The effects of music designed for canine and human relaxation on short-term stress in dogs (2025)

Beecy, S. J., Dowling-Guyer, S., Patel, A. D. et al.

Abstract

Auditory stimuli such as music can be an inexpensive and accessible option to help relieve stress for pet dogs. In some studies, classical music has been shown to have a stress-relieving effect on dogs experiencing a long-term stressor. However, the effect of relaxation music designed for dogs or humans administered during a short-term stressor, such as owner separation or a visit to the veterinarian’s office, has not been as thoroughly investigated. This experimental study (N = 37) examined the efficacy of two types of relaxation music, designed for dogs and for humans, to reduce stress in pet dogs undergoing a short-term stressor compared to a control group with no musical stimulus. Stress was measured in two ways during a brief separation from the owner: as activity captured by a collar with an accelerometer and as behavioral signs of stress. While there was no effect of auditory condition on activity level, grooming duration was significantly different by condition: more dogs in the dog relaxation music condition groomed and for longer than dogs in the control condition. No other behavioral differences were found. Overall, there was limited support for a stress-reducing effect of dog or human relaxation music. Future studies with larger, more diverse samples of dogs, different types and longer durations of the short-term stressor, physiologic measures in addition to behavioral indicators of stress, and varied musical selections may prove fruitful in examining the efficacy of auditory stimuli for relieving short-term stress in pet dogs.