Dog owners have long considered music for dogs to be a myth. However, several studies have already shown that animals generally react positively to music. Researchers from the University of Glasgow, together with Scottish Animal Welfare, have now discovered that dogs also like to listen to music.
Different genres were played to dogs in animal shelters, including classical music, reggae, soft rock and pop, while the heartbeat and thus the stress level of the dogs was measured with an EKG. This way, they were able to see that as the music played, the dogs became quieter.
So if you want to do something good for your four-legged friend, you are welcome to turn on your favorite playlist. See how he reacts but be careful. Not all dogs like all music genres equally.
What music do dogs like? Reggae and soft rock are the favorites
Did you know that dogs have taste in music too? Regardless of the genre, the dogs in the study responded very positively to music. However, as the researchers at the University of Glasgow found out, their favorite music genres were reggae and soft rock.
The dogs’ taste in music could be recognized in the study by the fact that their stress level dropped significantly. Not all dogs reacted the same way. As confirmed by the researchers, the results of the study suggest that dogs, like humans, prefer to listen to certain types of music and less to others.
Find out your dog’s taste in music
You can easily find out for yourself whether your dog also prefers to listen to reggae, soft rock or pop music. Simply play different music for him and observe his behavior closely. Does he seem calmer or suddenly restless? In the best case, your dog likes the same music as you and you can share a playlist with each other.
Sleep music for dogs: Provide calming with gentle notes
There are now playlists, CDs and even apps specifically for dog ears. This is mostly relaxing music for dogs. So if your darling is nervous, you can try to calm him down with music. Music is not only good for dogs in stressful situations. You can also play music to your dog when he falls asleep so that he can relax even more. Puppies in particular can benefit from music, as they need between 15 and 22 hours of sleep a day for the first few weeks. And the more active your little pup is, the more sleep he needs.
