Can Classical Tunes Turn Anxious Pets Into Chill Companions?

Does music make animals calmer? Many pet owners have noticed that their animals seem to relax when certain types of music are played, but does science support this idea? Serenity Strull, a photo editor at the BBC, adopted a three-year-old pitbull mix named Margot, who struggled with anxiety, especially when left alone. Margot had previously been given medication for her anxiety, but it caused seizures, so Serenity stopped using it. After trying many different calming techniques and consulting trainers and veterinarians, Serenity discovered that playing classical music or gentle instrumental tracks helped Margot feel much calmer. One of Margot’s trainers recommended a special series of slow piano compositions designed to reduce stress in dogs. These tracks were created by Joshua Leeds, a psychoacoustic expert, and Susan Wagner, a veterinary neurologist. They studied the effects of this music on over 150 dogs in homes and kennels. Their research found that more than 70% of kennel dogs and 80% of dogs in homes showed fewer signs of stress, such as pacing, trembling, and panting, after listening to the music. Serenity noticed the change in Margot almost immediately. Before, neighbors would complain about Margot barking when left alone, but now, Margot naps peacefully while Serenity is away, even if she comes home very late. Other studies have found similar results. For example, one study looked at the effects of classical music, audiobooks, and silence on dogs in stressful situations like vet visits and car rides. The researchers found that classical music had a noticeable calming effect, especially in these stressful moments. However, not all classical music works equally well. The most effective music is slow, simple, and has little or no heavy percussion. This type of music has been shown to lower the stress hormone in dogs, although scientists are still trying to understand exactly why. Deborah Wells, an animal behavior researcher, suggests that this genre of music may help animals relax by causing their brains to release chemicals that make them feel good. Wells has also studied the effects of classical music on other animals, such as elephants and gorillas. She found that these animals spent less time showing nervous or aggressive behaviors when listening to classical music, which can lead to better eating and sleeping habits, stronger immune systems, and improved overall health. Animals hear differently than humans. Dogs have a hearing range about three times greater than humans, so they can detect higher pitches and sounds from farther away. Cats can hear even higher frequencies, which is why loud noises like car horns or crinkling tin foil can startle them. There are fewer studies on how music affects cats, but one experiment put headphones on cats during surgery and played different types of music. The cats had the slowest breathing rates, lowest heart rates, and largest pupil dilation when listening to classical music, all signs of being calm. Other genres, like reggae and soft instrumental music, can also help dogs relax, as long as the music is slow and doesn’t have heavy percussion. Another study found that instrumental music helped cats in hospitals breathe slower, as long as the music didn’t have very high or low frequencies. Some people think audiobooks might help pets relax, but research shows they are not as effective as music. When dogs listened to audiobooks, they mostly stared at the speaker instead of lying down or relaxing. While many studies show that classical music can help animals feel calmer, it doesn’t work for every pet. Most studies are small and short-term, and they focus on animals in stressful environments like shelters or hospitals. There are also many different styles of classical and instrumental music, and some may work better than others. Janet Marlow, a sound behaviorist and composer, noticed this with her own pets and began creating music specifically designed for different animals. She adjusted the music to remove sounds that might bother animals and made sure the tempo and harmonics were comfortable for them. She eventually created a collection called Pet Tunes, which is backed by scientific research. If you want to help your pet feel calmer, you may need to try different types of music to see what works best. Margot’s experience shows that the right music can make a big difference for anxious pets.