Do dogs like music? – dog

Music has an undeniable impact on people. But do dogs like music? Considering that dogs cannot tell us exactly how they feel, the answer is not conclusive. But some studies have shown a positive response in dogs.

Dog behavior expert and VCA Animal Hospitals VCA Vet Tech Ali Creighton says it’s a difficult question to answer, because there’s no proven way to determine whether a dog actually enjoys music. or not.

“Studies have shown positive responses in behavior and body language, but this is something that will vary between dogs,” she says. “Just like humans, dogs have preferences.”

Derrick Garrett, Zoundz music for pets founders and CEOs, is more certain.

“Of course, they do,” he said. “But it has to be the right music.”

What kind of music do dogs like?

While dogs don’t necessarily respond to specific genres of music, Derrick says, they do respond to specific parameters in a song, including tempo, chord progression, and instrumentation. Some classical music genres and subgenres contain all the parameters that help dogs relax, but they can technically fall under any genre or sub-genre of music.

Ali says experimental data has shown that dogs have a preference for classical music and, quite interestingly, reggae music.

What does a hobby look like? research assess the dog’s heart rate in response to different types of music.

Soothing music for dogs

Relaxing music for dogs can help deal with stressful situations or anxious dogs.

“Music can absolutely influence a dog’s behavior,” says Ali. “Reactions and musical preferences will vary between dogs. Common responses include relaxation and, in some cases, decreased anxiety.”

Every song in the Zoundz Music For Pets repertoire, Derrick explains, is tested to soothe dogs in stressful environments or situations, including shelters, veterinary hospitals, boarding facilities and homes. young.

A quick search will bring up streaming playlists like “Smooth music for dogs” or “Music for dogs” that might work.

“A lot of those playlists will include light, classical music,” she said. “As long as your dog does not have a negative reaction to music (anxiety, fear, etc.), owners are free to try them out.”

Some pet parents may also wonder if music helps their dogs sleep. Derrick said no.

“In the species-specific musical parameters, there is some flexibility to reduce the tempo of the music to a speed that can put your dog to sleep,” he says. “However, I wouldn’t dare say that there is a specific type of music for dogs to sleep in.”

How music can help dogs

Music can be used for training sessions. For example, Ali says, if you’re training your dog to lie in bed and calm down, turn on music during this training exercise.

“Eventually, with the command learned, your dog may begin to associate music with the desired behavior,” she says. “Also, playing music to your dog can be a form of enrichment – as long as your dog doesn’t have a negative reaction to playing music.”

Whether it’s a stressful situation or a training session, the right music can help your dog relax. Try playing different types of music in different situations to see if it calms your dog. But be careful with playing the music too loud.

“Dogs can be sensitive to extremely loud volumes, so make sure to practice normal volume safety just as you would with yourself,” says Ali.