Activities For Dogs Who Like Piano Music

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Activities For Dogs Who Like Piano Music

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Introduction

Is your doggo the next Snoop Dogg? Maybe they are! There are numerous studies out there that prove that dogs are, in fact, very fond of music, especially soothing piano tunes. A 2012 study published in The Journal of Veterinary Behaviours written by Lori R. Kogan, Regina Schoenfeld-Tacher, and Allen A.Simon, the researchers found that classical music played to dogs in kennels actually calmed the pups down and allowed them to sleep better. Moreover, there is a plethora of anecdotal evidence that proves the findings of the aforementioned study, so there is absolutely no reason for your doggo not to enjoy some smooth tunes as well. Better yet, why not make it into a game?

Musical Chairs

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Cheap

Normal

30 - 60 min

Items needed

computer or smartphone

speakers (optional)

Activity description

We all loved musical chairs when we were little, right? Same can be said for dogs, they just adore this game! It is super fun, easy to understand, and hilarious when the game develops! If you have an especially clingy dog, this one will be perfect to play with them as well. Dogs tend to follow us around the house, so turning that into a game can give you some much needed laughs, and even a means of exercise when the weather outside is bad. Doing this to an upbeat piano tune makes the whole experience even better.

Step

Download the music

First off, you need music, right? Luckily, nowadays it is exceptionally easy to download or stream great music on the go. We recommend using your smartphone, as it is easy to keep in your hand while you play, but a computer with a help of a friend will do just fine. Find an upbeat tempo that will inspire you to move and blast the speakers!

Step

Start playing

Go to your living room and sit on a chair. When your dog follows you, let them sit as well. Stand up and turn the music on. Walk around the room and have your doggo follow you. Then, stop the music and sit on the nearest chair, pillow, couch, or staircase, whatever is closest. Your dog will catch on pretty quickly and realize that they too have to sit when the music stops. To make the game more interesting, leave small treats in hard-to-reach places to slow your pup down while you move to the next place.

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Play Virtuoso, Play!

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Expensive

Hard

1 hr

Items needed

piano

treats

Activity description

Haven’t you always dreamed of one day listening to your beloved pupper play the Moonlight Sonata in a big concert hall? Okay, maybe that dream is a little far-fetched, but that does not mean that your furry friend cannot actually learn how to play the piano. Using some dog treats and a little bit of patience, you can teach your pup to play the tunes as smooth as Sam did. Keep it simple, use the same command every time, and keep the treats low-calorie, you don’t want to make the inches on your dog’s waist go up at the same rate as their talent!

Step

Gather the resources

First off, you need a piano. It does not have to be the big, fancy, concert-hall piano, or even a spinet piano, an electric keyboard will do just fine. Next, get some dog treats. The smart way to go about this is to get smaller treats, the ones lower in calories, as this activity will probably take a few tries to get right, and you don’t want your dog to gain unnecessary weight in the process.

Step

Establish rapport

Your dog needs to understand what you want them to do. Therefore, keep it simple. Always use the same command, such as “Play the piano”, or “Play, virtuoso” and point to the piano. For faster learning, put their paw on the piano keys and follow up with a treat and a mandatory pat on their cute head. You’ll probably have to repeat step 2 several times for the command to catch on. Make sure to praise your puppy the first time they play the key on command only, without you having to put their paw on it.

Step

Play!

After you have successfully taught your four-legged friend to play the piano, the only thing left to do is – enjoy! You can have jamming sessions with them, come up with new tunes, even record the whole process so you can share your pride with your friends. Your dog will be happy to see you proud, and you will be thrilled to have another talented member of the family!

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Dog Waltz

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Cheap

Hard

2 hrs

Items needed

smartphone or a computer

costumes (optional)

treats

Activity description

Relive the ballroom dancing scene from Anastasia with your best friend! Only instead of the prince, you will be dancing with your overly cute dog, which, let’s face it, is SO much better. Princes leave, dogs stay forever, right? This one will probably take a bit of practice to get perfect, but it is absolutely worth it. Blast some smooth waltz tunes from your smartphone or a computer, and teach your doggo how to dance! It is best to come up with a simple choreography for starters, as you can always build upon the basics.

Step

Find the perfect tune

Find a waltz that you love the most, or any other piano music for that matter. You are not competing to become the next ballroom champion, so this one is completely up to you. However, in the beginning, it is better to start with a simpler melody, the one that does not change rhythm too often or has incredibly fast parts. Bonus points for you if both you and your doggo have some sweet costumes to follow the music.

Step

Bust a move

Teach your doggo some basics. Start with simple moves and give them a treat every time they do it right. Perhaps a spin, a jump, or a shuffle to the side will be enough for starters. Repeat the process as many times as needed until your lovely pup gets it right, and make sure to include a lot of love and praise. Again, keep the treats low in calories, as ballerinas are usually pretty slender, as your dog should be.

Step

Work it!

Once you have the basic moves covered, combine them into a fantastic choreography! Whenever you or your dog are feeling down, put on the familiar tunes and bust a move, get your freak on, whatever it is you kids call it these days! You will both have loads of fun, have some much-needed exercise, and even show off your skills in your local dog park. You might even become the next Internet sensation if you upload a video of you two waltzing away into the sunset.

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More Fun Ideas...

Musical Hoops

Get a two or more hula hoops. Either have your friends hold them, or fix them to the ground with duct tape and some tubes. Play the music. Have your dog go through the hoops, jump through, or make eights through them. When the music stops, tell them to sit or lay down. This one is great if you have friends who also have dogs, as you can make it into a group activity.

Ring Around the Rosie

Gather your friends and their dogs and stand in the circle with your dogs in front of you. Play the music. When the music stops, you should all command your dogs to lay down. The last one down or the one still standing is out. Repeat until you get an undefeated champion who will share their super-delicious dog cake with the rest of the gang!

Conclusion

As you can see, piano music is not only made for humans to enjoy. The many positive effects it has on dogs are definitely a plus, and if you can include music to your daily activities with your doggo it will make them appreciate it more, and even associate the soothing piano music with fun and love for you (not that that’s lacking). Get creative and you will see your amateur dog turn into a professional virtuoso all while having the time of their lives!