Music News

I repeat: Your dog likes music. This might help you find their favourite.

I didn’t need science to tell me that dogs like music. All my English bull terrier have exhibited certain musical preferences. Willy Bumpers used to stare the TV and shuffle from foot-to-foot when the theme from Dallas came on. Sponge seems partial to Sarah McLachlan. Today, both Schmooze and Squirt seem to really enjoy ambient music, especially Brian Eno’s Music for Airports.

None of them actually requested this music, of course. I was able to find out about their favourite jams through trial, error and accident. Is there any way we humans could find out what our dogs would like to listen to?

Actual research into the matter indicates that many dogs have a preference for reggae. But other studies seem to show that like humans, dogs’ tastes are all over the map, but with individual animals into their own thing.

According to Live Science, dogs (like humans) tend to prefer music that reflects their own vocal ranges.  Elite Daily picks it up from there.

This phenomenon is called “species-specific music,” and Live Science reports that the theory essentially argues that both humans and animals enjoy pitches, tones, and tempos that are familiar to them. In fact, scientists like Charles Snowdon, an animal psychologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, have been working to create species-specific music that proves this theory, using fast-paced tempos for monkeys and cats, for instance.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that dogs don’t love your music. In fact, larger dogs have very similar vocal chords to that of adult males, Dr. Snowdon explained in an interview with Live Science, so that may be why your golden retriever loves listening to Justin Timberlake as much as you do.

Justin Timberlake? Not in my house. Read more here.

 

 

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 39039 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

One thought on “I repeat: Your dog likes music. This might help you find their favourite.

  • Awesome! Can’t wait to try it. My Dog has joined in with my singing only once and I’ve wondered ever since what made him do it!!

    Reply

Let us know what you think!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.