Pet Acoustic music proves to calm during a 90-day study (2014) with The Good Dog Foundation.

Study

Canine Companions and Music: A Study on the impact of music and music speaker design on dogs and their owners (June 19, 2010). Observe the effect of Pet Acoustics music on both pets and owners during training classes, facilitated by Heather White, author and Westchester Executive Trainer and Program Coordinator at The Good Dog Foundation.

Results

80% of participants reported that they felt that the music calmed their dogs as well as themselves.
90% of canines displayed positive reactions as evidenced by their ability to focus on a task at hand with their owner.
86% of canines showed decreased frequency of stress signals and showed neutral to positive body language towards their owners.

The Good Dog Foundation collaborates with researchers, healthcare professionals, and other organizations to promote research studies that document the effects of the human-animal bond on human healing and wellness. While there is much anecdotal evidence supporting the monumental benefits of animal assisted therapy, there is much to be done in the world of scientific research and documentation to help open doors for animal assisted therapy to the healthcare community and beyond.

Mixed dogs with their owners in a Pet Acoustics clinical trial.

Study Utilizing Pet Acoustics with Dogs and Owners

The study was implemented over a three month period, collecting data via questionnaire and observation from 50 participants and their dogs who participated in obedience classes and therapy dog skills classes through The Good Dog Foundation. Participants were asked to be aware of their dogs at all times throughout each class and asked to report any findings they experienced with their dogs when the dogs were in the presence of Pet Acoustics music and speaker. Dogs and owners were also observed by the class instructor and class assistant for body language and stress signal changes that may occur. The human participants ranged in age from 12 years old to 60 years old with an average of 7 dogs in each class session. The canine participants were comprised of several different breeds of dogs as well as mixed breeds, from all different backgrounds, including dogs from reputable breeders, pet stores, animal shelters and humane societies, and rescue groups. The canine participants ranged in age from 7 months old to 10 years old. The mean and median age of the canine participants was 3 years old.

Summary of Finding

The findings of the above study support the hypothesis that calming music played through the Pet Acoustics music and speaker is beneficial not only to the canine participants, but the owners as well. The majority (75%) of human participants reported that the soundtracks of the Pet Acoustics music playing through the Speaker relaxed them, while the remaining 25% of participants reported that the music was playing and was enjoyable during the class session. 80% of participants reported that they felt that the music playing calmed their dogs as well as themselves, stating, “I think the Pet Speaker is a great tool for promoting calmness”, “I didn’t even realize there was music playing until the very end of class!”, and “The music helped to ground me”. 97% of participants felt that having the Pet Acoustics music speaker present in the room was a beneficial addition to the class atmosphere.

The majority of the canine participants (96%) displayed neutral to positive reactions to the Pet Acoustics music speaker as evidenced by their ability to focus on a task at hand with their owner. The canine participants displayed neutral body language and 86% of the dogs in the classes shown decreased frequency of stress signals and showed neutral to positive body language towards their owners. 4% of canine participants showed elevated stress levels which were not compatible with the therapy dog program and did not continue in class.

Conclusions and Implications

What was most beneficial about the Pet Acoustics Speaker was the aspect of the speaker that takes out the extreme high and low notes in playing music and allows only middle tones to play which seemed to truly and visibly soothe both dogs and their humans during the classes.

It is recommended by this author that the Pet Acoustics music and speakers would be beneficial to dogs in boarding and kennel facilities as well as training classes and also at home. The Pet Acoustics Speaker is a wonderful tool for any dog owner who would like to further foster the bond between themselves and their canine companions.

About The Good Dog Foundation

Since its inception in 1998, The Good Dog Foundation has had a singular mission – using Animal Assisted Intervention to help children and adults heal from the trauma of disease, disability, and disaster.

Music conducted by Janet Marlow, Sound Behaviorist, Founder of Pet Acoustics Inc.