Amman Ahmed is the founder of MusicforPets, the company behind RelaxMyDog (and RelaxMyCat), which creates audio and visual programming specifically for animals. Initially, Ahmed created a company, Roundwaves, to help people relax through music, but while working with Salvadoran composer Ricardo Henriquez, he soon realized the music was helping Henriquez’ dog, Zuki, relax. He’d become anxious whenever he heard gunshots, which were common where they lived.
However, Dr. Ochoa says that what works for one dog may not work for another and the only way to know is through trial and error. “Be cognizant of how your dog responds and go from there,” she says.
She suggests playing classical music to relax your dog if they’re anxious, having separation anxiety, or need to sleep. If you need to drown out loud noises like construction or fireworks, however, reggae or classic rock may work better since they tend to have louder bass in their songs. Dr. Ochoa agrees with Bukovza, adding that music types can be used interchangeably, as long as the music you choose is louder than the noise you’re trying to drown out.
As it turns out, Jimmy’s not the only dog who likes to relax by listening to music. One 2017 study from Psychology & Behavior even reported which types of of music dogs love most. It found that two genres, soft rock and reggae, caused dogs to be more relaxed and less stressed than others.
I truly never knew that dogs listening to music was a thing until I started dog-sitting in L.A. As an owner left me with her poodle, Jimmy, she asked me to play Beethoven for him, especially if he started to bark or pace back and forth. As soon as she left, Jimmy indeed barked. And barked. And barked. But when I turned the music on, he stopped and laid on the couch. Magic. (“Moonlight Sonata” was his favorite — he’d go lie down in his bed for it — and I can’t listen to it now without thinking about him.) When Beethoven would end, Jimmy would bark, and we’d listen to it again.
Do dogs have a taste in music? Most people wouldnt think so, but have you ever heard a dog howl after hearing a certain instrument or song being played? Dogs definitely have a reaction to music and now science is digging a little deeper to find out what kind they prefer.
But Sir Elgar wasnt the only composer to notice that dogs have quite the musical taste. Richard Wilhelm Wagner owned a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Peps. He provided Peps with a special stool in his study so he could help with composition. How so? As Wagner composed he would sing or play the piano, all the while keeping a sharp eye on Peps reaction. Some tunes would give rise to an easy tail wag, while other tunes would evoke a more nervous or excited response. Based on his observations, Wagner devised the “musical motif,” a motif that associates specific musical keys with particular moods or emotions in opera.
Dogs definitely have a reaction to music and now science is digging a little deeper to find out what kind they prefer.
Professor Neil Evans noticed that each dog responded a little differently to the different types of music, which led him to say that, “Overall, the response to different genres was mixed highlighting the possibility that like humans, our canine friends have their own individual music preferences. That being said, reggae music and soft rock showed the highest positive changes in behavior.”
Pretty interesting, right? Armed with these scientific studies on soothing music for dogs, it is up to you to find out if your dog prefers reggae or classical music. With any luck, your musical tastes will match!
Several animal shelters have already begun playing soothing music to help quiet their 4-legged residents down. This technique has been discovered to be particularly effective for dogs in shelters during New Year’s Day or July 4th because it aids the dogs in coping with the deafening bangs and distress they often experience due to fireworks.
The Best Songs to Make Your Pooch Happy
We enjoy listening to it at home, at work, in the car, in the store, and almost any place we go. Music appears to hit upon our stressful lives pretty much every single day. No wonder, songs and tunes can be vitally important to many humans. It can make us calm, content, and happy despite our demanding lifestyles. But did you have any idea that your pooch can also be calmed by music? Recent studies have shown that by playing music, animals tend to become more calm and at ease even in new surroundings.
Fortunately, the effects of music on a dog’s well-being has spread even further to vet clinics as well. Research has shown that hospitalized pooches tended to have lower heart rate when harp music was being played to them. This suggests that music does not only help animals relax, but recover faster from their health problems, too. It appears that both humans and pets can get better more easily whenever they feel calm, peaceful, and are not making a great effort to cope.
Nowadays, lots of dog owners are convinced that their pooches really enjoy listening to music and have made use of gentle, relaxing sounds to help them remain calm at home alone during the day, to recuperate from sickness or surgery, as well as to promote their welfare. It surely won’t be long before our four-legged furry companions will have their own unique music shops, collections, track list, and favorites stored in their own doggie iPods!
15 HOURS of Deep Separation Anxiety Music for Dog Relaxation! Helped 4 Million Dogs Worldwide! NEW!
We enjoy listening to it at home, at work, in the car, in the store, and almost any place we go. Music appears to hit upon our stressful lives pretty much every single day. No wonder, songs and tunes can be vitally important to many humans. It can make us calm, content, and happy despite our demanding lifestyles. But did you have any idea that your pooch can also be calmed by music? Recent studies have shown that by playing music, animals tend to become more calm and at ease even in new surroundings.
Online digital music streaming service, Deezer, found that our four-legged friends aren’t that different from us and need music to enhance their overall health and happiness. These findings come from a study done in partnership with internationally renowned and respected animal behaviorist Dr. Sands, which explores the effect of music on animals, including variables such as track frequency and beats per minute (BPM)*.
Recognizing that music can have a profound effect on a dog’s health and happiness, Deezer and Dr. Sands created two canine-approved playlists: one keeps pups content and chilled to contribute to tip-top health, while the other releases the “paws” button for ultimate happiness.
The Best Songs to Make Your Pooch Happy
Several animal shelters have already begun playing soothing music to help quiet their 4-legged residents down. This technique has been discovered to be particularly effective for dogs in shelters during New Year’s Day or July 4th because it aids the dogs in coping with the deafening bangs and distress they often experience due to fireworks.
Fortunately, the effects of music on a dog’s well-being has spread even further to vet clinics as well. Research has shown that hospitalized pooches tended to have lower heart rate when harp music was being played to them. This suggests that music does not only help animals relax, but recover faster from their health problems, too. It appears that both humans and pets can get better more easily whenever they feel calm, peaceful, and are not making a great effort to cope.
Although not very surprising, it’s worthy to note that dogs are actually not very keen on certain percussion instruments which are somewhat reminiscent of gunshot sound. Pooches also seem to dislike the word “No” added into songs.
Nowadays, lots of dog owners are convinced that their pooches really enjoy listening to music and have made use of gentle, relaxing sounds to help them remain calm at home alone during the day, to recuperate from sickness or surgery, as well as to promote their welfare. It surely won’t be long before our four-legged furry companions will have their own unique music shops, collections, track list, and favorites stored in their own doggie iPods!