIOSH measured noise at a veterinary hospital, kennel workers’ full-shift exposures came out at 91 to 95 dBA, above the level NIOSH recommends for an eight-hour day. Comfortable earplugs or earmuffs worn every time you step into the kennel, plus a few room changes, go a long way.

Quick answer

• How loud: NIOSH found kennel workers’ shift averages of 91 to 95 dBA at one veterinary hospital, with spot readings up to 112 dBA in a large-dog kennel.
• Who’s most exposed: people cleaning the dog runs, especially when the dogs are most active.
• What NIOSH advises: wear earplugs or earmuffs whenever you’re in the kennel area, and add washable sound-absorbing materials to ceilings and floors.
• What custom adds: a pair made from your own ear impressions that stays comfortable through a long, warm shift.
• See a doctor or audiologist if you notice ear pain, new or worsening ringing, or a change in your hearing.

How loud does a dog kennel actually get?

Louder than most people expect. In a NIOSH health hazard evaluation at a veterinary hospital in Ohio, kennel workers wore noise dosimeters through full shifts. Their time-weighted averages ranged from 91 to 95 dBA, and the report notes they “consistently sustained noise levels as high as 105 dBA.” Spot readings in the large-dog kennel reached 112 dBA one afternoon (NIOSH HETA 2006-0196-3036).

For comparison, workers in the hospital side of the same building averaged 70 to 84 dBA. Same building, very different day for your ears.

A second NIOSH evaluation, at an animal shelter in Kentucky, found that one third of full-shift measurements went over the NIOSH recommended limit. During short stretches of kennel work, levels ran from 88.4 to 100.3 dBA (NIOSH HETA 2006-0212-3035).

Why does a short time in the kennel matter so much?

Because noise dose adds up fast at these levels. NIOSH’s recommended limit is 85 dBA averaged over eight hours. Every 3 dB increase cuts the allowed time in half, so the shelter report spells it out: no more than 88 dBA for 4 hours, or 91 dBA for 2 hours.

That’s why the shelter team found that even brief time with barking dogs could push up a worker’s whole-day exposure. A quick morning clean of the dog runs can use up a big share of the day’s allowance before lunch.

The NIDCD explains that sounds at or below 70 dBA are unlikely to cause hearing loss, while long or repeated exposure at or above 85 dBA can (NIDCD, Noise-Induced Hearing Loss). Kennel work sits well above that line.

When during the day is kennel work loudest?

It follows the dogs and the cleaning. At the veterinary hospital, morning shift exposures ran slightly higher than afternoons, which NIOSH linked to how active the dogs were. At the shelter, the highest exposures belonged to the people cleaning the dog kennels in the morning, and staff exposures rose later in the day when they took over kennel tasks. People rotating between cat cages, feeding and the front desk had lower numbers.

Cleaning adds its own noise, too. The hospital report describes power washing cages while dogs barked at the same time, with the two sounds stacking together.

What does NIOSH recommend for kennel staff?

Both reports land on the same practical steps:

• Wear hearing protection in the kennel. Earmuffs or earplugs, every time you go in, with protectors kept at the entrance and signs on the doors.
• Get the fit right. The hospital report says earplugs should be inserted deeply into the ear canal, and earmuff cushions shouldn’t be cracked or creased.
• Soften the room. Typical industrial sound foam is hard to keep clean in a kennel, so NIOSH suggests waterproof, washable ceiling tiles and rubber floor mats. The mats also quiet the clatter of food and water dishes on concrete and tile.
• Train the team on choosing, fitting and caring for their protectors, and set up a hearing loss prevention program.

The shelter report also notes that hearing protectors offer adequate protection when worn properly all of the time. That last part is the whole game.

Earplugs or earmuffs: which works better in a kennel?

Both can work. It comes down to what you’ll actually keep on. NIOSH says plainly, “Comfort is the key to consistent use of hearing protection,” and adds that earplugs are often more comfortable than earmuffs for long periods or hot environments, while earmuffs are heavier and can be uncomfortable in warm places (NIOSH, Provide Hearing Protection).

Kennels tend to be warm and damp, and you’re bending, lifting and hosing all morning. Earmuffs are easy to slip on at the door, which is handy for quick visits. Earplugs stay out of the way of glasses, hats and the occasional enthusiastic Labrador.

NIOSH also warns against overprotection. Its advice is to aim for just enough reduction to bring exposure down to 75–85 dBA, because too much can make you less aware of what’s around you. In a kennel, you still want to hear a coworker call your name, or a dog that sounds unwell. For very loud moments at 100 dBA or more, NIOSH suggests earmuffs over earplugs. For more on that combination, see our guide to earplugs, earmuffs or both.

How does Big Ear handle kennel and vet clinic noise?

We hand-build every pair in the USA from impressions of your own ears, so it fits your ear canal rather than an average one. NIOSH notes that custom-molded earplugs are made from an impression of the wearer’s ear and are more durable than many other types. Here’s how our line-up lines up with kennel work:

With The One, the filters are interchangeable and swap in seconds with no new mold, so one pair can cover a quiet exam room and a loud kennel run. The Select kit ($299.95) comes with two filter sets, which suits a job with two very different noise levels. If you’re not sure which filter matches your kennel, call us and we’ll talk it through with you.

Running a clinic or shelter with several staff? Our guide to setting up custom hearing protection for a team walks through measuring noise and matching plugs to each job, and our industrial hearing protection page has more on work options.

Ordering is simple. Your order includes a free Home Impression Kit that arrives in 3 to 5 business days. Making impressions takes about 15 to 20 minutes at home with a helper and a guided video, and return postage is paid. If an impression doesn’t come out right, we send you another kit at no charge. We build your pair in 40 business days from the day your impressions reach our lab, every pair has a 30-Day Fit Warranty and a 1-year manufacturer defect warranty against manufacturing defects, and order shipping is $10.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need hearing protection for a short trip into the kennel?

NIOSH’s reports recommend wearing protection whenever you enter the kennel area, and the shelter report found that short stretches of barking could raise a worker’s whole-day exposure. Keeping protectors at the door makes it easy.

Will earplugs stop me hearing coworkers or the dogs?

Not if you pick the right level. NIOSH advises aiming for 75–85 dBA under your protection rather than blocking as much as possible. A filtered earplug like The One is built for that balance. Our post on hearing coworkers and alarms while wearing earplugs goes deeper.

Can the clinic reduce the noise itself?

Yes. NIOSH suggests waterproof, washable ceiling tiles and rubber floor mats, which hold up to cleaning better than standard sound foam. Protection works best alongside changes like these.

What if my ears already ring after a kennel shift?

The NIDCD lists ringing, buzzing or roaring in the ears among the signs of noise damage. If ringing is new, getting worse, or comes with pain or a change in your hearing, please see a doctor or audiologist.

Ready to give your ears a break at work?

Kennel work is loud, busy and full of good dogs. Your ears deserve protection you’ll actually wear. Start with the free Home Impression Kit, try Find my pair, or call us at (719) 271-4528 and we’ll help you choose.

Sources

• NIOSH. Health Hazard Evaluation Report HETA #2006-0196-3036, Liberty Veterinary Hospital, Liberty Township, Ohio (February 2007).
• NIOSH. Health Hazard Evaluation Report HETA #2006-0212-3035, Kenton County Animal Shelter, Covington, Kentucky (February 2007).
• NIDCD. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (updated April 16, 2025).
• NIOSH. Provide Hearing Protection (reviewed January 31, 2024).