In shelter studies, slow and simple music had dogs lying down and sleeping more. The same conditions work at home. But if the reason for a broken night is pain or an ageing brain, music will not change it.
In a 2012 US study of 117 kennelled dogs, classical music increased sleeping and heavy metal increased body shaking. A 2002 UK shelter study of 50 dogs found more lying down with classical. What matters is not the genre but slow tempo, low pitch and no sudden changes.
What wakes them is usually outside
Footsteps in the corridor, the lift, a car door in the small hours — these break light sleep. A low bed of sound underneath the music buries them, so there are fewer wakings.
The same music wears off in days
In a 2015 Scottish SPCA study the calming effect of classical had gone by day seven. A 2017 follow-up found the effect held when the music changed daily. Playing the whole playlist beats repeating one mix.
How to use it
Start half an hour before bed. Separating lights-out from the start of the music turns the music into a cue that the night is beginning.
Keep it very quiet. Quieter at night than you would during the day — barely audible is enough.
Look at the spot first. Beside your bed, in sight of the front door, or by a window all carry noise and movement. Moving the bed further in often does more than anything else.
When to turn it off
If an older dog paces every night, seems disoriented, whines in certain positions or struggles to get up, this is likely pain or cognitive decline rather than restlessness. See a vet before trying anything else.
Questions
How long should the mix be?
The ones here run eight to ten hours, enough for a whole night. A mix that stops partway can itself cause a waking.
Should my dog sleep in my room?
Not something studies answer. But for a dog not used to sleeping alone, music takes a little of the edge off being by itself.
Is playing it all night bad for their ears?
Not at a very low volume. If you have to check whether it is on, it is quiet enough.
All music here is original work by onemore. Free to listen. These tracks are commercially released through a distributor, so please get in touch before using them in a video or stream.