Can Music Help Dogs Relax? What the Research Actually Shows

Some dogs appear to settle when quiet music is played, and several kennel studies have found changes consistent with lower stress during auditory enrichment. That does not mean one playlist reliably treats canine anxiety.

What research has found

A 2017 study of kennelled dogs found more time spent lying and physiological changes associated with relaxation when several genres of music were played. Soft rock and reggae produced some of the stronger measured responses in that particular setting.

Results are not universal

Another study during mock veterinary visits did not find that a specially designed classical track consistently reduced the measured stress response. Different environments, individual dogs, volume and previous experiences can all affect the outcome.

How to use music as enrichment

• keep the volume comfortable and lower than typical human entertainment levels;
• give the dog the option to move away from the speaker;
• watch actual body language rather than assuming music is calming;
• avoid sudden bass, alarms or highly variable volume;
• use music alongside appropriate exercise, rest and environmental management.

Music is not treatment for severe anxiety

A dog that panics when alone, injures itself, cannot settle during storms or has a sudden behavior change needs a cause-based plan. Music may be one small environmental tool, but it should not delay veterinary or behavior assessment.

Related guide

See our evidence-based dog anxiety guide.

Research

• Bowman et al., 2017: Music and Stress in Kennelled Dogs
• Music During a Mock Veterinary Visit