Dick Wolf’s “Law & Order” is raising a howl among the canine set.
A slew of videos have popped up on the Internet showing dogs of all shapes and sizes howling and baying when they hear the “L&O” theme music.
It’s arresting imagery — and experts say the harried hounds’ behavior can be attributed to the music’s tonal quality.
“The reason they do that is because the music has a combination of clarinets and high-decibel sounds,” says celebrity pet trainer Bash Dibra.
“When the music hits a certain note, it . . . hits a signal in their auditory nerve and makes them howl.
“It’s typical when you see certain dogs howl when a fire truck drives by,” he says.
“It’s the decibel sounds hitting their ears and they just can’t help it — they have to howl.”
Most of the videos posted on YouTube and nastynets.com show each dog becoming agitated almost as soon as the “L&O” music strikes its first note.
Some dogs walk up to a TV or computer screen and howl; others lie where they are and lift their snouts in the air to emit their wolfish wails.
It’s hard to tell if they’re enjoying what they hear, or giving their own version of a Bronx cheer.
“There’s been very little research on dogs howling . . . but it’s probably due to the staccato sound of the music, which is very jarring,” says dog trainer Andrea Arden, who co-hosts Animal Planet’s “Underdog to Wonderdog.”
“Dogs often react to stimulus that’s sharp and erratic, and that music has a quavering beat to it, almost like a metallic sound,” she says.
“It has the potential to be slightly irritating to a dog’s ear.”
The “L&O” theme music was written by Mike Post, who’s won multiple Emmys for TV compositions including “The Rockford Files, “LA Law,” “Hill Street Blues,” “NYPD Blue” and “Magnum, PI.”
“I can’t believe it. This is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen in my life!” Post said yesterday.
“They’re not running away from it, they’re singing along with it,” Post said of the crooning canines.
“If somebody notices my music and appreciates it, I’m happy — and if those are very happy canines, I’m happy,” he said.
“I’m flattered — I never figured dogs would be humming along with my tunes. This is a first.”
Producers for “Law & Order” declined to comment yesterday.