Drake’s new album “For All the Dogs” was due to be released on Friday. The cover features a terrifyingly drawn dog (by Drake’s son Adonis). The newspaper advertisement that first announced the album, in June, featured a small photo of two puppies.
Is “For All the Dogs”, really the dogs?
The album title, while not a literal play on the word “dog,” is likely to be a reference to an unreliable romantic partner or friend. Drake’s lyrics have mentioned dogs before. He has also included audio clips that feature dogs barking.
Drake is, in fact, a big dog lover. He’s been seen hopping about New York City wearing a mask of a canine, or showing his dogs on album promo art. Drake has also pondered about dogs before. He’s also mused about dogs in his songs before.
Although Drake’s representatives declined to answer questions about whether the album was created with dogs in particular in mind or if Drake has any general comments regarding dogs, it is believed that dogs may enjoy softer, more melodic music, like what you would find in a Drake album.
Anna Webb is an expert in animal behavior and the host of the “A Dog’s Life podcast”.
According to the American Kennel Club which has published research on canines, music is seen by many as a therapeutic tool for dogs. Music that is calming can help to reduce their stress and energy levels.
Dogs’ ears are much more sensitive than human’s, so they pick up more sounds. This is why soft music makes them more comfortable.
Webb stated that hip-hop and rap are “not for dogs”, as they move faster than reggae or classical music, both of which share the same heartbeat rhythm. She said that music that appeases dogs the best has a beat similar to or slower than their heartbeat, which ranges from 80-120 beats per minute.
She said that most rap is outside of these parameters, with a beat rate of around 140 per minute. Drake’s older songs like “Find Your Love”, “Hold on, we’re going home” and “Hold on, We’re Going Home”, which have a slower pace, are suitable for dogs.
Spotify has playlists for dogs, such as those for road trips or to help calm your dog down. Since 2011, the production company RelaxMyDog has produced music for dogs to help improve their mental health. The Guardian reports that the company discovered through user feedback which genres and sounds dogs liked.
These findings don’t differ from those of a study conducted by the Scottish SPCA and University of Glasgow in 2017 — dogs are interested in classical music, but often grow bored of it. The research showed that soft rock and reggae music reduces stress and barking in dogs.
A study from January 2023 found that dogs also felt calmer when they listened to classical music. Their breathing was slower and there were fewer dogs who paced around. Heavy metal, with its grungy lyrics and slashing guitars, doesn’t have the same effect. Other research shows that dogs are more likely to be active when they hear short, quick notes, like those in metal and rap music. Softer tones, however, make them fall asleep.
Experts say that dogs eventually adapt to their owners’ interests and listening preferences. When you play your favorite song over and over, it becomes a part of your everyday life.
Kristi Flynn is an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. She said: “They respond to us and feed on us.” If we are comfortable, listening to music that we enjoy, and the world is happy, they will be as well.
It’s because they try to mimic human emotions and reflect their behavior, explained Jennifer Skiff. She is the Director of International Programs for Animal Wellness Action, an anti-animal abuse group. Jennifer Skiff produced a CD called “The Divinity of Dogs” to calm dogs and people who love them.
Skiff stated that dogs and puppies can enjoy Drake’s album, assuming you also do.
She said that if Drake creates something melodic, it will likely be a happy experience for the whole family. If you are dancing and jumping to the beat, your dog will probably do the same.