Introduction
Music is a powerful force. A few notes strung together can spark emotions, inspire memories, and transport listeners to another time and place. We humans clearly have profound reactions to music, but what about our four-legged friends? Can music really make dogs cry?
The idea that music elicits an emotional response in dogs may seem far-fetched. After all, dogs don’t create symphonies or have music playlists for different moods. However, studies show that dogs do react to music on an emotional level. The tones, tempos, and frequencies of music affect dogs’ moods and behaviors. While we can’t know if dogs experience complex emotions like sadness when listening to music, research indicates music impacts their feelings and actions. Understanding this reaction provides insight into the canine mind and our special bond with dogs.
In this article, we’ll explore what science says about dogs’ emotional connections to music. We’ll learn if certain songs calm canine anxieties or bring dogs to tears. Discover how the power of music reaches across species lines and forges lasting bonds between pets and their people.
Do Dogs Have Emotions?
Multiple studies have shown that dogs do experience basic emotions like happiness, sadness, and fear. According to researchers at TruDog, dogs have the same limbic system in the brain as humans, which is responsible for processing emotions. This means dogs have the biological capability to feel emotions similarly to humans. Dogs demonstrate happiness through tail wagging, playing, licking, and leaning. Sadness may be expressed through whimpering, loss of appetite, or lethargy. Fearful behaviors include ears back, tail tucked, trembling, and avoidance. While dogs may not experience the full range and complexity of human emotions, research confirms that dogs absolutely feel core emotions like happiness, sadness, and fear.
Dogs’ Response to Music
Several studies have looked at how dogs respond to different types of music. Research shows that dogs tend to react positively to classical music, while loud pop music often agitates them. One study from the University of Glasgow found that dogs exposed to different genres stayed relaxed and calm when listening to classical music, but became more agitated when played heavy metal music (https://www.petmoo.com/dogs/do-dogs-like-music/).
Another study from the University of London observed the behavior of shelter dogs exposed to different types of music. The dogs showed more resting behaviors when listening to classical music, but exhibited more barking and agitation when exposed to pop music. The researchers concluded that classical music appears to have a calming effect on dogs.
Overall, research indicates dogs are receptive to music and demonstrate preference for certain genres like classical over loud, jarring music. Their behavioral reactions suggest music affects dogs’ moods in ways similar to humans.
Music’s Effect on Dogs’ Moods
Research has shown that music can have a significant impact on dogs’ anxiety and stress levels. A study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior found that music therapy reduced stress behaviors in dogs kenneled in a shelter (https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/what-kind-music-calms-dogs). Dogs exposed to classical music were observed to spend more time resting and less time vocalizing and repetitively jumping. This indicates that the music had a calming effect.
Similarly, a study by Colorado State University revealed that dogs in shelters who listened to classical music showed decreased stress behaviors compared to dogs who had no music (https://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/how-to-use-music-to-calm-anxious-dogs). The music appeared to make the dogs less agitated in their kennels.
Research has also shown that reggae and soft rock can be effective at reducing anxiety and promoting relaxation in shelter dogs. The steady beat and lack of jarring or sudden tempo changes in these genres appears to have a soothing effect.
Overall, studies indicate that the right music can decrease dogs’ anxious behaviors and elevate their mood. Both classical music and certain uplifting popular genres can provide dogs with auditory enrichment that mitigates feelings of stress.
Music’s Effect on Dogs’ Behaviors
Several studies have examined how music impacts dog behavior. Research conducted by Science Fair- Does music affect dogs behavior? found that music can influence a dog’s barking and activity levels. The study played different genres of music for dogs, including classical, heavy metal, and pop. The dogs barked significantly less when exposed to classical music compared to the other genres. However, heavy metal music increased excitable behavior in the dogs.
Additional research cited in Do dogs react to music? similarly found that classical music tended to have a calming effect and reduce barking in dogs. Upbeat pop music conversely led to more barking. The study concluded that music impacts dog behavior, but the effects vary based on the individual dog’s personality.
Overall, studies demonstrate music can influence dog barking and activity levels. Classical music generally has a calming effect, while heavy metal or pop music may cause more excitable behavior. However, individual dog personality plays a role. More research is still needed to fully understand the effects of different music genres on canine behavior.
