Classical Music Soothe Anxious Dogs - Music Appreciation Through a Dog's Ear

Music has a huge impact on the human body and psyche but did you know that’s also true of dogs?

One of the seminars at this year’s APDT conference was a presentation on that very subject by Bay Area locals Lisa Spector, an award-winning classical pianist, and psychoacoustics researcher Joshua Leeds. Psychoacoustics is the study of the perception of sound and the sensations sounds produce. Together, Spector and Leeds have studied the effect of different tempos and arrangements of classical music on dogs with anxiety-driven behavior. The results may surprise you.

Earlier studies had shown that compared to different types of music and sounds, classical music has a notable soothing effect on dogs in animal shelters. Spector, Leeds and Dr. Susan Wagner, a veterinary neurologist, were curious about the effect of different types and tempos of classical music on dogs in shelters and home environments. They found that classical music with slower tempos, simpler arrangements and solo instruments had a greater calming effect on dogs than faster more complex arrangements. In shelters, over 70% of the dogs studied became calmer with the slower simpler musical arrangements. In homes, 85% of the dogs became calmer and over half went to sleep when slower solo piano pieces were played.



The team took their research a step further. Their second study showed that compared to standard classical musical arrangements, simple slow-paced classical piano music had a greater calming impact on dogs with fear and anxiety issues such as noise phobias, fear of children, separation anxiety and fear of riding in the car. The simple slow piano arrangements reduced 70% of anxiety behaviors in the dogs studied, and calmed them enough to lie down.

Based on the research, Leeds and Spector have produced a series of CDs of simple slow classical piano arrangements designed to calm dogs and reduce anxiety. The musical selections are played by Lisa Spector and have been tested with over 150 dogs. The CDs have received great reviews from many vets, behaviorists and trainers who’ve tried them. The CDs are next on my list of new tools to try with my dog, clients’ dogs, and myself. Through A Dog’s Ear music is apparently deeply relaxing to humans too!

To get musical tips for behavioral issues, listen to samples of the Through a Dog’s Ear music, and purchase the CDs, go to www.throughadogsear.com. Happy listening!

Flickr Photo Credit: Superhoop, mike@bensalem

Lisa-Anne Manolius is the multi- talented owner/trainer of Oh Behave! in San Francisco. A graduate of the S.F. SPCA's Academy for Dog Trainers and U.C. Berkeley's Boalt School of Law, she's available for dog behavior consultations, private training sessions, and to teach a variety of group classes. She can be reached at lisaohbehave@gmail.com.