Can Animals Enjoy Music?

[tha del sound]

I'm just chilling at home right now, hitting my volcano, and listening to some Between the Buried & Me while my cat is sleeping on my bed. I noticed she woke up during one of the more aggressive songs, but the following song was a very melodic instrumental and she closed her eyes and went back to sleep. It just made me start to wonder if animals appreciate music. What do you guys think?

Edit:

Not so much appreciate, as animals can't reason, but more so finding certain pitches and melodies more agreeable, I guess?

tha del sound Reviewed by tha del sound on 02-28-2008. Can Animals Enjoy Music? I'm just chilling at home right now, hitting my volcano, and listening to some Between the Buried & Me while my cat is sleeping on my bed. I noticed she woke up during one of the more aggressive songs, but the following song was a very melodic instrumental and she closed her eyes and went back to sleep. It just made me start to wonder if animals appreciate music. What do you guys think? Edit: Not so much appreciate, as animals can't reason, but more so finding certain pitches and melodies Rating: 5

[TheSmokingMonkey]

No idea but I do know the following.

My dogs react to:
yelling voices
strong repetitive sharp noises (rimshots)
doorbells on TV
dog barks on TV

But they seem to chill out pretty well if music is steady and not loud/hyper. And one of my dogs licks my husband's face when he plays guitar - I think she likes it!

That's all I know... I can't really weigh in on their enjoyment of music. They don't like howl along or anything

[tha del sound]

well i recently went to a metal show that had a dog as the vocalist. no fucking joke. they trained to bark and yip and yelp and all that. it sounded fucking sweet. i don't remember the name exactly, but it was similar to the word canine, just slightly different. something like Canin or something. but anyway, the dog was just chilling and panting and looked happy. i was surprised the blast beats and the drums didn't scare it. it was one of the coolest things i have EVER seen.

[silkyblue]

yes dogs/critters are very in tune to jams

my dogs run through the house chasing each other

when I turn music on [classic rock only]

they sleep

its so cool

[tha del sound]

hahaha so can you just turn on music when they are too hyper to get them to calm down?

[ghosty]

I doubt they can appreciate it at the level we can, but I am quite positive they react differently to different styles. If I crank up some fast paced metal like Mastodon or High on Fire the dogs get a little wild too. If I'm playing some glitchy drum and bass like Aphex or Venetian Snares they get kinda antsy, like the many siunds in the music. If I'm playing something slow and calm like some ambient or Boards of Canada, or anything just slower and steadier, they'll come chill right next to me or find a nice spot on the floor and relax with me. My golden retriver Hickory seems to enjoy downtempo electronic.

It'd be interesting to do a controlled experiement on it and find out for sure.

[CultureCherryPopper]

I had a sheep dog that would howl every time this one guitar lick played in an REO Speedwagon song. she would only howl at that one lick, that one song. Can't remember the song because I haven't listened to 'em in 15 years, lol. Anywho, it was pretty awesome, and she never failed to do it. I miss that pure soul...

[tha del sound]

animals are trip.

[lagstronaut]

I dunno but I find every dog I play guitar in front of freaks the FUCK out

[EbelEyes]

I used to put my dog to sleep while playing guitar. If it was slow and calm she'd fall right asleep!