Does music calm dogs? What research says about sound and pet anxiety

Yes, music can calm dogs. Research from multiple studies shows that dogs exhibit measurably fewer stress behaviours (barking, pacing, trembling, excessive panting) when exposed to certain types of audio. The most effective calming music for dogs features slow tempos (50 to 70 BPM), simple arrangements, and low-to-mid frequency emphasis. Classical music and soft acoustic compositions consistently outperform pop, heavy metal, and silence in controlled studies.

This does not mean any music works. The type, tempo, volume, and duration all matter, and the wrong audio can increase stress rather than reduce it.

What the research shows

The most cited study on dogs and music comes from psychologist Deborah Wells at Queens University Belfast, published in Animal Welfare (2002). Wells played different genres of music to shelter dogs and measured behavioural responses.

The results were clear. Dogs exposed to classical music spent significantly more time resting and less time barking compared to dogs in silence. Dogs exposed to heavy metal showed increased agitation, more barking, and more standing. Pop music and conversation-style radio produced no significant difference from silence.

A follow-up study by the Scottish SPCA and the University of Glasgow (2017) expanded on these findings. Researchers played five genres to kennelled dogs over five days and measured heart rate variability alongside behaviour. Key findings:

• Soft rock and reggae produced the greatest reduction in stress indicators
• Classical music was effective but showed habituation (dogs responded less strongly after several days of the same recordings)
• Variety within the calming genre range maintained effectiveness better than repeating the same tracks
• Heart rate variability data confirmed behavioural observations: dogs were physiologically calmer with slow, gentle music

Why tempo matters for dogs

Dogs have a resting heart rate of 60 to 140 BPM depending on size (larger dogs at the lower end, smaller dogs higher). Research suggests the same auditory-cardiac entrainment observed in humans also occurs in dogs: steady rhythmic audio near the animal's resting heart rate supports a calmer physiological state.

Music in the 50 to 70 BPM range is consistently the most effective for calming. This aligns with the lower end of canine resting heart rate and matches the tempo range used in human relaxation music. Faster tempos (above 100 BPM) tend to increase alertness and activity in dogs, which is the opposite of the desired effect.

The tempo also needs to be consistent. Songs with tempo changes, builds, or sudden dynamic shifts can startle dogs, especially those already in an anxious state. This is why purpose-composed calming audio tends to outperform even well-chosen classical playlists: consistent tempo and dynamics are built into the composition rather than left to chance.

Separation anxiety: the most common use case

Separation anxiety affects an estimated 20 to 40 percent of dogs seen by veterinary behaviourists, making it one of the most common behavioural concerns reported by pet owners. Symptoms include excessive barking or howling when left alone, destructive behaviour (chewing furniture, scratching doors), pacing, trembling, and inappropriate elimination.

Music and calming audio are frequently recommended as part of a broader management strategy for separation anxiety. The mechanism is twofold.

Sound masking. Environmental sounds (doorbells, cars, other dogs barking, neighbours) are common anxiety triggers. Consistent background audio masks these intermittent sounds, reducing the frequency of trigger events.

Conditioned association. When calming audio is played consistently during relaxed times (while the owner is home, during meals, during rest), the dog can develop a positive association with the sound. Over time, the audio itself becomes a cue for the "safe and relaxed" state, which can carry over to periods of being alone.

For this second mechanism to work, the audio must be introduced during calm, positive contexts before being used during separation. Playing calming music only when leaving the house can create the opposite association: the dog learns that the music predicts the owner's departure.

Practical guidelines for using music with dogs

Based on the available research and veterinary behaviour guidance, here are specific recommendations.

Tempo: 50 to 70 BPM. This is the most consistently effective range across studies. Avoid music above 100 BPM for calming purposes.

Volume: conversational level or below. Dogs have more sensitive hearing than humans across most frequency ranges. Audio should be at or below the volume of normal human conversation (roughly 50 to 60 dB). Louder is not more effective. It can be stressful.

Genre: simple, instrumental, acoustic. Classical, soft rock, acoustic, and ambient compositions work well. Avoid complex arrangements with many instruments, sudden dynamic changes, or percussion-heavy mixes.

No lyrics. While dogs do not process language the way humans do, vocal content adds mid-range frequency complexity and unpredictable dynamic variation. Instrumental audio is simpler for the canine auditory system to process as background.

Duration: match the absence period. If you leave your dog for 4 hours, provide 4 hours of audio. Looping a 30-minute recording creates a repetitive pattern that dogs can habituate to quickly (the Glasgow study showed habituation within days with repeated identical recordings).

Introduce during calm times first. Play the audio while you are home, during feeding, during rest, during positive activities. Build the association between the audio and a calm state before using it during separation.

Variety within the genre. The Glasgow study showed that variety within the effective genre range maintained calming effects better than repeating the same tracks. A large library of calming compositions at consistent parameters outperforms a small playlist on repeat.

What does not work

Not all audio labelled as "dog calming" is effective. Here are common approaches that research does not support.

Leaving the television on. Television audio is highly variable in volume, tempo, and frequency content. News broadcasts, commercials, and action scenes produce exactly the kind of sudden dynamic changes that can increase anxiety. If you want background audio, choose something designed for consistent acoustic properties.

"Dog music" with ultrasonic frequencies. Some products claim to include frequencies only dogs can hear. While dogs can hear higher frequencies than humans (up to roughly 65,000 Hz compared to 20,000 Hz), there is no published research supporting the use of ultrasonic tones for calming. The effective calming frequencies identified in studies are within the human hearing range.

Any music at high volume. Turning up the volume does not increase the calming effect. Dogs have more sensitive hearing than humans, and loud audio can itself become a stressor.

How siasola Music creates calming audio for dogs

siasola Music produces dedicated dog calming audio at 50 to 70 BPM with flat dynamics, simple instrumentation, and no lyrics. Every composition is generated by AI and directed by a musician with 12 years of composition training, with parameters specifically chosen based on the research summarised above.

The library is large enough to avoid the habituation problem identified in the Glasgow study: new compositions are added regularly so dogs are not hearing the same tracks on repeat. All audio is designed for extended listening sessions that match real-world absence periods.

For more on functional audio for pets and other categories, visit the siasola Music page or explore the siasola Music blog.