Did you know that separation anxiety can affect between 20-40% of dogs (American Veterinary Medical Association)? We are more mentally similar to our pets than we realize; there are all types of ailments that can affect our pets’ minds, just like us. Most commonly dogs develop fear-related anxiety, such as from loud noises or new/strange environments and situations. Other types include separation anxiety and age related anxiety that affects older dogs who have cognitive dysfunction syndrome, leading to confusion and anxiety. The only difference between human and dog anxiety is that it manifests itself in different ways. In dogs, it can appear as damaging behaviors, aggression, urinating or defecating in the house, drooling, panting, destructive behavior, depression, excessive barking, pacing, restlessness, and repetitive or compulsive behaviors.

So what do you do when you want to relax? One of the most common methods of relaxation for people is listening to music, and this is no different in the world of dogs. When a dog is feeling nervous or anxious, listening to certain sounds or “music” can evoke a reaction in their brain that helps to calm them down, effectively reducing their anxiety and the behavioral issues it causes. In Pup Tunes we compose and produce original music specifically designed to create a certain emotional response within the dog, breaking through the boundaries of their anxiety. This music will be released on streaming services and marketed towards our audience of veterinarians, dog owners, professional training schools, and other dog occupations. Deliverables will include 3 original songs, each specially composed to address a certain mental issue in dogs including separation anxiety, age related anxiety, and fear related anxiety. These songs will be available to the public freely on CDs and streaming services. Community outreach and data collection will take place in conjunction with local veterinarians, who will play the music in their offices and give feedback.

My target audience would include those who work or are involved with dogs in their everyday lives. This would be not just for dog owners as a home remedy, but veterinarians who could play it in their offices, training schools as a means of conditioning, and any other occupation that involves working with dogs.

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I have two passions in life: music and my dog, Elvis. I care very much about both, and I would not be me without them. When I was coming up with an idea for my capstone project, I knew I wanted to do something with music, and how it impacts our thoughts and emotions. I thought I could employ the psychology behind music as a project, but I didn't know how to make it unique. Thats when I had the idea, does music have the same effect on animals as it does on humans? I looked at my dog Elvis, who has severe anxiety in many situations, and thought, I listen to music when I'm feeling anxious and it calms me down, so why shouldn't it do the same for him? Hence, PupTunes was born.

PupTunes breaks boundaries in the field of music therapy, introducing its effects onto dogs as well as humans. It pushes existing ideas of animal's musical comprehension abilities in an attempt to break through the bounds of a dogs mind and cure the anxious ailments they are unable to control.