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Here's What Music Dogs Like, According To Research

COSTA RICA-ANIMAL-ABUSE-JUSTICE

Canine hearing is on average three times more sensitive than human hearing. And while it's hard to say if dogs enjoy music, it's not surprising that dogs prefer some tunes over others.

So, what music do dogs like? There is some published research on the topic.

A 2017 study from Psychology & Behavior sought to measure how music affected stress levels in dogs living in a kennel.

While the study tested only a narrow span of musical styles on the canines, it found dogs had the most favorable reaction to soft rock and reggae in terms of their exhibited stress levels.

The study observed 38 dogs over five days and played them soft rock, Motown, pop, reggae and classical music. Researchers say the dogs' heart rates slowed the most when they heard soft rock and reggae — a telltale sign of relaxation. The effects were less pronounced when hearing other kinds of music.

The good new is, if soft rock and reggae aren't your jams as a dog owner, the study also found that dogs generally spent more time lying down while any music was playing, indicating they were more relaxed with the music on.

It's disappointing that the study didn't also measure heavier styles of music, like hip hop or metal, but one study, published in 2012, that insists dogs hate metal. A 2002 study found the same thing. There's less information on how dogs react to hip hop.

There's a fair amount of data that suggests dogs appreciate classical music, but the Psychology & Behavior study also found that dogs quickly habituated to classical — meaning they stopped reacting to it after a short period of time.

The high-pitched frequencies that tend to bother dogs are rare in human music. But fast tempos seem to lead dogs to experience more stress.

Science suggests slower tempos, simpler patterns and lower frequencies (dogs love the bass!) are more pleasing to canines.

So until there's more research on the subject, the common practice of leaving the radio on for your dog when you're not at home makes good sense. But it might be best to leave the Slayer at home and swap out the Mozart for Bob Marley on the next ride to the vet.

As for cat people, musician David Teie made an entire album for felines.

Photo: Getty Images

A dog dressed in a reggae costume attend

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