This 2020 review, published in Animals, analysed nine scientific studies examining whether music—particularly classical music or commercially marketed “dog music”—has measurable effects on canine health, behavior, and emotional regulation.
Across the reviewed studies, classical music consistently produced calming effects in dogs placed in stressful environments such as veterinary hospitals, kennels, or shelters. Dogs exposed to classical music exhibited:
- Reduced barking and vocalization
- More relaxed postures (lying down, sleeping)
- Lower signs of agitation or pacing
- Improved physiological calm (e.g. potential reductions in heart rate and stress indicators)
Although a growing industry promotes specialized “dog music” designed for canine relaxation—such as the product “Through a Dog’s Ear”—the review found no scientifically proven additional benefit over traditional classical music.
Importantly, researchers caution that:
- The field remains under-studied, with small sample sizes
- Individual preferences, breed differences, and learning history may affect dogs’ responses to music
- Habituation (overexposure leading to reduced effect) could limit long-term benefit
- Better definitions of musical characteristics (tempo, rhythm, frequency range) are needed for future studies
The authors conclude that music therapy is cost-effective, easy to apply, and promising for improving canine welfare—particularly in high-stress environments. However, more rigorous research is required to develop tailored, scientifically grounded auditory enrichment for dogs.
Source: Lindig, A. M., McGreevy, P., & Crean, A. (2020). Musical Dogs: A Review of the Influence of Auditory Enrichment on Canine Health and Behavior. Animals. January 1, 2020.
