Hugh: Certain Music has Been Proven to Keep Anxious Dogs Calm on Car Rides

For some dogs, few things are more exciting than going for a drive. For others, car rides can make them extremely anxious. Personally, I have one of each. Fortunately, research has shown that you can help your anxious pup out with a few tunes. Animal experts have found that songs with certain steady rhythms and soft vocals are especially good at calming dogs while on the road (or anytime, really). Expert-recommended picks include Stay by Rihanna, Oh My God by Adele, Orphans by Coldplay, Flowers by Miley Cyrus, Dreams by Fleetwood Mac, and Watermelon Sugar by Harry Styles. It might be a little too on-the-nose, but Hound Dog by Elvis also made the list. Apparently it helps to get your dog acclimated to the playlist beforehand so they have positive mental associations with the songs before introducing the stressful setting of the car as hearing something familiar can bring comfort.

One thing I found interesting is that different dogs can actually have different music preferences. It all has to do with their heartbeat. Smaller dogs have faster heartbeats, and they prefer songs with higher beats per minute. Conversely, slower songs are better for larger dogs with slower heartbeats.