GLASGOW, Scotland — If a chewing treat or rubber toy isn’t getting the job done when it comes to exciting your pooch, turning on the radio just might do the trick. Just be careful as to which station you put on. A study finds dogs can be particular when it comes to the type of music they prefer.
Researchers out of the University of Glasgow in Scotland, along with folks at the Scottish SPCA, found that reggae and soft rock topped the canine charts, though certain dogs do seem to have various tastes. “We were keen to explore the effect playing different genres of music had, and it was clear that the physiological and behavioural changes observed were maintained during the trial when the dogs were exposed to a variety of music,” said PhD student Amy Bowman in a release.
The musical experimentation took place at the SPCA in Dumbarton, Scotland, where researchers studied how dogs there responded to different styles of music.
“Overall, the response to different genres was mixed highlighting the possibility that like humans, our canine friends have their own individual music preferences,” said Professor Neil Evans. “That being said, reggae music and soft rock showed the highest positive changes in behaviour.”
Back in 2015, the Scottish SPCA also released a study showing classical music had a calming effect on dogs. Researchers at Colorado State University reached the same conclusion in a 2012 study. That study also found heavy metal boosted anxiety and unrest in dogs.
Like studies? Follow us on Facebook!
Who let the dogs out?
I did. I let the dogs out.
lol, Mike. This made my day.
No, sir. It was indeed I that let the dogs out. I intend to let them out again tomorrow as well, if it pleases me, so burger off.
Mike, I have known for years that it was you who let the dogs out. In fact, everyone knows it was you. This whole pretending ignorance thing has been very awkward, and I am glad it is finally over.
Dean, it was you that neglects cleaning up the dog sh!t, it was I who stepped in it. Mike, what do you feed that beast?
The same people that wasted large sums of cash on this worthless study.
From the same people that brought you hundred million dollars to put shrimp on treadmills comes: dogs like easy listening….
NOOooo… Soft Rock, not easy listening!!
What happened to the shrimp’s heart rate?
My dog likes ONLY Stevie Ray Vaughn!! 🙂
That would be you, since your taxpayer money funded it…
Celine Dion. My dachshund stretches out for a nap to Celine Dion.
there’s a rabbit in the woodpile and I ain’t got my dog!
My dog lets her self out
Wooo. woooo. woooo!
I can’t!!!
Mine are a delightful mixture of H2S and CH4, much like my dog’s
Reggae music that dogs like? Or all the second hand ganja smoke the dogs inhale in the room of the PEOPLE listening to reggae music?
Be happy…
Stupidest thing I’ve read all day. Dogs…their #1 concern in life should be depending on some jackwad human for their care. Man’s best friend…Pfft!! Dear God…please, please…don’t bring me back as a dog.
Sounds like you don’t like dogs so I pray you never get one because I’m sure you would not be a good parent to it..they love attention and love walks,all the things you don’t like..
Dogs have masters not parents.
True, pets are property but that does not mean they are not loved or considered part of the family.
My dog was a best friend. Far from me being a master. He listened to me and Leah’s tried to make me happy as I also did to him. People are so stupid at times
Dogs get a free pass at the Pearly Gates for having to put up with such humans as these ‘researchers” while on Earth.
And cats have servants.
Wow. You really are missing out.
“Until one has loved an animal a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” -Anatole France
It is much easier to show compassion to animals. They are never wicked.
– Haile Selassie
Riiiiggghhttt…that’s why dogs never kill children…
You nailed it 😉
“A dog is the only creature that will love you more than he loves himself”. Josh Billings
Mike – even if you could lick your junk? You should reconsider.
Sly one, Mr. Cat. You will never defeat us… never!
“Stupidest thing I’ve read all day.” Comment made at… 1:54 am. LMFAO!
How many dogs could have been saved if they didn’t pay for this goofy study?
Saved? These dogs are treated better than most humans. They’re not injecting a virus into them and putting them back in a cage like rats. Plus, these recent studies as well as other valuations point out that dogs are more capable of understanding/identifying the mannerisms/emotions of the people they associate with than once thought. Or we could spend $1.2 million to assess the effects of microgravity on sheep that Obama approved in 2015.
Actually, they do inject dogs with viruses, keep and torture them in cages like rats. They do horrible things to dogs in the name of science. It’s just not talked about much. Check out the Beagle Freedom Project (bfp.org). They torture many breeds of dogs in the name of science. It truly is horrific. Look up some videos of this stuff. It’s mortifying. The amount of animals this is happening to is devastating. And it’s happening everywhere in the U.S. and all over the world. Texas A&M was just caught in a massive scandal about their horrific abuse to dogs in the name of science. Disgusting.
Dogs are used to train medics to treat soldiers wounded during combat. I would prefer they use something totally useless such as women wearing pink hats marching/strolling in large groups.
This could be. I had a dog years ago that was very partial to Johnny Cash for some reason. She would stare at the speakers whenever he came on, and then go lay by them.
My dog…..in accompanied flute music makes him lay down with chin on crossed paws.
Snoop dog ?
Metal music helps my dog sleep better than listening to ppl shooting guns
Meh, dunno. I’m reluctant to accept the “physiological and behavioural changes” as proof the claims are legitimate. How can these researchers be sure said changes mirror those we think mirror those of humans? IOW, isn’t that what we’re being asked to accept? No evidence is offered here, far as I can see.
No wonder college tuition is so high these days. Wasting money on this type of junk. This is why I am against funding college tuitions for anyone to any college.
Instead of ever bringing up helping pay for tuitions, all Congress people should be investigating why colleges are so expensive. This stupid stuff is one reason and they waste lots of money like this as well as over-paying the profs.
+1
You do realize the school is in Scotland, right? Tuition for U.K. Residents is very cheap. Even for American students a great value similar in price to a state school.
When on vacation, I would board our Old English Sheepdog with the breeder and owner of Canada’s #1 French Poodle. They claimed their dogs preferred country/western in
their kennel.
I thought that pink “p.ssy hats” made them happy, a lot were wearing them the other day in DC and other left wing cities.
Waste. Of. Money.
Nice to see the U of G, Scotland,and their SPCA have so much money to pisx away.
Pretty sure my dog would prefer listening to me whistle or the sound of a can opener over reggae any day, mon.
Animals don’t experience music. Scientists have tested music preference before with monkeys are there is no preference. Animals prefer whatever is more quiet regardless of its beat or what key it is in or whatever emotional quality there is for a particular genre.
My first thought, like many others im sure was, “who pays for this kinda of crap research”? As I read a bit further I learned it was the Kilt wearing Scott’s whose tax payer money was wasted and thought “what a bunch of maroons.” Moments later thoug, I realized that this has already been studied in the States and “hmmm….wonder how much money they got from some obscure government agency to come to the conclusion that music can affect behaviour in animals.”
My Boston Terrorists are Metalheads.
\m/^_^\m/
LOL. So are my boxers. They love Slayer and Sabbath.
“Not to hurt our humble brethren [the animals] is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission: to be of service to them whenever they require it.” ~ St Francis, God’s Covenant with Animals, Lantern Books, 2000, xii