Choosing the Right Music for Your Dog

Snowfall might bring thoughts of quietness, but in New England, the serenity doesn’t last long. Between snow blowers and clunky plows, it can be a tough time for sound-sensitive dogs.

If your dog is afraid of loud noises, you’ve probably tried playing soothing music. Many people play music for their dogs, and not just to drown out other sounds. From puppies settling in and newly-adopted dogs adjusting to their homes to dogs that stay home alone, music is a common way to provide comfort.

If you’re wondering whether your dog’s playlist actually helps, research provides some insight into what works when it comes to music for dogs.

How Dogs Hear the World Differently

When dogs hear a sound, it enters the ear canal and is converted into electrical signals that travel to the brain, where the sound is processed. While you might have witnessed ways in which dogs have excellent hearing – your dog knows the exact sound of the cabinet opening where you keep treats, even from another room – the difference between dog and human hearing isn’t as simple as one species having better hearing than the other.

In his book How Dogs Think, author Stanley Coren, PhD, says, “The largest difference between the auditory ability of dogs and humans is in the high-frequency range.” Coren explains in the book that dogs can hear high-pitched sounds that people can’t, but there are other sounds perceived almost the same way.

What Studies Say About Music for Dogs

Given dogs’ sensitivity to high-pitched sounds, the question is, do dogs have a music preference? In a 2017 study, kennelled dogs exposed to reggae and soft rock showed signs of a more relaxed physiological state than when exposed to other genres, although music in general was associated with calmer behavior. More recent research, including work referenced in Animal Welfare, suggests classical music can also encourage relaxed behavior in some settings.

READ MORE: Wet Nose Wednesday Features Tips for Training Dogs and More

Why Variety Matters in Dog Playlists

Another key to finding the right music for your dog may have as much to do with variety as with the music itself. Imagine listening to the same few songs on repeat. As reported in a kennel study titled “The effect of different genres of music on the stress levels of kenneled dogs,” dogs quickly became accustomed to hearing the same music, but rotating different sounds helped maintain the calming effect over time.

Tips for Using Music to Calm Your Dog

If you’re looking to introduce music into your dog’s routine, it’s important to understand that music alone isn't a solution to problems like noise phobia and separation anxiety. It’s always best to consult with a professional. Another consideration is that if you plan to use music to soothe your dog during stressful events, such as storms, you should also ensure that the music doesn’t become a cue that something unpleasant is going to happen. If you only play music to soothe your dog but don’t use it during positive experiences, your dog might associate the routine only with those stressful experiences.

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Consider playlists that comprise a variety of music, including reggae, soft rock, and classical, but avoid heavy metal and anything excessively fast-paced or loud. If you happen to play an instrument, it's probably worth considering that you might want to practice in a room without your dog if you're not quite playing ear-pleasing patterns yet.

Melissa "MJ" Viera is the owner of MJ's Pet Training Academy in Acushnet.