Wellness times differently: Relaxation music for dogs

Several studies—such as one conducted by the University of Glasgow—have examined the effect of music on dogs and identified which genres our four-legged friends enjoy. The animals’ stress levels and heart rates were measured: Some dogs were not played any music, while others were played different genres of music. The results showed that dogs are particularly able to relax when listening to reggae, soft rock, and classical music. Heavy metal, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to be a good choice for our furry friends, as it produced fewer positive effects.

Rhythmic sounds in general, or audiobooks, can also have a calming effect and help young dogs get used to being alone. When playing music, you should always make sure your dog can leave the room at any time and avoid turning the volume up too high—because dogs have more sensitive ears than their owners. This means they hear music and other sounds much more intensely than humans do.

Meanwhile, there are more and more audio books, CDs and even streaming playlists specifically for dogs. The most important thing seems to be variety, because over time the stress-reducing effect of listening to one and the same tune wears off.