Dogs are generally fond of music. However, like humans, they appreciate the sound of some music types. Dog owners are most likely to enjoy when they find music that has a relaxing or calming impact on their pets.
It’s not surprising that pet owners are keen on listening to music to help calm their dogs and give them peace of mind. It’s a no-cost solution that helps dogs develop into the kind of dogs they want to be! There is proof that certain types of music can help pets calm down. A study conducted in 2002 discovered that dogs were considerably less stressed following a listening session to classical music. The dogs’ breathing was slowed down, and they had less of a tendency to jog around or sit still. The study found that reggae music and soft rock also affect calming dogs.
However, shorter, quick, and short notes tend to increase the speed of a dog’s motor movement. In addition, heavy metal caused shaking and tremors, which is unsettling! It is essential to have a variety; dogs seem to tune out the music they hear constantly, including relaxing classical music. However, it isn’t relaxing if it’s repetitive.
A key point: But don’t forget that not every traditional music can be soothing! Consider the exhilarating music of The William Tell Overture (which most older Americans recognize as the main music from The Lone Ranger galloping across the landscape on his white horse). Make sure you are looking for calm, peaceful music to maximize the relaxation potential of the dog’s behavior.
Find Your Dog’s Calming Music
Where can you get this calming and soothing music? The following sources of dog-friendly music that include:
- iCalmPet declares that the calming songs it downloads have been “psychoacoustically designed to support your dog’s nervous system function.” In the simplest sense, we believe that they’re soothing to our ears to enjoy!
- Spotify is a service that lets you make a playlist for your pet for your pet.
- YouTube offers a variety of sites that deliver endless hours of relaxing music. Below is the link to a 12-hour playlist from Relax My Dog.
Does Dog Calming Music Work
If you’re as skeptical as I am, you could wonder if music that soothes works with dogs. Evidence from various studies appears to back this conclusion. The survey concluded that the shelter dogs barked much less inside their enclosures when relaxing music played. In addition, I’ll share my personal experience:
A client of mine had a dog that was anxious to the point of exhaustion. During our two-hour session, the dog paced and peed for a full 90 minutes as we discussed and worked out strategies to lessen the anxiety. After that, I switched off the iCalmDog player, and within less than one minute, the dog lay down on the table, her paws resting on her head with her eyes shut, and she stayed for thirty minutes.
Could it benefit all dogs? Perhaps, but not. However, as I advise my clients regularly…, it isn’t harmful to try it. It could help and could be worth trying. You might be the one you can benefit from!