I have a confession to make. Whenever I leave the house, I turn on the television and select a music channel for Buster, my 9-year-old dog. I feel a little guilty leaving him in silence for any length of time, and always hope the music will entertain him and maybe drown out some of the outside noises that could make him bark during the day.
Buster doesn’t react to music the way my other dog Archie used to. Archie loved rap music. If you put on Flo Rida’s “Right Round,” Archie jumped around the room as if trying to dance with me.
With Buster I haven’t a clue what he likes to listen to, and usually choose soft rock, oldies, or classical music to keep him company. But maybe I just haven’t found the right play list for Buster yet.
A recent study from the University of Glasgow and the Scottish SPCA revealed that while dogs like all kinds of music, they also have musical preferences, just like humans. Researchers played five kinds of music genres — soft rock, Motown, pop, reggae, and classical music — for dogs at the shelter and then observed the psychological and behavioral changes the dogs made while listening to the music.
While the dogs spent “significantly more time lying and significantly less time standing” regardless of the music playing, the dogs reacted positively to and had an affinity for reggae and soft rock — very relaxed vibes that apparently makes their hearts happier.
Doesn’t that just sound like what a dog would like? The reggae and soft rock even resulted in a drop in blood pressure and stress for the dogs. The Scottish SPCA now pipes in these musical genres at both of their shelters to keep dogs’ content and calm.
Some dogs like music so much they sing with it, and there are plenty of videos online with dogs showing off their karaoke talents. The American Kennel Club says there’s research that shows dogs also have a sense of pitch and will adjust that pitch to accommodate other canine “singers” in the group.
You can almost hear the harmonies when a group of dogs starts to howl to music (or at sirens). But they are just as happy going solo.
My sister’s dog, a boxer mix, wailed every time he heard the “Sanford and Son” ringtone on her phone. Jesse howled for the full 15 seconds of play time, and then stared at the phone, patiently waiting for its next set.
So, when you leave the house, turn on some reggae or soft rock so your dog can chill. Leaving music on for your dog turns out to be a groovy thing to do.
Send your pet questions, tips and stories to cathy@petpundit.com. You can read her Animals Matter blog at http://blog.mysanantonio.com/animals and follow her at @cathymrosenthal.