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Pet Sounds
A growing body of evidence suggests that classical music can help calm your family dog. (Heavy metal, not surprisingly, makes them more agitated.) Joining us is Joshua Leeds, the co-creator of a new book and accompanying CD called "Through a Dog’s Ear," which prescribes Chopin and Schubert to soothe your pooch. Also with us is Peter Borchelt, PhD, an animal behaviorist based in New York.
Weigh in: Do you find music effective at calming your pet?
Official website for "Through A Dog's Ear"
Through a Dog's Ear web site
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I often howl with my dog, sort of singing a duet with them. It is fun to get them to howl. Not all dogs will do it though. I probably wouldn't recommend it with a small dog, but with a dog like a Great Dane it is perfect.
do you think this would work on babies?
Our 16yr old cat had a rough trip to the vet yesterday (all trips to the vet are rough trips), so I was not looking forward to the drive home. When I started the car, Soundcheck came on. Sid also was much, much calmer than I expected the whole trip home. Coincidence? Don't think so. We listen to WNYC all the time, so I think he found Kurt very comforting. Or maybe the drugs hadn't worn off yet.
When my kid was in public school, we did an experiment involving parakeets, Mozart and acid rock.
We did a tape definitively showing that the budgies chirped like mad when played Mozart's German Dances but shut up when exposed to rock, even at low listening levels.
Our dog responded to Brian Eno's Neroli -- she was totally wound-up, and when I put it on, she went and sat down in front of the speaker. It also worked with "Appollo, Themes and Sequences" and a few other ambient albums. We started playing them in the car to keep her calm.
I don't know about dogs, but Glenn Gould's Goldberg Variations helps my wife fall asleep when she's stressed out.
My house rabbits just love Sunday Morning Baroque. I realized this when I thought they had escaped from their enclosure because they were stretched out so flat -- and relaxed -- that you could hardly tell they were there. My vet tells me he plays Baroque all of the time in the R&R -- reclamation (waiting to be picked up)and recovery -- areas of the office for all of his patients, furred and feathered.
My mother is always puts on classical music for her two Yorkshire terriers when she leaves the house. Personally, I think they could just use some quiet time - since there's always a TV going when somebody's at home - but I also can't help but think they get very bored with WQXR. I think they'd be better off with Soundcheck. Is there a membership for dogs at WNYC?
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