Music has long been an emotional outlet and source of catharsis for humans, and we now know that it can potentially help our dogs deal with stress as well.

According to a new study from the Scottish SPCA and researchers from the University of Glasgow, playing music has a positive effect on a dog’s behavior. In fact, “reggae music and soft rock showed the highest positive changes in behavior,”1 says Professor Neil Evans.

The experiment consisted of alternating 6-hour periods of playing music of different genres (classical, soft rock, reggae, pop, and Motown) with days of no music to shelter dogs. As the music played, researchers recorded several proven indicators of canine stress such as heart rate, cortisol levels, and behavior. The data showed that when the dogs listened to the music, they were generally less stressed.2

At Kali’s Wish, it is our goal to raise awareness of pet cancer and provide families with easy-to-understand resources about the disease, its prevention and its treatment. The unfortunate truth is that cancer treatment can be stressful and scary for our pets. As a result, we were curious if these research findings could be applied to reduce stress in dogs undergoing cancer treatment, so we took our question to Dr. Dirk Dekens from our Panel of Experts. Here is what he had to say:

The results of this study are significant. For instance, similar studies on dairy cows showed an increase in milk production when they were exposed to classical music, versus a decrease when listening to rock music. The slower the beat of the music, the higher the production. Music also has a distinct impact on the human experience.

I do think that there is a potential benefit to expose dogs to a slow beat music while undergoing treatment for cancer. It’s also an easy thing for pet Guardians to do in the comfort of the animal’s home.

There you have it – if you are interested in trying a new technique to help your dog stay calm and less stressed during or after cancer treatments, try playing them some reggae music. We recommend Bob Marley.

Do you have any questions about caring for your pet with cancer or how to prevent cancer in pets? Click here to submit them to our Panel of Experts today!

Sources:

  1. Reggae gets a paw of approval, The Scottish SPCA
  2. Music helps dogs chill out, especially if it’s reggae or soft rock, The Washington Post

photo credit: David Hale Smith headphone Jenny via Flickr (license)

This page has been reviewed by our Panel of Experts for accuracy. Our Panel of Experts is comprised of practitioners with varying specialties and perspectives. As such, the views expressed here may not be shared by all members of our Panel.

The content on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.