Skoda creates a playlist to help dogs relax on car journeys

Skoda has released a new music playlist on the Spotify streaming service, but it isn’t aimed at drivers.

Instead, the Happy Hounds playlist features a selection of songs designed to help the 60 percent of dogs who become anxious when travelling in a car. 

Three-quarters of the dog-owning drivers surveyed said they have been distracted by their furry friend while on the move. 

It makes nervous dogs a road safety concern for Skoda, with the brand now a sponsor of the famous Crufts dog show.

Chill-out tunes for dogs

Developed with Anna Webb, a leading dog behaviourist, Happy Hounds includes songs that are scientifically proven to help canines feel calmer. 

The songs chosen all have a beats-per-minute (BPM) count that mimics the heart rate of dogs. Emulating the heart rate has been shown to have a soothing effect. 

Music genre choices are also important, with Webb noting that “it’s proven that dogs like reggae”, whereas heavy metal is likely to disturb their sleep cycle. 

Webb has also given tips on how to make dogs feel more comfortable when travelling. This includes securing them with a harness before getting into the car, ensuring the cabin temperature is set to 20 degrees Celsius, and keeping music volume low at first.

Top of the pups

Making dogs familiar with the music playlist before a car journey is also recommended by Webb. This means dogs will then associate the songs with relaxing times, and thus feel less stressed in the car. 

Following the creation of the playlist, Webb tested the songs with drivers who had struggled with their dog’s anxiety on car journeys.

The top 10 songs from the Skoda Happy Hounds playlist are:

1. No Woman No Cry – Bob Marley and the Wailers
2. Oh my God – Adele
3. Good Days – SZA
4. More Than a Woman – Bee Gees
5. Anti-Hero – Taylor Swift
6. Orphans – Coldplay
7. Coming Back – James Blake ft. SZA
8. Candy – Paulo Nutini
9. Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
10. Fly Me to The Moon – Frank Sinatra

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