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Listening to certain songs can help soothe and calm you during stressful times. While research has documented the therapeutic effects of sound and music on the human brain, could listening to music calm dogs, too?
And if so, what type of music do dogs like? Is there a particular type of music, for example, that can help your dog be less stressed around loud noises like construction, thunderstorms, and fireworks, or just when they are home alone?
Can You Use Music to Soothe Dogs?
There has not been a ton of research in this area, but there is enough to suggest that music can be used to increase relaxed behaviors in dogs.
According to Dr. Susan Wagner, a veterinary neurologist and co-author of Through a Dog’s Ear: Using Sound to Improve the Health and Behavior of Your Canine Companion, the everyday noises in the average American household can have a big effect on our pets’ health and well-being.
She also says that we can counteract this noise pollution and enrich their environment through certain types of music that have had a relaxing effect on dogs in previous studies.
What Types of Music Are Calming for Dogs?
A 2002 study conducted by animal behaviorist Dr. Deborah Wells confirmed the relaxing effect on dogs of classical music. In this study, the dogs spent more time resting and being quiet, and less time standing when exposed to classical music compared to heavy metal music, pop music, or conversation.
In 2005, Dr. Susan Wagner, a board-certified veterinary neurologist, found that solo piano music created according to psychoacoustic principles—with slower tempos and simple arrangements and sounds—was more effective in reducing anxiety than popular classic music. While both calmed the dogs in the study enough to make them lie down, the solo piano was even more effective.
A later study done in 2012 by Dr. Lori Kogan from Colorado State College of Veterinary Medicine also investigated the effects of classical music, heavy metal, and specifically designed music on 117 dogs in a kennel environment. She found that while listening to classical music, the dogs spent more time sleeping and less time vocalizing than when listening to other music or no music.
More recently, a study done in 2017 showed that soft rock and reggae, especially, led to more relaxed behaviors and increased heart rate variability, which indicates less stress.
Is There Music Made to Soothe Dogs?
Here are some options for relaxing music for dogs:
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Follow Preventive Vet on Spotify for different pet-friendly playlists.
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Try the Pet Acoustics Pet Tunes calming music dog speaker, which features 90 minutes of calming sounds for dogs.
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Canine Lullabies and Through a Dog’s Ear are both popular recordings.
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Do a search on YouTube for the top relaxing dog music videos.
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There are also apps devoted to calming music for dogs.
Some music is produced specifically for dogs and has frequencies that dogs, and not humans, can hear. While each dog may have their own music preferences, the tempo, length of the musical notes, simplicity of tones, and regular rhythms are the most important calming qualities.
When to Play Calming Music for Dogs
Your dog may appreciate soothing music in the following situations:
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If they are a new puppy or dog adjusting and settling in after being brought to your home.
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Dogs with separation anxiety, when they are left alone. While the sound of music may be comforting, be sure you also play the same music when you are home with them so they don’t associate the music with being home alone.
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When your dog spends time in their crate or safe space.
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Traveling in a car can cause anxiety, so playing some familiar music that you have previously played at home might help them relax
Should you play soothing music for your dog during fireworks and thunderstorms?
These noises can be stressful for many dogs, so playing a favorite tune can help distract them from the noises outside and keep them calm. Music can help mask the sound of fireworks or thunderstorms.
For puppies and dogs who haven’t yet shown anxiety or fear of loud noises, it is worthwhile to introduce noises in a positive way to prevent noise phobia or anxiety from developing. While most effective during your puppy’s imprint period (between 5 to 16 weeks of age), it can still be done at any age.
Dog trainer Victoria Stilwell partnered with Through a Dog’s Ear to create audio tracks that combine calming music with low-volume sound effects like fireworks, thunderstorms, and city sounds. These are great tools to introduce a puppy to new sounds in a positive way or to use in a desensitization training plan.
The Sound Proof Puppy app is another option to proactively expose your puppy to new sounds during their socialization period. It’s available on the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
Tips for playing music to calm your dog:
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Keep the volume moderate to low. Their sense of hearing is about four times as sensitive as ours!
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Start playing music when your puppy is young and learning. This makes music one of the normal sounds that they would hear in the home.
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Try various genres to get an idea of what type of music calms them the most and how they react to each one.
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Don’t just play music when your dog is home alone. Play it also when you are home so they don’t associate music with you leaving the house. This can increase stress rather than soothing them.
References
Bowman A, Dowell FJ, Evans NP. The effect of different genres of music on the stress levels of kennelled dogs. Physiology & Behavior. 2017;171:207-215.
Kogan LR, Schoenfeld-Tacher R, Simon AA. Behavioral effects of auditory stimulation on kenneled dogs. Journal of Veterinary Behavior. 2012;7(5):268-275.
Leeds J, Spector L, Wagner S. Bioacoustic Research & Development (BARD) Canine Research Summary. 2005-2007.
Featured Image: iStock.com/MajaMitrovic
Can It Help Soothe and Calm Your Pet Dogs?
It is not uncommon for dogs of various breeds to react negatively to stressful situations or a variety of loud, sudden sounds.
Thunderstorms, fireworks, very loud music and separation anxiety are all culprits that can cause dogs to become nervous and fearful.
Being left alone for long periods can often cause your pooch to become anxious (separation anxiety), aggressive, depressive, or even destructive, ruining your furniture and creating messes in the home.
