

In addition to classical music, reggae music and some soft rock music usually falls into this tempo. So, what is it about classical music that seems to do the trick? Research shows that dogs tend to relax best when they’re exposed to music with a tempo of 50 to 60 beats per minute. The study found that when dogs were exposed to classical music, they rested more, spent more time being quiet, and spent less time standing. Deborah Wells also found that classical music helps dogs relax. Classical Music is Particularly Beneficial for DogsĪnother study conducted in 2002 by Dr.

The autonomic system controls both your flight or fight response and your rest and digest response. And while scientists may not know exactly how and why music affects dog and human brains, we do know that relaxing sounds and music affect the physiological processes of the autonomic system. In both human and animal studies, cortisol (the stress hormone) levels drop in the blood as a result of listening to classical music. Scientists do know that multiple parts of the brain are involved in the process- specifically the limbic system and the auditory cortex. Despite the promising results of the study, scientists still don’t know the exact reason why music provides a soothing effect on dogs.

The study found that classical music had a significant calming effect on dogs, while metal music caused an agitating effect. The study looked at 117 dogs in shelters that were exposed to heavy metal music and classical music. Her findings, which were published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior, looked at the effects of relaxing music on dogs in stressful environments. Kogan from the Colorado State College of Veterinary Medicine. While several studies have been conducted regarding the relationship between music and dogs, one of the most notable studies was conducted by Dr. Research Shows That Music Helps Calm Dogs
