What music do dogs like?

If you’re going to the record store or a pop concert, you might consider your pooch and the music they enjoy. Although they often copy what you like, there can be science behind the audio they want, whether loud, abrasive or evenly fine-tuned.

Classical music to soothe

More than a few studies and articles suggest that classical music soothes and calms dogs. A research paper published by a university in Belfast indicates that classical music has a moderate calming effect on dogs. This aligns with a Scottish rescue kennel's statement that the genre helps reduce the dogs' nerves.

Potentially, your dog looks at you on a Sunday afternoon, wanting to unwind and listen to Für Elise or The Planets. Why not indulge them in some light music and a little dog treat after a long dog walk?

Dogs love reggae

Reggae has been a hot topic for dog owners. Multiple studies have shown that dogs react positively to reggae music! So why is your poodle pining to hear Toots and the Maytals or Bob Marley? The science behind it suggests that they return to their infancy as puppies.

Puppies are calmed and soothed by the sounds and rhythms of their mother's heartbeat. While we don’t necessarily make the connection, reggae music resembles this sensation for dogs. Well, they think so, at least.

Soft rock is also appreciated

If you’re not interested in reggae music, a few other studies suggest that dogs also appreciate soft rock sounds. While the genre isn’t the most concise, it’s believed that the subtle sounds and rhythm also allow them to unwind. Hall and Oates for your happy dog, while they are having their beef stew or lamb casserole?

Dogs can mirror their owner's tastes

It is common for dogs to simply like the music their owners like. Not for their specific sounds, but if they see their owners grooving to some smooth jazz, happy with twee folk music, or getting fed when indie music is on, they’ll associate the sounds with happy times. The dog might not appreciate Bob Dylan or Thelonious Monk specifically, but they can evoke happiness through related memories.

When and why use music to calm dogs?

There are some notable instances when our dogs get stressed or anxious. The biggest culprits are excessive noise, such as fireworks. However, depending on the dog’s temperament and personality, they might be noted by other situations like meeting new people, new dogs, etc. Who wouldn't be stressed when meeting an unknown Sapsali?

Playing music from these genres may relieve some stress. Beethoven might not stop the fireworks, but it can calm them down.

Dogs aren’t keen on hard rock or heavy metal

Some studies have shown that dogs respond poorly to louder music like heavy metal and hard rock. When exposed to music from Metallica, Iron Maiden and the ilk, dogs can often bark and howl to show that this music is too stressful. Your Bergamasco Shepherd will probably not be joining you at the Download Festival; put it that way.

How hard is hard; how soft is soft?

If you’ve read the entirety of this article, you’ll have picked up that there’s a doggy dichotomy. They like soft rock but detest hard rock. So where is the line? Fleetwood Mac, Genesis, and Bryan Adams all must be permissible. Metallica might have started as a thrasher metal outlet, but it’s hard to define Black Album as a hard rock album, given how pop-friendly it is.

Def Leppard, Bon Jovi and Aerosmith could be called hard rock. Yet, all redefined their sound to be commercially successful, entering the soft rock sound. How heavy will your French Bulldog tolerate?

Not interested in audiobook literature

The findings from the Belfast paper also tested whether dogs enjoyed listening to audiobooks. This test section failed to provide adequate calming effects on the listening dogs. Even if it’s a time best-seller, your dog will be more interested in the list of ingredients in its dog food raw packet.

Talking of ingredients, it seems natural to tell you that all Innocent Hound food is single-protein, grain-free, and air-dried to lock in all the nutrients. This gives you all the benefits of a raw dog food UK diet but with much more convenience.