Can dogs appreciate music?

MadYaker

Before my dog got put to sleep about 2 months ago (old and terminally ill) often when I was playing guitar in my room if she was in the house she would come and sit and watch me play. Im just wondering if dogs can distinguish between music and other sounds, look at this video:

Queen-Mise

His face when the music stops.... aaawwww

barbiegirl

He's bopping his head in time to the music :-) He definitely loved it. :-)

DBB

http://www.journalvetbehavior.com/article/S1558-7878(11)00184-5/abstract

carav10

I think most definitely :-) When I play the piano, my collie/springer cross comes and lies across my feet on the pedals or with her head on the crook of my ankle. She would feel a lot of the vibration of the instrument there.

When I play the violin (which I'm playing a shorter time than the piano and struggle a bit sometimes!), if it's a horrible study or scales, she goes to her bed. If it's something more melodic, she comes and lies at my feet. If I stop, she looks up as if to say 'go on! keep going!'

Zulu

My dog gets really really freaked out if tribal chanting/drums come on the telly. REALLY freaked out.

gregers85

When I was younger we had a yorkie who used to freak out barking and howling if a high note singer like whitney heuston or mariah carey came on the radio! Was so funny!! first discovered it on our way to the beach in the car with the Fam! very funny

I have a 9 month old GSD now and during the summer when the ice cream van would be around the estate he'd howl back at the van! was so funny to see the silly bugger haha

BillyMitchel

Maybe one of mine just hates my taste in music because recently he smashed the screen on my iPod touch

He does love to watch football though!

horsemaster

I am very sorry for the loss of your dog. It sure looks like it was enjoying your guitar music for sure. Take care.

MadYaker

horsemaster wrote: »

I am very sorry for the loss of your dog. It sure looks like it was enjoying your guitar music for sure. Take care.

Thanks, but thats not my video I just found it on youtube.

gimmick

My fella goes a bit silly at the Johnson & Johnson baby ad, you know the one where all the babies are laughing and gurgling. He stops dead in his tracks, looks around, focuses on the TV and then kind of mutter barks with a very cross look on his face.

So obviously I rewind it when I can.

Sorry to go OT.

Mountainsandh

that's interesting. I'd love to know for sure whether they love it or hate it... Mr Mountain is a professional musician, so we often have live music in the house, and both the cat and the dog react ... intensely. I'm pretty sure the cat hates it, as he climbs on Mr Mountains lap, then shoulders, and nibbles at his ears, miaowcrying all the while... but although I really know my Popey after 8 nearly 9 years, sometimes I wonder... if he hates it so much, why does he come at once, and remain in the room ? usually if he hates something he just vanishes upstairs onto a bed !

Now Gizmo our little Shih tzu cross, just joined us last February (it feels like he's been here forever !), and does the shih tzu howling thing that you can see all over Youtube, singing they call it... but I'm not sure either !

This is one instance where really, I'm just not sure of what the pets are telling me :)
Gizmo is the same as Popey, he'll howl away, but definitely hang around, not run and hide or plea for help to me, or ask to be let outside.

I used to think with the cat that maybe the vibrations/high notes were really too strong for sensitive animal ears, but because they both don't run away and hide, or beg to go out, I'm totally confused. Good thing Mr Mountain can go practice in his shed, away from howling pets.

planetX

tin whistle practice causes no end of howling from the hound, and the poor cats ears go flat on their heads as they run for the catflap. So that's one instrument that isn't appreciated;)

yellowlabrador

My golden lab had his favourites, Bach cello, Mario Lanza (I know what taste), gershwin but the top of the pops was the minute waltz. As soon as one of his tracks came on he would become all alert and sing along.

SillyMangoX

planetX wrote: »

tin whistle practice causes no end of howling from the hound, and the poor cats ears go flat on their heads as they run for the catflap. So that's one instrument that isn't appreciated;)

My cats love my tin whistle! Whenever I break it out they sit on my lap and sniff and rub into it

LucyBliss

When my grandmother died in 2010, a cousin wanted to play a traditional piece on her tin whistle for the offertory, but couldn't decide between two she liked. So she played them in our house for us to help her choose.

The first one, my dog Jack ran out of the room barking. The second one, he came back in and sat down. Decision was made. Second one it was. My cousin has since said when she performs in public and feels nervous, she reminds herself that at least none of the audience will start barking at her and feels better.

Cherrycoke

gimmick wrote: »

My fella goes a bit silly at the Johnson & Johnson baby ad, you know the one where all the babies are laughing and gurgling. He stops dead in his tracks, looks around, focuses on the TV and then kind of mutter barks with a very cross look on his face.

Mine too Any baby noises, or kids t.v. programmes, he's not impressed. Maybe because he's not used to being around children.

Also, the Just Roll pastry ad I don't know if it's the jingle or the little pastry woman, but he goes nuts barking and jumping around when it's on!

biancab

My rottie lves don`t stop believing by journey :-)

Da Shins Kelly

My dog gets quite excitable when I start singing to myself or along with music on my iPod. I don't know if it's because he likes it though or just because he sees me getting animated and is in turn excited.