Does Music Help Dogs Relax?
As we learn more about dogs’ brains, we begin to wonder what kinds of things they like and what kinds of things they don’t like so much. Recently, the curiosity surrounding our dogs’ likes and dislikes has centered around their opinions on music. With so many options for dogs to listen to, you might wonder what purpose listening to music serves for our canine companions. Does music help them relax? Does it make them happy? Read on to learn more about how our dogs feel about music.
Studies Show Dogs Enjoy Classical Music the Most
Recent research on the effect that music has on dogs compared the effects of human conversation, classical music, heavy metal, pop, and no music on shelter dogs. Results showed that dogs spent more time resting when exposed to classical music and more time barking when exposed to heavy metal. The study’s results, while preliminary, suggest that classical music calms dogs down, while heavy metal seems to rile them up. So if you’re trying to calm your doggo through music, we recommend sticking to slow classical music rather than something with a more intense beat.
Music to Soothe Dogs
There are many classical music arrangements that are designed to soothe anxious dogs and cats. Lisa Spector’s Music to Calm Your Canine Companion, for example, consists of arrangements of classical music that have lower frequencies to calm your dog’s nervous system. The music has 40-60 beats per minute, which slows down your doggo’s heart rate. People calm down while listening to this type of music, too, Spector says, which then adds to the calming effect on our doggos.
Shelter Dogs Especially Benefit
Shelter dogs, who tend to be in crazy, loud environments while surrounded by so many other furry friends, can especially benefit from the calming effects of music. Playing music creates a much quieter environment for dogs, who stop barking and settle down when music is playing in the background. Quieter environments encourage shelter visitors to stay longer and adoption rates have shown to increase as well.
All of this combined suggests that our dogs do like music, but only of the calming type. Stick to classical instead of heavy metal, and you’ll have one happy, sleepy camper!