Does Fido or Fluffy hear what I hear? No they hear much, much, more!
Hearing sensitivities in our pets is one of the most overlooked causes of behavior. We have taken animals as pets from the backyard to the bed in nearly forty years of our societies growing passion for the human - animal bond. Understanding how they hear and how they interpret sounds differently than we do is a fascinating and valuable understanding to enhance our relationships with our animal companions.
Hearing sensitivities in our pets is one of the most overlooked causes of behavior. We have taken animals as pets from the backyard to the bed in nearly forty years of our societies growing passion for the human - animal bond. Understanding how they hear and how they interpret sounds differently than we do is a fascinating and valuable understanding to enhance our relationships with our animal companions.
We are learning more and more that music has a profound instinctual response from animals for physical and behavioral benefits.The beginning to bridging music and animals was the ability to duplicate music on records for radio broadcast. Being able to bring the music to the animal was and still is a new field. It was observed and then documented that dairy cows produced more milk when listening to relaxing music. Researchers believe that farmers could get an extra pint from their charges by playing classical music. Psychologists Dr. Adrian North and Liam MacKenzie at the University of Leicester, UK played music of different tempos to herds of Friesian cattle. Beethoven's Pastoral Sympho
ny resulted in greater milk production. W
hen loud and rowdy music was played, there was no increase in milk yield. "Calming music can improve milk yield, probably because it reduces stress," said North and MacKenzie.
"Over the last decade, our knowledge of the auditory abilities of animals in general has been the object of study because it was necessary
"Over the last decade, our knowledge of the auditory abilities of animals in general has been the object of study because it was necessary
to determine the hearing abilities of large mammals in order to answer certain questions concerning the evolution of human hearing." H. E. Heffner, Farm Animals and the Environment. (pp.159-184). Wallingford UK: CAB International.
From 2003, I have been observing and testing the results of music for dogs, cats and horses. I began by writing to Universities around the world to receive papers on the frequency and decibel hearing ranges of animals. I based the design of my music according to the data research of H. Heffner and R.S. Heffner PH.D. ~ Dept of Psychology at the University of Toledo in Ohio (USA) I have the utmost respect and appreciation for Dr. H. Heffner and Dr. R.S. Heffner’s scientific work on this subject. Hearing of animals and sound localization is relatively a new field and their research is extensive and renowned. Once I had the data of the Hz range of dogs and cats, I purposefully composed the music within a high register, a range that dogs and cats hear the most comfortably. Don't you instinctively raise the inflection of your voice when speaking to a dog or a cat? I also added into the music design, the observation that dogs and cats prefer long sustained tones and non-jarring volumes to maintain their state of rest. The premise became logical to me that by eliminating the high frequency content of the music that dogs and cats could
be relaxed by releasing their alert reactions to high frequencies in their listening environment. The results were repeatable and the relaxation occurred within five minutes of listening.
My next interest moved forward to horses. While visiting stables, riding, working with veterinarians and speaking with horse owners and breeders, I observed special music was needed, tailored for the sensitive physiognomy and environment of horses. I discovered that human and equine hearing ranges are the mos
My next interest moved forward to horses. While visiting stables, riding, working with veterinarians and speaking with horse owners and breeders, I observed special music was needed, tailored for the sensitive physiognomy and environment of horses. I discovered that human and equine hearing ranges are the mos
t closely related than any other mammals. Considering the closeness of people with their horses in speech this enhanced the understanding of this bond through the musical design. I purposefully composed the music in an alto range where equines seem to find the most comfortable to hear. In my observations of horse response to music, I learned that they prefer shorter melodic phrases with rhythmic patterns. This was logical as horses movements are in beats of two's and three's.
- From Janet Marlow, Petacoustics.com
Research
The effect of music on dogs has been proven according to the UFAW
According to the Universities Federation of Animal Welfare, the effect of music on dogs has been proven. Listening to certain types of music may actually help with the welfare of dogs in animal shelters, as these types of music have soothing qualities. On the contrary, there are also certain types of music which agitate dogs and should not be played around dogs in kennels or the shelter environment.
Heavy Metal
Dogs become agitated and nervous when listening to heavy metal. The effects of heavy metal music on dogs can also make the dogs bark. In a study by the Universities Federation of Animal Welfare, when exposed to heavy metal music, dogs of all breeds, sizes and ages became quite agitated.
Dogs become agitated and nervous when listening to heavy metal. The effects of heavy metal music on dogs can also make the dogs bark. In a study by the Universities Federation of Animal Welfare, when exposed to heavy metal music, dogs of all breeds, sizes and ages became quite agitated.
Classical
Classical music soothes and calms dogs, in fact; the Arizona Animal Welfare League plays classical music in the shelter to calm the dogs. A study in Northern Ireland found music from Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” among other classical pieces, calmed the dogs to such a point that many of them laid down. Classical music could be used in an owner’s absence to help decrease the symptoms of separation anxiety in some dogs.
Classical music soothes and calms dogs, in fact; the Arizona Animal Welfare League plays classical music in the shelter to calm the dogs. A study in Northern Ireland found music from Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” among other classical pieces, calmed the dogs to such a point that many of them laid down. Classical music could be used in an owner’s absence to help decrease the symptoms of separation anxiety in some dogs.
Pop
The effect of pop music on dogs has not been noticeable. If there is an effect of pop music on dogs the effect is negligible. Studies and research have been based on other types of music since pop has not proven to have an effect on dogs.
The effect of pop music on dogs has not been noticeable. If there is an effect of pop music on dogs the effect is negligible. Studies and research have been based on other types of music since pop has not proven to have an effect on dogs.
"Dogs react to music much as humans do, said Dan ette Grady, education director of Living Free Animal Sanctuary in Mountain Center, Calif. A steady tempo and calming melody can soothe." Human studies have shown that relaxing music can slow the breathing, relax the muscles and reduce the heart rate," Williams said. "From my own personal experience, I've seen a similar effect on dogs." As a sound therapist, Williams advocates the use of music to help therapy and service work dogs relax."
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