The pilot studies showed that 70 percent of anxiety behaviors were reduced with the psychoacoustically designed music while 36 percent of anxiety behaviors were reduced with "regular" classical music.4 This was very encouraging, and the music has been distributed to shelters, veterinary clinics and kennels around the country to continue studying this concept and to hopefully reduce the noise and induce some calm in these environments.
It was such a pleasure meeting with Joshua Leeds and Lisa Spector -- their enthusiasm was apparent and they have wonderful knowledge and clinical anecdotes about the subject. To learn more about sound research and dogs, please visit their web site at: www.ThroughADogsEar.com. The book, Through A Dog's Ear -- Using Sound To Improve The Health And Behavior Of Your Canine Companion was released in March 2008. The book includes a "starter CD" with two long tracks: one to calm your dog and one titled "Music for the canine household", which is music for general purpose (not necessarily to calm, but to enjoy).
Also released in March 2008 is the full CD of calming music, called Through A Dog's Ear -- Volume 1 Music to Calm Your Canine Companion. CBS Morning show did a segment on their work, and you are invited to watch a video from CBS news featuring Through A Dog's Ear to "meet" Leeds and Spector and watch an impromptu experiment with different types of music played for a roomful of dogs.
I have also reviewed their book (and included CD) and the calming music CD:
Please send your comments, questions, and experiences with this music (or any music) that you have noted with your pets. Lisa Spector and Joshua Leeds will be available to answer questions, and I hope to post the information and questions from viewers in an upcoming article.
Related Resources:
Joshua Leeds
Susan Wagner DVM, MS, DACVIM
Lisa Spector
References:
Psychoacoustics1 - page 157, Through A Dog's Ear, Joshua Leeds & Susan Wagner, DVM, MS
Sound Research2:The influence of auditory stimulation on the behaviour of dogs housed in a rescue shelter, Authors: Wells, D.L.; Graham, L.; Hepper, P.G. Source: Animal Welfare, Volume 11, Number 4, November 2002 , pp. 385-393(9)
Scientific testing3 - page 2, Through A Dog's Ear - Music to Calm Your Canine Companion music CD booklet.
Pilot study data 4: - page 82, Through A Dog's Ear, Joshua Leeds & Susan Wagner, DVM, MS