Why Certain Music Calms Dogs
There are several theories as to why certain types of music, especially classical, have a calming effect on dogs.
One is that the long notes and relatively slow tempo of classical music reduces dogs’ stress levels. The repetitive patterns and predictability of classical music are soothing for dogs. Studies have found dogs’ heart rates decrease and other signs of relaxation occur when listening to certain classical music compositions (Source).
The acoustic features of classical music, such as its frequency range, steady rhythm, and lack of sudden loud noises, contributes to its calming qualities. Dogs, with their sensitive hearing, may find classical music pleasing to listen to compared to other genres featuring jarring sounds.
Additionally, the complex harmonies and musical patterns in classical compositions give dogs’ minds pleasant stimulation. This provides mental enrichment and distraction from stress or boredom. So classical music engages dogs cognitively while also promoting physical relaxation.
Can Dogs Connect Emotionally to Music?
Research suggests that dogs can form emotional connections to music similar to humans. According to a 2023 thesis by MJ Gailey, music impacts dogs’ brains and elicits physical and emotional reactions. When exposed to different genres and tempos of music, dogs demonstrate reactions aligned with human responses, such as relaxing to soft, slow music and becoming agitated by fast, loud music.
There is evidence that dogs appreciate and enjoy certain music on a deeper level. A 2015 Quora post cites observations of dogs emotionally stimulated by music, exhibiting howling and other expressive behaviors. This implies dogs can sympathetically respond to music, not just react to tones. It appears dogs may form meaningful bonds with songs that resonate with them.
While the capacity may differ between individual dogs, research supports that they can appreciate music similarly to people. Their emotional responses reveal an ability to experience music’s full effects beyond simple auditory stimulation. With appropriate music choices, dogs can form profound connections leading to enjoyment, comfort, and positive impacts on mood.
Do Dogs Cry to Music?
There are many anecdotal accounts of dogs appearing to cry when hearing certain songs or types of music. Owners often report their dogs whimpering, whining, or shedding tears when exposed to emotional music or singing voices. According to one Quora user, her dog cries “huge crocodile tears” whenever she sings along to Adele’s song “Someone Like You.” She speculates her dog is responding to the emotion in her voice (Source).
On the r/dogs Reddit forum, a user asked why their dog cried and howled when they sang or played certain high notes on the flute. Other redditors shared similar experiences of their dogs vocally responding or crying to music that triggered an emotional response in them. However, the crying response does not happen with all dogs and may depend on the individual dog’s personality and sensitivity (Source).
While these anecdotal reports suggest some dogs may cry in response to moving music, the reasons behind this phenomenon require more scientific study. The crying response likely indicates dogs can feel complex emotions when listening to music, similarly to humans. But whether dogs connect with music on the same emotional level as people remains an open question.
The Power of Music
Music has a profound effect on human emotions. According to research from Pfizer, “Listening to (or making) music increases blood flow to brain regions that generate and control emotions.” [1] The limbic system, which processes emotions, is highly engaged when listening to music. [2]
The neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, which regulate mood, are also affected by active music listening and making. [2] Dopamine influences motivation and reward, while serotonin impacts happiness. Music releases these “feel good” chemicals in the brain’s striatum, inducing pleasurable feelings. [3]
In essence, music provides a pathway to stimulate emotional responses and regulate mood through its interaction with the limbic system and neurotransmitters. The power of music to move us emotionally is a testament to the deep connection between music, the brain, and our innermost feelings.
Conclusion
To conclude, while dogs may not experience music exactly like humans do, evidence suggests that they do have emotional responses to music and find some music relaxing or stimulating. Many dogs have been observed becoming calm or sleepy when listening to classical music, which may indicate it has a soothing effect on their moods. Some dogs also appear to react emotionally to music by displaying behaviors like howling along, which could suggest they do form an attachment to certain songs or genres.
However, it’s unlikely that dogs actually cry real emotional tears in response to music, as they lack tear ducts. While they may make whimpering or howling sounds, this is probably not analogous to human crying. Overall, music does seem to have the power to alter a dog’s internal state and elicit reactions, though we can’t say definitively that dogs experience complex aesthetic appreciation of music comparable to humans. The bond between dogs and music remains in many ways a mystery, but it’s clear music can be a useful tool for managing dogs’ behavior and supporting their emotional wellbeing.