Due to high demand the Scottish SPCA has made their album, ‘Paws, Play, Relax’, available to download and stream through Spotify, iTunes, Google Play and most other popular music sites and apps.
The album, created alongside songwriter John McLaughlin, best known for writing hit songs for artists such as Rod Stewart, Westlife, Busted, Cliff Richard, and Sandi Thom, appearing as the music coach on BBC’s Fame Academy and being the current manager of the Bay City Rollers, is aimed at relaxing dogs.
The tracks on the album are based on the results of collaborative scientific research between Scotland’s animal welfare charity and researchers at the University of Glasgow.
The study revealed that, just like humans, dogs become easily bored if they listen to the same music continually and like variety within their playlist. While all of the genres of music tested (classical, pop, motown, soft rock and reggae) help keep dogs calm, the dogs seemed to particularly benefit from reggae and soft rock.
Andrew Hay, who recently rehomed Katie, a Lhasa Apso, from the charity’s centre in Aberdeen said, “’Paws, Play, Relax,’ has really helped Katie when she’s a bit stressed and anxious, and we’ve seen her become more of a chilled out dog.
“The album was released shortly after we rehomed her and I bought it as I thought it would help Katie settle in and I’ve ended up enjoying it just as much as her!”
Song writer and producer John McLaughlin said, “As soon as I was approached about the idea of a music album for dogs I wanted to be involved! I’m a huge animal lover so was happy to assist in any way I could to help dogs and the charity.
“It wasn’t easy making music that can be enjoyed by dog owners just as much as it is by their beloved pets, but it was very worthwhile and the reaction has been fantastic.
“Dogs enjoy the change of genre and also tempo which shows that they have both heart and soul – that’s why I just had to write the songs, and why people should play the album to their four-legged friends!”
Scottish SPCA Head of Education and Policy Gilly Mendes Ferreira said, “It can often be a bit overwhelming for dogs arriving into our care as they’re in an unfamiliar environment. We’ve worked with the University of Glasgow to research ways to help relax our animals, both in the centre and in a home environment.
“The team at our centres across Scotland have been enjoying listening to the album and our dogs have had a very positive reaction to the music. They’ve been barking less, spending more time lying down and generally displaying more chilled behaviour.
“We’re continuing our research with the University of Glasgow as we’re very interested in finding even more ways we can improve the lives of our beloved pets”.
The album is available to download on all major streaming/download sites and the hard copy can be bought at scottishspcashop.org or your local Scottish SPCA centre.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
