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both my dogs socks and b,b r most excitable every minit of the day but when i put classical music on i find thy calm down a bit but then when i put some think like n-dubz or akon on they calm down and anything else they get realy worked up a lot and also different with my gerbils i have classical or rock on it makes them realy exited but if i have any thing like n-dubz or akon on the calm down

Our dog, Annie, seems to really enjoy soothing classical music. It really makes her relax. It would seem to agree with the theories promoted in "Through a Dog's Ear". If dogs have such acute hearing, it makes sense that they would respond to music in their lives. It was interesting to hear the comments of the behaviorist also.
Great show!

My Cocker Spaniel, Korina, who is now in dog heaven, used to "sing along" whenever I would sing the scale of C. ! I took her to a "My Dog's Tricks" event and she sat there and just drooled instead of performing her usual routine. I was mortified in front of all the spectators but I had to forgive her for her bashfulness. My new Cocker Spaniel, Bella, will have to hear that great CD you speak about. She will love it. And I will be thankful if it calms her. She's a puppy and a peppy one. at that.

Also, tell Joe Naturale that my cat, Bengue, loves Mozart!

How ironic that you follow a segment on soothing music for dogs with music that sounds as if someone is stepping on the tail of a cat. Is this a not-so-funny way of showing how music can induce stress?

my erstwhile kitty loved the nutcracker played on the guitar at christmas

when I used to play the harmonica, my cat would go nuts, attacking me and biting me until I stopped, I was not that bad but I guess she was not a music lover..

My wheaten terrier is oblivious to thunderstorms, fireworks and the washing machine, but he is terrified whenever I run the dishwasher. I can barely hear it, so there my be a high pitch that I can't hear, or the vibration of the floor may affect him.

#4--I feel your pain. My male Pomeranian can hear a doorbell on radio, television or movie and go nuts, even if the doorbell sounds nothing like our own.

What about cats? Do cats react to music? Any studies on that?

It seems to me to be entirely plausible that modified music would be able to calm a dog or cat...There are already CDs available to children with sensory integration issues who are acoustically sensitive to fireworks, loud vehicles, airplanes etc...

My mom has started playing punk radio out her window at her neighbor's obnoxious barking dogs- it shuts them up immediately!

my toy poodle loves the flute. whenever someone plays it she tries to jump into his or her lap. I find it the least pleasant instrument, other than the saxophone. Is it the pitch, the tone?

I look forward to trying classical music with my two Jack Russell Terriers who constantly need calming influences. One request, please refrain from playing anymore dog barking on the radio as they definitely react to that sound and start talking right back to you! Thank you for the great segment.

Years ago I found both my dogs mesmerized by the first few minutes of Xanadu off of Exit Stage Left. But they did not care for Rush otherwise.

John,

40 years ago, when my brother and I were in High School and Junior High, respectively, our St. Bernard (named "Erich" after maestro Leinsdorf....We lived in Massachusetts!) would run from the living room whenever my brother cranked up the rock music. Once the stereo system was back under my control and playing the classics Erich would return and sleep happily in front of the speakers.

Cheers,

Tom Parker

As an experiment I played some mellow Chopin for my dog after ordering pizza last night. Clementine barks madly at any delivery person or guest. When the pizza arrived she barked a couple of times but was quickly calmed at my command (more than usual). I don't know if the music soothed her, but it defenitely soothed me, and maybe she was picking up on that.