If you dog has had trauma in early life (shelter dogs would be a good example of this) it can also have an effect on levels of stress later in life.
These are all obvious signs of stress and separation anxiety in your pup.
Luckily, there are many ways to calm your dog, give you, the owner, peace of mind when leaving for work, or help get your dog through an incredibly loud storm.
These calming music techniques are ideal for relaxing your dog, whether you have a new puppy or an older one.
Music to Calm Dogs: What is it and How Can it Help to Calm Your Dog?
Recent research and studies have shown that animals react positively to calming music, similar to humans.
Depending on the instruments, rhythms, and tones used to create the song, specific relaxing music genres are calming for your pets than others.
For example, cats react well to classical music, country music and jazz music, while dogs showed improved anxiety symptoms when owners left stations playing classical music, soft rock, or reggae music.
(Yes you read that right dogs like soft rock music!)
This relaxing music for dogs can help anxious dogs.
These songs for dogs can be left playing calming music all day on your streaming device or comprised into a playlist, which allows for a mix and match of genres to play throughout the day.
Cortisol, a stress hormone in dogs, was significantly reduced at shelters when this music method was used, along with other improvements such as lower heart rates, fewer signs of separation anxiety, and helped with excessive barkers.
Music therapy is a known natural stress-reliever in humans, heightening current mood levels, reducing stress, and helping with various sleep disorders.
If relaxing music can benefit people, why wouldn’t it benefit our furry friends?
Relaxing Music for Dogs and White Noise Specifically Created to Help Your Pet Dog Relax And Feel Less Anxious
Due to the discovery of the fact that calming music can help dogs by calming your dog mentally and emotionally.
Various YouTube music channels have begun to make specific mixes of ambient sounds and background tunes, which are made exclusively for dogs.
One such famous channel, boasting over half a million subscribers, is called “Relax My Dog.”
Here they play music that consists of slow tempo sounds, calming melodies, and they utilize instruments such as flutes and pianos to calm an anxious dog. The best part?
Each music mix is from twelve to fifteen hours long, in case the dog needs to be left alone for a more extended period, this is the music to help.
That’s right research has proven that relaxing music for dogs can help calm your dog, so why not use music to help your dog relax?
Other channels offer different a variety of services.
One other called “PetTunes,” for example, offers live videos of nature scenes, such as birds eating from a feeder or videos of bunnies hopping through a field.
Their music includes background nature ambiance, such as singing birds, wind blowing, chipmunks chittering and people talking in low voices.
This is an excellent option for “dog television,” which distracts them further from their anxious ways, as they not only have music to listen to but also something to watch and help them stay calm.
Other Methods to Help Relax and Calm Your Pet Dog
There are thankfully, many different options for anxious dogs besides soft rock music, pop music and TV in today’s growing dog market.
- Physical Activity – Often, mainly when still a puppy, anxiety can stem from an underwhelming amount of activity during the day. Dogs are incredibly intelligent creatures that need daily mental stimulation. This can be achieved by taking your dog on a long walk or running at the dog park. Tiring out your dog can help calming their anxiety and help them sleep longer, curing your dog’s possible sleep deprivation.
- Doggy Diffusers – Aromatherapy is not just for humans! Many dog-friendly brands have created synthetic, liquid pheromones, which are diffused around the house, calming your pet’s anxious tendencies. These options also come in spray and collar varieties.
- Crates – Crates are meant to be a safe space for your dog and, with the proper training and dedication, you can train your pup to run to their crate when left alone (great for separation anxiety) or when they are feeling anxious, such as during a loud thunderstorm. It is best to opt for a crate that is big enough for your pet to turn around in, as tight, confined spaces can add to their anxiety. It may also help leave a piece of clothing with your scent inside the crate, to entice them to use it when stressed. It is best to place the crate in a low-traffic zone of your house or a secure room for added comfort.
- Dog Beds – Thanks to the ever-growing dog market, many brands have created calming beds for dogs specifically meant for anxious behavior. A simple Google search will show you the many options available, from big, soft, doughnut-shaped beds to premium-grade orthopedic beds to ease the pain for older dogs or dogs with chronic health conditions. A popular option as of late is dog beds that engulf the pet in a thick layer of faux fur and a rounded, puffy shape, meant to feel like being swaddled.
Overall, there are various options to try to help your dog conquer their anxiety issues, wherever they may stem from.
It is vital to take your dog to the vet before trying to help them at home, as there may be an underlying health effect that is causing your dog to suffer from anxiety.
Make sure to spend lots of time with them, exhausting their high energy levels and giving them all the love they crave and rightfully deserve.
You might also find it useful to consult a professional dog trainer for more advice.
In conclusion, you may ask at some point in your dog’s life, how can I better relax my dog? There are a variety of methods you can use to help calm your dog, as outlined above.
However, a convenient technique is to allow your pup to listen to calming music for dogs to ease anxiety problems.
I know it might sound crazy but yes listening to music really can have a positive effect on your dog in helping them stay calm.
Dog relaxing, calming music music has excellent benefits for your dog’s well-being.
It can be used to lower their heart rate and positively effect canine anxiety and other stress problems such as those stemming from noise phobia or separation anxiety for instance.
We hope that you enjoyed this post about music for dogs to soothe separation anxiety and other issues, if you did then we have more posts you might find interesting…
If you have a younger dog you might also find this post about dealing with an anxious puppy useful or for dogs of all ages this post about how to relieve stress in dogs might be worth a read.
