Music Calms Fidelco Guide Dogs: Phase Two
Pet Acoustics continuing 8-month study with Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation.
Lori McClain-Russak, Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation- Pet Acoustics clincial music program to calm dogs used throughout the facility to help German Shepherds in training to become guide dogs for the visually impaired.
Goal
To test the length of time it takes to bring the behavior of each dog into a state of calm and rest while listening to Pet Acoustics frequency modified canine music. Data was collected by a PetPace Collar.
Study
Observe (6) German Shepherds individually, in a high stress behavioral state before and after the music experience. The Pet Tunes music and Ultra Calmer were used alternately. Each dog experience lasted up to 20 minutes to collect the data. The study took place on Sept. 6 and Nov. 15, 2015. at the campus of The Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation in Bloomfield, CT.
Results
90% of the dogs released their states of stress within (5) minutes of listening to the music remaining in a state of calm and rest. One dog took up to 20 minutes to release the stress behavior.
The study showed that Pet Acoustics music used on a daily basis in the kennel is used as an integral part of the service dog training diminishing high stress behaviors during the program resulting in a calmer dog for service.
The chart above show alert position of each dog relaxing into a laying down position into calm and rest after listening to the music through the speaker and through the Ultra Calmer collar device.
About Fidelco
Charlie and Robbie Kaman's intuitive knowledge of how German Shepherd dogs could help people who are legally blind live more normal lives was the genesis of the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation.
Beginning in 1960, the work done by this innovative couple and ever-growing group of dedicated and tireless staff, volunteers and supporters has reached out and touched thousands of clients' and family members' lives.
Today, Fidelco is an internationally-recognized leader in the guide dog industry. And the legacy of dedication and quality given to the organization by the Kaman’s will guide Fidelco for generations to come. Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation 103 Vision Way Bloomfield, CT 06002 Fidelco.Org
The Fidelco German Shepherd Dog, we describe them as "a breed within a breed." The Fidelco German Shepherd was created from Bavarian stock. It is an outstanding and exclusive product of selective breeding from strong working lines and has evolved to be truly a breed within a breed. Our dogs possess the characteristics of the ideal working guide; intelligence, temperament, stamina and stability. They are responsible for our clients’ safety at all times. This formidable task requires us to have an uncompromising focus on the quality of the breed, which is a hallmark of the Fidelco shepherd.
Conducted by Janet Marlow, Sound Behaviorist.