Introduction
Many dog owners observe their pets responding emotionally to music, but do dogs truly experience feelings from listening to songs? Research indicates dogs have a range of perceptions and reactions to music and its elements like tone, tempo, and genre. Their brain structure shows they process music similarly to humans. While the emotional impact varies between individual dogs, evidence suggests music stimulates dogs’ moods and behaviors. This article will explore dogs’ auditory capabilities, neuroscience, and demonstrated emotional responses to evaluate if canines genuinely have feelings evoked by music.
Dogs’ Auditory Perception
Dogs can hear a much wider range of frequencies than humans can. According to Louisiana State University, dogs are capable of hearing frequencies from 40 Hz to 60,000 Hz, while the human range is typically 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. This means dogs can detect sounds up to 4 times higher in frequency than humans.
Studies have shown certain breeds like Poodles, Saint Bernards, and Chihuahuas can hear tones at frequencies as high as 46 kHz, at volumes between 64-73 dB. In comparison, the upper limit of human hearing is around 20 kHz. So dogs have the ability to perceive many high-pitched sounds that are not audible at all to humans.
Dogs’ Brain Structure
Like humans, dogs have a complex brain that is capable of processing emotions. According to research, the key parts of a dog’s brain involved in emotion include the amygdala and the limbic system (Berns, 2020).
The amygdala is the part of the brain responsible for emotional responses like fear, aggression, and excitement. When a dog hears music, the amygdala may activate and cause the dog to feel stimulated or relaxed depending on the type of music (Hanne Grice).
The limbic system, sometimes called the “emotional brain”, regulates a dog’s emotions, memory, behavior, and sense of smell. It’s connected to the auditory cortex, so when a dog hears music, it may elicit an emotional response via the limbic system (Hanne Grice).
Overall, dogs have critical brain structures that allow them to perceive emotions and respond to music on an emotional level.
Dogs’ Emotional Expressions
Dogs have various ways of expressing their emotions through body language and vocalizations. According to the ASPCA, some key ways dogs demonstrate emotions include:
- Tail wagging – The direction, height, speed, and stiffness of the wag indicates different emotional states. A loose, low wag indicates a friendly dog, while a stiff, rapid wag can signal aggression or fear.
- Facial expressions – Ears perked up and forward often indicates happiness or excitement. Flattened ears can mean fear or aggression. Widened eyes or exposed teeth are signs of aggression.
- Body posture – A relaxed body posture reflects calm emotions, while a stiff, upright stance reflects stress or anxiety.
- Vocalizations – Whimpering or whining can indicate excitement, anxiety, fear, or a need for attention. Growling typically signals aggression or a warning.
- Pacing or shaking – Can be a sign of anxiousness or stress.
According to the ASPCA, understanding a dog’s body language is key to interpreting their emotional state and providing proper care.
Studies on Dogs and Music
Several studies have examined dogs’ physiological and behavioral reactions to music. One study analyzed the heart rate variability and behaviors of kennelled dogs exposed to different genres of music, including classical, pop, reggae and heavy metal (Lindig, 2020). The study found that dogs showed more relaxed behaviors like resting and sleeping when exposed to classical and reggae music. Heavy metal music increased body shaking behaviors. Another study at the University of Glasgow found increased tail wagging and resting when dogs listened to classical music, while signs of agitation like barking and growling occurred more often with heavy metal music (McConnell, 1990).
Researchers at the University of Vermont analyzed video footage of dogs listening to music and categorized their behavioral reactions (Gailey, 2023). They found over 70% of dogs displayed observable physical or emotional changes like tail wagging, head tilting, howling, and calmness. The study suggests music can elicit measurable responses in dogs. However, individual differences existed, with some dogs showing no reactions. Overall, research indicates classical music has a calming effect on many dogs, while loud, dissonant music may cause stress or agitation.
While limited research exists, initial findings suggest music can influence dogs’ behavior and emotional states. More studies are needed to draw definitive conclusions. The existing evidence points towards dogs’ capacity to perceive and be affected by music on some level.
Anecdotal Evidence
There are many stories of dogs reacting emotionally to music or sounds from the television. Most dog owners have seen their pets get excited when certain songs or jingles come on, or react sadly to emotional movie scenes with crying humans or animals (What Does Music Sound Like To Dogs? – YouTube). Some dogs even seem to “sing along” by howling to music or siren sounds. There are accounts of dogs being soothed to sleep by lullabies or classical music, but also getting riled up by heavy metal, rock, or other fast-paced tunes.
