Do Dogs Like Music? 3 Playlists They’ll Love!

A rockin' soundtrack can elevate almost any activity. Whether you're getting ready for a big night out, driving with the windows down, or just spending a lazy day in the backyard, hearing a really good song can improve your mood and the mood of those around you...but do dogs like music, too?

Because our furry friends are often by our sides during many of our favorite pastimes and playlists, it's important to understand how dogs perceive music. We'll explore the types of beats dogs enjoy, what they dislike, and the reasoning behind it all. Plus, stay "tuned" till the end for specially curated playlists dogs (and you!) will love.

#1. Can Dogs Hear Music?

You'll be happy to know that dogs can hear music! In fact, they have much sharper ears than humans when it comes to high-frequency sounds. While our ears can only hear sounds up to 64,000 Hertz, our furry friends can hear frequencies up to 67,000 Hertz, according to Psychology Today. This means that while dogs may listen to tunes the same way we do, they can also hear frequencies that may be inaudible to humans.

For instance, on The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album, there is a high-frequency sound featured in the final song, "A Day in the Life." Paul McCartney acknowledged adding this sound specifically for pooches, saying, "We put a sound on Sgt. Pepper only dogs can hear. If you ever play Sgt. Pepper, watch your dog!" according to Gigwise.

RELATED: The Science Behind Sounds Only Dogs Can Hear

#2. Do Dogs Like Music?

We know our furry friends can hear music, but do they actually enjoy it? Yes, dogs do like music! While each pup is different, most prefer music that is softer in tone and not high-pitched. A Colorado State College of Veterinary Medicine study revealed that easy listening music has a soothing, therapeutic effect on dogs and may mitigate stress. These tunes typically have a slow tempo of about 50–60 beats per minute.

#3. What Kind of Music Do Dogs Like?

Speaking of easy listening, furry friends seem to love classical music! A Queen's University Belfast study showed that playing classical music resulted in relaxed dog behaviors. For example, barking decreased while time spent lying down and resting increased. If you're looking for a great piece of music to start with, The Four Seasons by Vivaldi was found to have a very positive response in kenneled dogs, according to a Scottish SPCA study.

Some pet parents aren't the biggest fans of classical music, and that's okay! Reggae, soft rock, and spa-like music have also been found to help reduce stress and anxiety in dogs. On the other hand, genres like hard rock, grunge, heavy metal, pop, and rap usually have the opposite effect. These genres' faster tempos are known to cause agitation, hostility, and restlessness in pups.

Ideally, you should avoid playing songs for your pooch that feature loud percussion and deep bass. These noises sound very similar to thunderstorms, fireworks, sirens, and other sounds that dogs tend to dislike.

#4. Does Loud Music Hurt Dogs' Ears?

A dog's sense of hearing is four times as sensitive as a human's. What a person can hear at 20 feet, a dog can hear at approximately 80 feet, according to Psychology Today. With this in mind, you should be courteous around furry friends and avoid blasting your favorite tunes at a high volume. Very loud music can hurt dogs' ears and may even cause physical pain. If exposure is prolonged, loud music could lead to potential hearing loss. If you suspect your dog has hearing loss, contact your veterinarian.

#5. Why Do Dogs Howl to Music?

With thousands of videos on the Internet highlighting this talent, howling along to music is fairly common for dogs. Songs featuring wind instruments such as clarinets and saxophones seem to invoke this response most frequently. While no one knows for sure, many believe dogs howl to music instinctually. When a pack of wolves howls, each wolf sings a different note. Therefore, dogs may attempt to mimic this ancestral practice when listening to the melody of a song.

Another one of the possible reasons dogs howl is because they are mistaking instruments for other canine howls in the distance. Whatever the answer may be, you shouldn't take a dog's howl to mean they are frightened or scared by music. If they were, they would likely hide and attempt to cover their ears instead.

Listen to Our Spotify Dog Playlists

It's amazing to think how much we have in common with our furry friends. Not only do dogs like music, but they respond to certain genres just like we do! The next time you put on your favorite radio station, watch how your dog reacts...or check out our curated Spotify playlists made especially for doggies!