With just over a month until Christmas and many people still wondering how they will spend the season amid the pandemic, one company is making sure your canine companion has something to bark about during the festive season by releasing a Christmas song scientifically designed for dogs.
The people behind the song -- released on Nov. 18 and aptly titled “Raise the Woof!” -- claim that it is the world’s first Christmas song for dogs and that it has been specifically recorded for dog’s ears based on scientific studies of sounds that elicit positive reactions from them, according to dog food company Tails.com.
Over the past two months, music producers tested over 500 different sounds on dogs in a focus group of 25 dogs before settling on the reggae beat complete with recordings of sounds like doorbells, human commands like “sit” and “who’s this,” whistles and other high frequency sounds that run through the track and aims to keep your dog engaged with the song.
“Signs that dogs are enjoying the track include alertness, trying to discover where the sounds are coming from, head cocking, or moving their ears to get a better listen, as well as tails wagging,” according animal behaviourist Carolyn Menteith and tails.com’s Head Vet Sean McCormack who analyzed the reactions of dogs listening to the track to ensure it prompted positive behavior from the dogs throughout.
“Raise the Woof!” -- recorded at the famed Abbey Road Studios, where The Beatles recorded much of their music in London -- clocks in at just under two minutes and even has a music video to go along with it. All proceeds from vinyl sales of the song will also go to men’s mental wellbeing organization “Dudes&Dogs.”
“Creating a song just for dogs to enjoy with their families seemed an ideal way to bring some light-hearted fun to a difficult year and get tails wagging nationwide,” said Menteith.
Many people have already started posting their dog’s positive reactions on social media.
There is limited research showing that dogs do respond positively to music from a 2002 study that found dogs in a shelter became more relaxed when they listened to classical music and another study in 2017 from Scotland’s SPCA that suggested animals enjoy reggae and soft rock.
Said McCormack: “We’re focused on improving the lives of dogs and their owners throughout the year and, although Christmas may be different in 2020, we hope people find some light-hearted happiness in Raise the Woof!”