While these stories do not prove conclusively that dogs experience emotion from music, they do indicate dogs engage with and respond to music and other sounds. The strong reactions observed in some dogs when hearing certain songs or TV scenes suggests an emotional processing of the auditory stimuli beyond mere awareness or recognition. Their enjoyment of music also points to appreciation of aesthetic qualities that evoke positive and negative feelings.
Possible Explanations
There are a few theories as to why certain sounds may produce emotional responses in dogs:
Dogs have a wider hearing range compared to humans, able to hear frequencies up to 45kHz versus humans’ 20kHz range. High-pitched sounds and certain musical tones may be more perceptible to dogs (1).
Dogs’ brains contain neural circuitry similar to humans that’s associated with perceiving and processing music. The auditory cortex and other regions linked to rewards and emotions are activated when dogs hear music (2).
The acoustic properties of music, such as pitch, tempo, and volume, may naturally elicit mental and physical responses in dogs as sound waves are perceived. Soothing classical music tends to use lower pitches and slower tempos compared to the faster, higher-pitched, and louder heavy metal.
Classical music may remind dogs of human voices using similar intonations. The familiarity of speech-like patterns can have a calming effect, like when humans talk gently to dogs.
Overall, dogs seem biologically capable of perceiving various musical elements that may instinctively trigger emotional reactions – either pleasant or agitating. Their emotional responses can provide insight into how dogs experience sound.
(1) https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1645&context=hcoltheses
(2) https://www.patriciamcconnell.com/theotherendoftheleash/new-research-on-dogs-and-music
Individual Differences
While studies show many dogs do perceive and react to music, there are considerable individual differences based on factors like breed and personality. For example, some studies found herding breeds tend to be more reactive to music than other types of dogs (source). This may be because herding dogs are highly intelligent and easily stimulated. Additionally, a dog’s personality – whether it is bold or timid, high-energy or laidback – can influence its response to music. Bolder dogs may become more excited and reactive to lively, rhythmic music, while more timid dogs may become anxious or withdrawn when music is played. Much of this relates back to genetics and breed tendencies. However, life experiences and training also shape a dog’s personality and how it perceives sound stimuli like music. Overall, while many dogs do appear to enjoy and react to music, the extent and nature of their response depends on their individual characteristics.
Implications
The research on the effects of music on dogs has several important implications for enriching dogs’ lives. Studies have shown that playing certain types of music, especially classical music, can have calming effects on dogs in stressful environments like shelters and veterinary clinics (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7022433/). This suggests that playing music for dogs at home could help reduce anxiety and create a more relaxing atmosphere.
Additionally, the fact that dogs respond to music indicates they likely experience some emotional response. Using music that evokes positive emotions could therefore improve dogs’ overall mood and wellbeing. Some anecdotal reports suggest that dogs enjoy and even sing along to certain upbeat or catchy songs.
Dog owners can experiment with different genres and tempos of music to see what their individual dog responds to best. Creating playlists of dog-friendly music and playing them during times of stress or while alone at home is one simple way to potentially enrich a dog’s life. Products like DogTunes have compiled Spotify playlists intended to relax dogs as well. Ultimately research shows music has promise for improving dog welfare if incorporated purposefully.
Conclusion
In summary, the available evidence suggests that dogs can have emotional responses to music, though the responses may vary between individual dogs. Dogs have the auditory capacity to hear and perceive music, similar brain structures to humans that facilitate processing emotions, and they demonstrate observable emotional behaviors when exposed to music. Controlled studies using physiological measurements and behavioral observations have found dogs often react to music by relaxing, getting excited, or expressing interest. Dog owners widely report anecdotally that their pets enjoy, relax to, or get motivated by certain music. The exact reasons why dogs may have emotional responses to music are still unclear, but some experts theorize it may relate to associations between music and past experiences or activities, the influence of the music’s tempo and the dog’s internal state, or the effect of the owner’s response to the music on the dog. While not every dog reacts the same way, the balance of evidence indicates music can evoke measurable emotional responses in many dogs. More research is still needed to fully understand the nuances of dogs’ relationships with music and the factors that may shape their individual reactions.