Hostname: page-component-6b989bf9dc-pkhfk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-14T17:37:17.661Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Influence of Auditory Stimulation on the Behaviour of Dogs Housed in a Rescue Shelter

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

D L Wells ,
L Graham  and
P G Hepper
D L Wells*
Affiliation:
Canine Behaviour Centre, School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT7 INN, Northern Ireland, UK
L Graham
Affiliation:
Canine Behaviour Centre, School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT7 INN, Northern Ireland, UK
P G Hepper
Affiliation:
Canine Behaviour Centre, School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT7 INN, Northern Ireland, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: d.wells@qub.ac.uk
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This study explored the influence of five types of auditory stimulation (human conversation, classical music, heavy metal music, pop music, and a control) on the behaviour of 50 dogs housed in a rescue shelter. The dogs were exposed to each type of auditory stimulation for 4 h, with an intervening period of one day between conditions. The dogs ‘ position in their kennels (front, back), their activity (moving, standing, sitting, resting, sleeping), and their vocalisation (barking, quiet, other) were recorded over 4 h at 10 min intervals during each condition of auditory stimulation. The dogs’ activity and vocalisation were significantly related to auditory stimulation. Dogs spent more time resting and less time standing when classical music was played than when any of the other stimuli were played. Exposure to heavy metal music encouraged dogs to spend significantly more of their time barking than did other types of auditory stimulation. Classical music resulted in dogs spending significantly more of their time quiet than did other types of auditory stimulation. It is suggested that the welfare of sheltered dogs may be enhanced through exposure to appropriate forms of auditory stimulation. Classical music appears particularly beneficial, resulting in activities suggestive of relaxation and behaviours that are considered desirable by potential buyers. This form of music may also appeal to visitors, resulting in enhanced perceptions of the rescue shelter's environment and an increased desire to adopt a dog from such a source.

