Shelter dogs rested more with classical music.
Found: Shelter dogs spent more time resting and more time quiet while classical music played than with human conversation, pop, heavy metal or no added sound.
Not vibes. Science.
What the research says about music for dogs.
Studies in shelters and kennels have found that calm music can help dogs settle. Barkwoo is built on that work. Here's what the studies found, and what they don't show.
Does music calm dogs?
Research suggests it can help a little. In shelter and kennel studies, dogs rested more and barked less while classical music played. But in one study the effect faded after about a week of the same playlist, and music made for dogs did no better than ordinary classical. Music is a comfort, not a cure for anxiety.
Wells et al. 2002 · Kogan et al. 2012 · Bowman et al. 2015 · Lindig et al. 2020
72.5%
of dogs showed at least one problem behavior, such as noise sensitivity, fear or aggression.
Salonen et al. · Scientific Reports · 2020 (Opens in a new window.)
32%
were sensitive to noise — the most common anxiety-related trait in the study.
Salonen et al. · Scientific Reports · 2020 (Opens in a new window.)
Studies · dogs
What the research found.
2012
Kenneled dogs
More sleep, less barking with classical music.
Found: In 117 kenneled dogs, classical music meant more time sleeping and less time vocalizing than heavy metal, a classical track altered for dogs, or no music. Heavy metal increased body shaking.
2015
Kennel stress
Classical music meant less barking and more rest.
Found: Kennelled dogs spent more time lying down and less time barking while classical music played, with heart-rate measures consistent with lower stress. The effect faded after about a week of the same playlist — variety matters.
2020
Literature review
A calming influence in stressful environments.
Found: A review of nine studies of music and dogs found that classical music appears to have a calming influence on dogs in stressful environments, with no extra benefit seen from music designed specifically for dogs.
Studies · across species
The effect isn't unique to dogs.
1989
Poultry
Music made chicks less fearful.
Found: Chicks treated with imprinting enrichment and music were less fearful than the control group.
1997
Dairy cattle
Music changed cows' behavioral readiness.
Found: Music had a stimulatory effect that influenced the behavioral readiness of cows to access the milking compartments of an automatic milking system.
Put the research to work.
A drug-free, research-backed way to bring calming music into your dog's day, wherever the stress shows up.