You may have seen some of the popular videos and channels on YouTube that offer calming music for dogs, along with pictures of nature or other soothing images. But does music actually calm dogs? And if so, what kind of music calms dogs?
East Valley Animal Hospital knows how heartbreaking having an anxious pet can be. We are continually making efforts to reduce anxiety in pets, such as getting certified as a Fear Free clinic. We’ve looked into the science behind calming music for dogs, and we have good news—it works!
How Does Music Calm Dogs?
In last month’s blog we mentioned using calming music for dogs as a way to help ease your dog’s anxiety during a thunderstorm. But how does it work? Countless studies have been done on both people and animals to see what sort of effects music can have on the brain. Music with certain vibrations and tones has been shown to influence emotions.
Besides sending calming vibrations, playing music also masks sounds that make your dog anxious. Whether it’s the barking of a neighbor dog or a thunderstorm, blanketing those anxiety-causing sounds with calming music can help your dog relax. If you plan to use calming music for dogs when you are away, make sure to play the music when you are home as well, so your dog doesn’t link your absence to the music playing.
What Kind of Music Calms Dogs?
Music can calm your anxious dog, but what kind of music should you play? Studies have shown that classical music is one of the most calming types of music for dogs. Metal and rap music, on the other hand, tended to rile dogs up and encourage barking.
The specific tempo that has been noted to calm dogs is roughly 50-60 beats per minute. Avoiding music with deep bass or lots of clashing sounds is important, because it could remind dogs of thunder. You can find curated music that fits these criteria on most streaming services, including YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music.
How to Soothe Anxiety in Your Dog
Using calming music for dogs is a great place to start when it comes to soothing their anxiety. But some dogs may need a little more than music to calm down. First, try to identify the source of your pet’s anxiety. Sometimes it can be triggered by loud noises like thunder or fireworks. Other times it could be because of disruptions in the household, like a change in routine.
Managing your dog’s anxiety may require a multi-factored approach. Options like Thundershirts and calming sprays can be helpful, and so can long walks. Consistent daily exercise has been repeatedly proven to help with anxiety in dogs, as a tired dog is very rarely an anxious one.
Caring for Dogs with Anxiety
When caring for a dog with anxiety, you need to keep daily life and veterinary visits as stress-free as possible. The staff at East Valley Animal Hospital sincerely care about your dog’s happiness and health, and we want to help! If you have questions about managing anxiety and if there are any supplement options that may help your dog, ask us on your next visit. To schedule an appointment, call 480-568-2462 or contact us online.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use. Photo By Jamie Street on Unsplash.