Music as beautiful as it is effective.
The sensory environments that dogs live in can have huge impacts on their personality, perception, and tolerances for years to come. To have the calm, well-adjusted dog of our dreams, we must pay attention to and create a peaceful sonic environment where their nervous system can find a relaxed state. To fully understand the intersection of sound and the canine relaxation response, we spent 5 years researching this topic, far before we produced our first album, Calm Your Canine, in 2008. Through a Dog’s Ear teamed up with veterinary neurologist Susan Wagner to develop and hone a unique understanding of how the canine ear can be soothed with specific patterns and frequencies. Using that insight, we created music shown to be twice as effective for soothing dogs as conventional classical selections. 
The science proves it: studies show these solo piano classical arrangements reduced anxiety behavior and induced calmness in 70% of dogs in shelters or kennels, and 85% of dogs in households! Our goal was to make music as beautiful as it is effective. Calm Your Canine delivers that perfect union. Soothing solo piano soundtracks have been specially re-arranged to synchronize with the natural rhythms of a relaxed mammalian nervous system. Music that you can enjoy with your furry companion—and, most importantly, will help your best friend live a happier, healthier, and well-adjusted life.
Why variety for dogs?
According to University of Glasgow/Scottish SPCA research, when musical styles are rotated “…the effect of habituation may be reduced by increasing the variety of auditory enrichment provided.” The 2017 clinical research by University of Glasgow and Scottish SPCA shows reggae–along with soft rock and classical–to be the most effective musical styles for calming dogs in shelters. This research found that by mixing varied musical styles, habituation is minimized and canines actually stay calmer longer. It makes sense, no one, not even our dogs, wants to listen to the same thing over and over.
The concept of rotating musical styles to prolong calm is at the heart of A Calm Variety. All individual tracks–solo piano, classical trios, or specially designed reggae music–have been selected and/or rearranged to gradually reduce heart rate. This is accomplished naturally by progressively slowing rhythms and simplifying auditory data. People will also find A Calm Variety to be very relaxing, as the ear and brain are similar across all mammalian species, and calm is a language understood by all. Not only does the change of style bring a lightness and fun into the canine household, but you’ll be marveling at how your dogs mellow out, so you too, can find your calm.
