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GLASGOW, Scotland — If a chewing treat or rubber toy isn’t getting the job done when it comes to exciting your pooch, turning on the radio just might do the trick. Just be careful as to which station you put on. A study finds dogs can be particular when it comes to the type of music they prefer.

Researchers out of the University of Glasgow in Scotland, along with folks at the Scottish SPCA, found that reggae and soft rock topped the canine charts, though certain dogs do seem to have various tastes. “We were keen to explore the effect playing different genres of music had, and it was clear that the physiological and behavioural changes observed were maintained during the trial when the dogs were exposed to a variety of music,” said PhD student Amy Bowman in a release.

The musical experimentation took place at the SPCA in Dumbarton, Scotland, where researchers studied how dogs there responded to different styles of music.

“Overall, the response to different genres was mixed highlighting the possibility that like humans, our canine friends have their own individual music preferences,” said Professor Neil Evans. “That being said, reggae music and soft rock showed the highest positive changes in behaviour.”

Back in 2015, the Scottish SPCA also released a study showing classical music had a calming effect on dogs. Researchers at Colorado State University reached the same conclusion in a 2012 study. That study also found heavy metal boosted anxiety and unrest in dogs.

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88 Comments

  1. Nick Cignetti says:

    Who pays for this crap?????

  2. Hw00d says:

    My Parrot rocks to Reggae, but my pit bull loves Pantera…I think it’s a matter of personal tastes, not a matter of what kind of animal

  3. David Gilbert says:

    A smart phone and a Bluetooth speaker, how much can that cost? Okay maybe some paper and pencil. Geez I could do that study for under $10000.00.

  4. June Cleaver says:

    Ha! Your comments made my day! 😀

  5. James says:

    My dogs are total metal heads.

    UP THE IRONS!!!

  6. Ruh Ro says:

    all people should strive to be the person their dog believes them to be. My rescue dog is the best and is a source of giving ( and receiving ) never ending love

  7. Ron@home says:

    What is the difference between dogs and humans? Two legs.

  8. Kris says:

    I could have saved them the money. My brother has found a correlation between milk quality and volume based on the music he plays in the barn. They did well with classical, country western and soft rock. The farmer did best with just the country western and soft rock so that’s what they listen to all the time.

  9. John says:

    When asked did the dogs speak?

  10. WagTheDog says:

    If dogs react to RAP like I do, they’d ALL turn into PIT BULLS and want to KILL!

  11. Johnny says:

    My corgis prefer Peter Tosh to Bob Marley. Not sure why.

  12. David Douglass says:

    My dogs prefer Mozart over all other music types. Rap and heavy metal causes them to go to the door and bark to be let out. The further the dogs go from the source of the music, the more I know they don’t like it. Mozart they lay right in the middle of the living room floor and kick back totally relaxed.

    In other music type studies, plants thrive best with classical type music. This is due to the mathematical vibration timing effects. Humans, dogs, plants. all thrive under, perfect order and timing, well constructed to harmonize within the positive ions in our universe.

    It’s the ‘timing and rhythm’ and four-four timing at a moderate meter which produces a vibration/peace within all living things.

  13. StikeDC says:

    That’s ruff.

  14. Sally says:

    My dog prefers Mozart.

  15. Kibbles says:

    You can feel it in the One Drop
    And still find time to bark!

  16. Maureen says:

    No doubt. Pups have good taste.
    Paw (thumbs down) on metal and rap, no doubt.

  17. Rock Eye Jack says:

    My dog loves Reggae
    Especially after smoking a blunt

  18. Ben Novick says:

    In Hawaii, our unofficial national flower is Marijuana. Dogs often like being around the odor or even eating it, and listening to JaWaiian or Reggae music tunes.

  19. shane felkner says:

    I’m pretty sure the ability to lick ones own sack or cooch would be the happiest moment at that particular time. If I was licking my sack, I could listen to Katy Perry all day and not be aggravated.