It seems that dogs, and pets in general these days, are being bombarded with all sorts of sounds from just about every imaginable direction. Cell phones ring, surround systems blare and mowers, trash trucks and food processors roar. According to a recent Newsday article , this wall of sound can result in physical and psychological problems (that sure explains a lot).
But when it comes to soothing the beast, savage or otherwise, it would seem classical music is the way to go. So say Susan Wagner and Joshua Leeds, authors of the book Through a Dog’s Ear: Using Sound to Improve the Health & Behavior of Your Canine Companion. It makes sense when you think about it. Rock, Jazz and Heavy Metal have all been shown to agitate and nervously excite most dogs. Classical music, on the other hand, calms and relaxes dogs of every shape, size and breed.
Susan and Joshua have created “intentional” classical music just for this purpose. It often involves “lower tones, slower tempos, simplified structure and solo instruments.” This combination, they say, relaxes dogs’ heart rates, calms brain waves and significantly lowers stress levels.
With my 2nd birthday a little more than a month away, I know what’s going to be at the top of my wish list!
