If you want to calm a hyperactive pup without resorting to physical punishment, playing Bob Marley might do just the trick. According to research from Scottish SPCA and University of Glasgow, dogs seem to enjoy listening to reggae or soft rock tunes as a source of entertainment.
Researchers administered five genres of music to 38 dogs at a rehoming centre and recorded their heart rates and behavioral changes, finding that all genres had positive results, though reggae and soft rock seemed particularly popular with the animals.
Reggae is a meditative style of music
Reggae music’s soothing, meditative style can help dogs relax. Studies have demonstrated its effectiveness at lowering heart rates and cortisol levels, and soothing separation anxiety sufferers. Reggae music is great for helping your pet unwind during stormy weather or when leaving them alone; use it also when traveling!
Study conducted by the Scottish SPCA and University of Glasgow found that dogs of all breeds love music, particularly reggae and soft rock tunes. Researchers played various songs to kennel dogs at a rehoming center and observed their behavior, and observed positive behavioral changes when reggae or soft rock music was playing; for example, more time lying on the floor and less active behavior were seen when playing this music was present.
Reggae music from Jamaican is distinguished by heavy bass drum sounds and rhythm. The bass guitar plays an integral role in reggae music; its bass line often repeats two or four times over what is called a riddim (rhythm), often used multiple times by different artists over its lifespan – making the bass the primary instrument in reggae. Dub music is one form of reggae.
Reggae music has spread around the world, adapting to local instruments and genres as it moves across cultures. European musicians have adapted its rhythms and harmonies in order to reflect Jamaican music’s African influence through use of horns or vocal melodies with vocal melodies that reflect it.
Reggae music has long been recognized for its socially critical lyrics. Although some artists use reggae to address more intimate topics such as love or socializing, reggae also often incorporates religious themes (Rastafari). Some artists use reggae music to promote cannabis use as spiritual medicine while other musicians utilize its messages to criticize materialism or raise awareness of issues like apartheid.
It is calming
Reggae music offers the ideal combination of slow tempo, low pitch, and few dynamic changes that makes it great for dogs. Reggae helps ease stress relief and relax dogs with separation anxiety; one study found that when overexcited dogs were put onto a playlist of reggae songs within five minutes they calmed down considerably – these relaxing tracks included Bob Marley’s One Love Redemption Song Toots & the Maytals Pressure Drop 54-46 That’s My Number by Bob Marley being some of my favorites among others by Bob Marley himself as well.
Classical music and soft rock have also been proven to help calm dogs; however, some studies have demonstrated that these genres do not have the same calming effect as reggae. Dr. Lori Kogan from Colorado State University conducted an experiment examining different kinds of music’s effect on 117 dogs housed in kennels; her researchers observed that those listening to classical music experienced less vocalization, less stress behaviors, and lower heart rate variability – all signs of decreased stress levels.
Researchers from the Scottish SPCA and University of Glasgow also conducted experiments in shelter environments with dogs to see which musical genre was their favourite, including Motown, pop, reggae and classical. Motown and pop were particularly well received while reggae and soft rock stood out; but each dog likely has its own taste in music!
Many pet owners play music for their dogs to help them relax and feel loved, with the goal of decreasing anxiety levels and preventing behavioral problems like barking or chewing. Popular online services such as Spotify enable users to create custom playlists specifically tailored for their animals’ comfort; other services, like RelaxMyDog allow owners to select music that they think works with their animals.
It is relaxing
Reggae music was found to be particularly soothing for dogs in a study conducted by researchers from the Scottish SPCA and University of Glasgow. Researchers played various songs at a rehoming center in Dumbarton, Scotland, before measuring heart rates to see their response; reggae and soft rock music proved particularly relaxing to animals while their heart rate decreased when played; these genres stood out among all genres played – although each individual animal may have preferred specific music genres.
Reggae music offers both slow tempos and an abundance of bass notes that help relieve nervous energy. Its melodies are simple so dogs can quickly recognize them passively hear, helping their minds from wandering and creating security in new home environments. Reggae can especially be effective at relieving shelter dog anxiety; often shaking, barking or becoming aggressive upon entering new environments; calming reggae rhythms help reduce this tension to create greater comfort in new living arrangements.
Other genres of music have also been shown to have soothing effects on dogs. Classical music, particularly Mozart and Brahms pieces, have been proven to help relax pets. Spa-like sounds, reggae music, soft rock music as well as spa-like sounds can all aid relaxation for dogs; however rap or hard rock music should be avoided due to faster beats that could agitate pets.
The findings from this research are being put to use at Scottish SPCA shelters. Two rehoming centers now play music for animals while plans are in the works to provide canine-approved playlists at every shelter in the future – this way animals can listen to their favorite tunes while waiting for forever homes. Furthermore, they have invested in better audio electronics to pipe in Trenchtown Rock in all kennels to soothe and comfort shelter dogs as they wait for families to take them in.
It is fun
Are You Searching For Ways to Relieve Your Dog Stress? Listening to music could be the solution! According to research conducted by the Scottish SPCA and University of Glasgow, music can have a calming effect on dogs’ behavior. Researchers played various genres, such as reggae, soft rock and Motown to see how dogs would respond; reggae or soft rock music in particular had positive results for calming behavior changes among dog subjects exposed to its sounds.
Results revealed that dogs listening to reggae or soft rock music were less anxious and more relaxed, with less whining and barking as stress-related behaviors subsided. Researchers speculate that one reason reggae music appeals to dogs may be its slow rhythm and tempo that helps relax them, while hard rock and grunge genres such as hard rock are known to increase anxiety in pets; such genres often contain frightening sounds like drumbeats and deep basses which mimic thunderstorms, sirens or gunshots which may make these genres unsuitable as sources of relaxation.
No wonder Bob Marley, Toots and the Maytals, REO Speedwagon and Ed Sheeran’s music can help dogs unwind. Reggae music’s rhythm, tempo and bass provide soothing relief – making reggae ideal for dog listening pleasure!
RelaxMyDog, a new company dedicated to soothing sounds and relaxation techniques for pets, has created an album of reggae and soft rock songs specifically targeted toward canines to enjoy during difficult times. Their founder hopes this playlist can keep their dogs relaxed during tough situations – an alternative solution to conventional pet products like chew toys or treats!
Study by the Scottish SPCA and University of Glasgow has demonstrated that kenneled dogs prefer reggae and soft rock music over others. Researchers were able to make this determination by monitoring heart rates of individual animals. Furthermore, results were compared with studies on how certain genres affect animals’ moods.