Music to Soothe Dogs With

[Champ]

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Help is at hand for pet owners and their neighbors troubled by barking dogs -- soothing recordings of "new age"-style music blended with sounds of nature.

"Piano music with twittering birds and murmuring water apparently has a soothing effect on dogs," said a spokesman for LindeTree, the company marketing the new age CD.

"The owner can put it on whenever he leaves the house or needs some peace of mind."

The firm's idea was inspired by research at the University of Belfast into the effect of different types of music on 50 dogs: heavy metal songs caused them to howl and growl; classical music calmed them down.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=6181889

[demnan]

1. It sounds like that crap

would make my cats :puke:

[skygazer]

2. Many years ago

I worked at a greyhound racetrack. We all had radios in our kennels and everyone had differing opinions on what music kept their dogs most calm. My husband played soft jazz but on Sunday mornings the station played operas. The dogs LOVED the operas - they would howl along with them, sort of swaying and with their eyes closed. It was a riot.....

[fudge stripe cookays]

3. "Been Caught Stealin"

always gets em singin along!

FSC

[noonwitch]

4. My dog likes classical and new age music, my cat likes heavy metal and

Nina Simone.

My dog loathes heavy metal and will leave the room when I play it. My cat will come into the room when GNR is on, or when she hears Nina's voice, and start purring and rubbing against the furniture or me. My dog is neutral on Nina.

[DemWitch]

5. Whenever I leave the house

I leave the TV and stereo on Soundscapes... the Time Warner music channel that plays new agey stuff... Kyra plops on the couch and is in the same position when I get back...