Keywords

animal welfarebehaviourcaptivitydogsenrichmentmusicrescue shelters
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 11 , Issue 4 , November 2002 , pp. 385 - 393
Copyright
© 2002 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Brent, L and Weaver, D 1996 The physiological and behavioral effects of radio music on singly housed baboons. Journal of Medical Primatology 25: 370–374CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Evans, A 1990 Moosic is for cows, too. Hoard's Dairyman 135: 721Google Scholar
Gowensmith, W N and Bloom, L J 1997 The effects of heavy metal music on arousal and anger. Journal of Music Therapy 34: 33–45CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gvaryahu, G, Cunningham, D L and van Tienhoven, A 1989 Filial imprinting, environmental enrichment and music application effects on behavior and performance of meat strain chicks. Poultry Science 68: 211–217CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hanson, J D, Larson, M E and Snowdon, C T 1976 The effects of control over high intensity noise on plasma Cortisol levels in rhesus monkeys. Behavioural Biology 16: 333–340CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hayakawa, Y, Miki, H, Takada, K and Tanaka, K 2000 Effects of music on mood during bench stepping exercise. Perceptual and Motor Skills 90: 307–314CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hennessy, M B, Davis, H N, Williams, M T, Mellot, C and Douglas, C W 1997 Plasma Cortisol levels of dogs at a county animal shelter. Physiology & Behavior 62: 485–490CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Houpt, K, Marrow, M and Seeliger, M 2000 A preliminary study of the effect of music on equine behavior. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 20: 691–737CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Howell, D C 1992 Statistical Methods for Psychology, 3rd Edition. Duxbury Press: California, USAGoogle Scholar
Ladd, J K, Albright, J L, Beck, A M and Ladd, B T 1992 Behavioral and physiological studies on the effect of music on animals. Journal of Animal Science 70: 170Google Scholar
Markowitz, H and Line, S 1989 Primate research models and environmental enrichment. In: Segal, E (ed) Housing, Care and Psychological Well-being of Captive and Laboratory Primates pp 203–212. Noyes Publications: New Jersey, USAGoogle Scholar
Martin, P and Bateson, P 1986 Measuring Behaviour. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UKGoogle Scholar
McCraty, R, Barrios-Choplin, B, Atkinson, M and Tomasino, D 1998 The effects of different types of music on mood, tension and mental clarity. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine 4: 75–84Google ScholarPubMed
Meckel, M, Stork, T and Vollert, J 1995 Stress reduction through listening to music: effects on stress hormones, hemodynamics and mental states in patients with arterial hypertension and in healthy persons. Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift 120: 745–752Google Scholar
Newberry, R C 1995 Environmental enrichment: increasing the biological relevance of captive environments. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 44: 229–243CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nicol, C J 1992 Effects of environmental enrichment and gentle handling on behaviour and fear responses of transported broilers. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 33: 367–380CrossRefGoogle Scholar
North, A C, Hargreaves, D J and McKendrick, J 1999 The influence of in-store music on wine selections. Journal of Applied Psychology 84: 271–276CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Novak, M A and Drewson, K H 1989 Enriching the lives of captive primates: issues and problems. In: Segal, E (ed) Housing, Care and Psychological Well-being of Captive and Laboratory Primates pp 161–182. Noyes Publications: New Jersey, USAGoogle Scholar
Ogden, J J, Lindburg, D G and Maple, T L 1994 A preliminary study of the effects of ecologically relevant sounds on the behaviour of captive lowland gorillas. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 39: 163–176CrossRefGoogle Scholar
O'Neill, P 1989 A room with a view for captive primates: issues, goals, related research and strategies. In: Segal, E (ed) Housing, Care and Psychological Well-being of Captive and Laboratory Primates pp 135–160. Noyes Publications: New Jersey, USAGoogle Scholar
Ragneskog, H, Brane, G, Karlsson, I and Kihlgren, M 1996 Influence of dinner music on food intake and symptoms common in dementia. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences 10: 11–17CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Reed, H J, Wilkins, L J, Austin, S D and Gregory, N G 1993 The effect of environmental enrichment during rearing on fear reactions and depopulation trauma in adult caged hens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 36: 39–46CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scheel, K R and Westefeld, J S 1999 Heavy metal music and adolescent suicidality: an empirical investigation. Adolescence 34: 253–273Google ScholarPubMed
Shepherdson, D, Bemment, N, Carman, M and Reynolds, S 1989 Auditory enrichment for Lar gibbons Hylobates lar at London Zoo. International Zoo Yearbook 28: 256–260CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sousou, S D 1997 Effects of melody and lyrics on mood and memory. Perceptual and Motor Skills 85: 31–40CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Swartz, K P, Hantz, E C, Crummer, G C, Walton, J P and Frisina, R D 1989 Does the melody linger on? Music cognition in Alzheimer's disease. Seminars in Neurology 9: 152–158CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tabloski, P A, McKinnon-Howe, L and Remington, R 1995 Effects of calming music on the rest and activity disturbance in Alzheimer's disease. American Journal of Alzheimer ‘s Care 10: 10–15Google Scholar
Tuber, D S, Miller, D D, Caris, K A, Halter, R, Linden, F and Hennessy, M B 1999 Dogs in animal shelters: problems, suggestions and needed expertise. Psychological Science 10: 379–386CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Uetake, K, Hurnik, J F and Johnson, L 1997 Effect of music on voluntary approach of dairy cows to an automatic milking system. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 53: 175–182CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wells, D L 1996 The welfare of dogs in an animal rescue shelter. PhD Thesis, School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, UKGoogle Scholar
Wells, D L and Hepper, P G 1992 The behaviour of dogs in a rescue shelter. Animal Welfare 1: 171–186Google Scholar
Wells, D L and Hepper, P G 1998 A note on the influence of visual conspecific contact on the behaviour of sheltered dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 60: 83–88CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wells, D L and Hepper, P G 2000 The influence of environmental change on the behaviour of sheltered dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 68: 151–162CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wells, D L and Hepper, P G 2001 The behaviour of visitors towards dogs housed in a rescue shelter. Anthrozoos 14: 12–18CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wisniewski, E W 1977 Behavioral modification of milking parlour entrance order in dairy cattle trained by operant conditioning methods. PhD Thesis, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USAGoogle Scholar
Yalch, R F and Spangenberg, E R 2000 The effects of music in a retail setting on real and perceived shopping times. Journal of Business Research 49: 139–147CrossRefGoogle Scholar