Shelter Dogs Listen to Classical Music
By: Dawn White
Updated: February 21, 2013
FREDERICK, MD- Dogs at a Maryland Shelter are calming down after the staff heard about some unusual research. Now, those same pooches are getting in touch with their artistic side.
People who visit the Frederick County Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center may feel they're walking into a doctors office or maybe even a concert.
"The research that was done said that particularly classical music is comforting to dogs. We now have a program where we play classical music over our intercom for the dogs during the day," says Didi Colp, humane educator at the shelter.
"They tend to sing along with the music. They sometimes to tend to calm down," says Harold Domer, director for Frederick County Animal Control.
Lady, a two-year-old Beagle, loves to sing to the music, especially Mozart.
"I think it's great. if it cuts down on their stress and if it helps, so be it," says Rebecca Lavorgna, a shelter visitor.
Rosita is a one-year-old Chihuahua and she's been staying at the shelter. She's cozy in her hot pink sweater but even more at ease with classical music.
"It does a couple of things," says Colp. "It drowns out all the noises that they don't need to worry about. It distracts them a little bit."
The dogs hear the music for 14 hours a day. At night, the staff turns it off so the dogs can get their beauty rest.
"What I would love to see is more research," says Colp. "What if they like country music even better that classical music? We'll switch."
But for now, Beethoven and Chopin get two paws up and plenty of tails wagging.
The shelter also plays nature music for the dogs, but found classical music calms them down more.
People who visit the Frederick County Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center may feel they're walking into a doctors office or maybe even a concert.
"The research that was done said that particularly classical music is comforting to dogs. We now have a program where we play classical music over our intercom for the dogs during the day," says Didi Colp, humane educator at the shelter.
"They tend to sing along with the music. They sometimes to tend to calm down," says Harold Domer, director for Frederick County Animal Control.
Lady, a two-year-old Beagle, loves to sing to the music, especially Mozart.
"I think it's great. if it cuts down on their stress and if it helps, so be it," says Rebecca Lavorgna, a shelter visitor.
Rosita is a one-year-old Chihuahua and she's been staying at the shelter. She's cozy in her hot pink sweater but even more at ease with classical music.
"It does a couple of things," says Colp. "It drowns out all the noises that they don't need to worry about. It distracts them a little bit."
The dogs hear the music for 14 hours a day. At night, the staff turns it off so the dogs can get their beauty rest.
"What I would love to see is more research," says Colp. "What if they like country music even better that classical music? We'll switch."
But for now, Beethoven and Chopin get two paws up and plenty of tails wagging.
The shelter also plays nature music for the dogs, but found classical music calms them down more.
