[falcons1988]

I am a Music Student studying at the University of Plymouth, United Kingdom. One of our modules is Music Psychology. Being me, I want to tie that in with Dog Psychology (namely bassets, as I have them and love them).
Like humans we all have emotions and the music we listen to has and effect on psychologically and spiritually. I have noticed with Beau (my own basset) that when we had the Central Band of the RAF playing, he was enjoying it and wagging his tail in time to the music. Since then I have wanted to study it more in depth. As part of my research and collecting data, this is where you come in. mwhahaha!

Basically if possible, What I would like you to do is make observations of your dogs behaviour/mood/reactions to different styles of music for 30mins (each style) be it Classical, Heavy Metal, Brass/Military Band, Jazz/Big Bands, Modern popular, Musical Theatre, Experimental....whatever... as long as there is some form obvious contrast. You don't have to do it all in one go (we are all very busy). As an when you have time a 30min slot one night or day, then another 30min slot another time.

In Summary all I am after is: -

Just basic observations, tail wagging (possibly in time with the music), relaxation/hyperactivity. that kind of thing.
CD's Track Numbers and if a Radio station with a time. (Just for referencing and gives me a greater idea of the music, rather than getting you to analyse the music as well.)

Then if you could please relay me your observations back to me via, PM, e-mail (preferred) that would be fantastic.

Thank you in Advance for your time.

 

[Tuesday]

Maybe they feed off of the energy surrounding them.

I would love to help you out though. I can start this tomorrow. Should I just sit there quietly while the music is playing or what?

 

[Boomer's Mom]

Boogie with our bassets?
Hula with the hounds?

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

Anywho, I have music playing most of the time, and I've never really noticed any reactions one way or another with Boomer. He's probably used to it now.

 

[falcons1988]

Boogie with our bassets?
Hula with the hounds?

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

I have already started a composition on it!

Maybe they feed off of the energy surrounding them.

I would love to help you out though. I can start this tomorrow. Should I just sit there quietly while the music is playing or what?

Basically yes, jot down a few notes, body language, ears, activity and tail wags. Obviously as humans we react to the music and hopefully the dog might pic up that as well.

 

[lvnMattie]

Just a funny note..
My husband and our hound Mattie where driving down the road listening to "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" by KT Tunstall, a couple of years ago and both of there heads were bopping up and down with music!

 

[Nitrosmom]

I will watch Nitro as music is playing on the radio to see if it has any affect on his sleep and snore patterns lol!

In all honesty, he doesn't pay any attention to the music because it is on all day, but let my son take out the French Horn he plays for school and we get a howl fest going! He doesn't even have to be playing it. The second my son's hand touches the case Nitro's tail starts wagging, he bounces back and forth and goes down on his front legs with his tail straight in the air. I am not sure if he likes it, or is trying to kill it!

At any rate, it is very amusing to watch!

 

[falcons1988]

This is great. Please keep them coming.

I love bassets!!!

 

[Nitrosmom]

Well, I have been observing Nitro for you with all types of music. His response to all music is sleep. He sleeps through classical, rock, heavy metal, hip-hop, you name it. If I am signing a song, he may lift an eye lid and listen for a moment, but sleep will win.

He does still, however, still try to "sing" along with my son and the French Horn. That seems to be the only music that has any impact on him.

 

[jaleely]

two different times, for about an hour each time, i've been playing just normal pop music...or just popular radio. Usually like, the corrs, fiona apple, or kind of upbeat stuff of the same nature. Bowser seems oblivious. It really just depends on which room i'm in. He's asleep the whole time unless i leave the room, then he comes and finds me and lays on the floor next to me. if i leave the room again, he does the same thing. So, the sound doesn't really seem to distract him. He is more concerned in just being in the same room with me. He's 7.5 months old.

I find it funny to note, however, that the entire time we've had him, since he was six weeks old, we sleep with a noise maker. It's usually on "waterfall" which is continuous white noise. The other day, to annoy my husband, i put it on "heartbeat" and bowser came upstairs, looked at it for a full two minutes, then decided to freak out and act like it was a monster. I laughed at him and put it on the floor, and he went around and around it barking periodically. I changed the sounds to "crickets" then "rainforest" and "ocean" in turn, and each one he crept up to the noisemaker and sniffed it, then walked away. However "rain" made him tilt his head to the side dramatically and stare at it. But putting it back on heartbeat illicited more bouncing and barking. After a while i put it back on waterfall and he ignored it.

SO, there is an interesting story with sound for you. Don't know if it's relevant or not *lol*

 

[Lightning&Stomps]

This probably won't be relevant to your study, but anytime I play something with sound on my laptop, my cat gets aroused. The t.v. or stereo doesn't get any reaction from him at all. Lightning (my basset) doesn't wake up for anything that doesn't involve food.

 

[SophieB]

One of my Bassets doesn't seem to like the sound of bagpipes, even from a distance and I suppose they sound ten times more shrieky to dogs than to humans!!!

 

[peterluquer]

FWIW, Lollypop doesn't seem to react too much to music, although she is a bit curious when I play my guitar. She doesn't seem to mind music (all kinds), but she doesn't seem to be overly happy about it either.

On another front speaking of bagpipes, I couldn't resist.

Q - What's the definition of perfect pitch?
A - When you throw the bagpipes in the dumpster and they land directly on top of the accordion.

 

[Boomer's Mom]

I've found that Boomer doesn't really care what kind of music is playing.

It's just when I start singing with it he'll look at me and tilt his head clear to the side like he's saying, "Huh?".

 

[Kirska]

I thought of this post again today. I don't know if it's coincidence but my dogs appear to react better to female singers. I played through the "We Don't Need to Whisper" album by Angels and Airwaves and they slept straight through it. I turned on the On the Beach portion of "A State of Trance 2009" compilation by Armin van Buuren which starts with a higher voiced female singer and Anabelle got a bit more active.

 

[Otis and Family]

If I go "la-la-la-la-la-....." in a soft, somewhat high pitch,Otis starts wagging his tail like crazy, then starts singing along with short (2-3 second) howls. If I make the same note, but continously ("laaaaaaaaaaaaa...."), he responds with much longer howls (4-5 seconds).

If I pull my guitar out of it's case, he doesn't even wait for the first note. He just starts a very agitated response, barking like mad. He hates that thing. Guess he doesn't think much of my guitar skills...

Most curiously, he seems to be particularly sensitive to a CD of Native American spiritual music. He instantly gets very quiet for a minute or so, completely prostrates himself with belly on the floor and all legs splayed out in four directions. After about a minute, he starts these long, low, EXTREMELY mournful howls that can last 6 seconds or more. He looks so sad during these times, I swear he's doing the doggy equivalent of crying. I call it "communing with the spirits".

 

[Cassidy]

Just a funny note..
My husband and our hound Mattie where driving down the road listening to "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" by KT Tunstall, a couple of years ago and both of there heads were bopping up and down with music!

Where's the video camera when you need it? too cute!!

 

[Kirska]

If I pull my guitar out of it's case, he doesn't even wait for the first note. He just starts a very agitated response, barking like mad. He hates that thing. Guess he doesn't think much of my guitar skills...

The last time I practiced my viola I had to lock the dogs outside. They would just stand there and bark at me.

 

[falcons1988]

Can I just say a HUGE thank you to you all.

The information has been INVALUABLE.

Thank you all very much. Happy New Year. To you and your dogs.