In a previous article, we mentioned music as a possible stress-reducer
during holiday fireworks and other noise. It would seem that music does
have some effect on animals undergoing stress, but we still don’t know precisely
what music suits what pets and what moods. Is it worth it to invest in
music that is marketed as a pet-stress-reduction aid?
What Do The Studies Say?
One study found that classical music and soft seemed to reduce stress
in shelter dogs. However, it was noted that music touted as specifically
formulated to calm dogs didn’t appear to have an effect on stress.
Patricia McConnell, an animal behavior expert, noted that dogs seem to
prefer “long, extended notes, pure tones and relatively slow tempos”.
A study on cats and music found that classical music is the best for
feline serenity. A different study indicates that cats may prefer music
that has nothing to do with our tastes. ‘Species-appropriate music’ is music
with rhythms that mimic the target species’ natural communication. The
music that was created took its tempo and rhythm from purring and the average
feline heartbeat.
Species-Appropriate Music?
There’s no word on whether species-appropriate music has been created
for dogs. If there were, what would it
sound like? Dogs make many different vocalizations, but many of them are
in response to heightened stimuli. Making music based on these sounds would
possibly excite dogs rather than soothe them.
It might be construed that this is why soft rock might be more appealing to dogs
than other types of music. If it mimics the average canine heartbeat, it might
trigger sensations of safety from early puppyhood.
Anecdotal evidence has it that rabbits, hamsters, ferrets, and other
small mammals like music, but studies in this area do not seem extensive. Some species of birds, on the other hand,
have been observed to respond to and even have personal tastes in music.
How Can You Use Music To Help
De-Stress Your Pet?
With a number of studies on the ground on music’s effect on pets, it
seems clear that music does affect most animals to some degree. As a stress-reliever, music has had varied
effects on different species and on individual pets. It is not clear how much relief from anxiety
music can give an individual pet; like many other approaches to mitigating
stress, it works best as part of a long-term stress-reduction strategy.
In order to maximize any stress reduction
in your pet, it is probably best to experiment with different kinds of music
and sounds to see if any positively or negatively affect your pet before
putting it into practice at a stressful time.
It’s sometimes hard to see whether a specific thing is having a specific
effect, but it might be worth it to find out that your dog prefers guitar riffs
to the fiddle and your cat would much rather listen to “Born Free” than “You
Ain’t Nothin’ But A Hound Dog”.
One might also theorize that any music your pet associates with a pleasant,
relaxing time might also be a useful trigger.
As lullabies can serve as a trigger for a child’s brain to shift into
sleep mode, so might a specific song or series of songs serve to trigger
relaxation in your pet. This is a
long-term strategy and should be used in conjunction with other approaches to
make your pet better able to adjust to whatever situation is disturbing them.
So,
Is It Worth It?
It might be wise to take claims about ‘proven to
de-stress your pet!’ with a grain of salt.
That doesn’t mean music for pets won’t help yours. You may also want to experiment with natural
sounds like water or birdsong. See what
affects your pet (or what doesn’t) and make your choices accordingly.