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Music has quietly become part of how many Americans care for their dogs. Whether it's a playlist for a morning walk, something calming for separation anxiety, or just whatever happens to be on, more pet owners are pressing play with their pets in mind.
To understand how music fits into the daily lives of dogs and their owners, we analyzed over 500 public Spotify playlists made specifically for dogs and surveyed more than 1,000 pet owners about their habits. Discover what dogs are listening to, how they respond, and what those choices say about the people behind the playlist.
The songs and artists featured most often reveal how closely dog playlists mirror human listening habits while still supporting everyday pet routines.
"Yellow" by Coldplay topped the list of most popular songs, followed by "Creep" by Radiohead and "Linger" by The Cranberries. The top 3 most popular dog-themed songs are:
Taylor Swift ranked as the No. 1 artist overall, appearing on 1 in 6 dog playlists. She appears on more walking playlists and home alone playlists than any other artist, but no single Taylor Swift track cracks the top 5 in either category. Her most common walking playlist tracks are 'Lover' and 'Love Story'.
Rock ranked as the most popular genre found on dog playlists overall at 26%, followed by pop (18%) and hip-hop/rap (12%). Genre preferences varied depending on the playlist's purpose, showing how owners match music to specific situations.
Rock was the most popular on dog walking playlists at 33%, while classical music led calming and anxiety playlists at 34%. General or fun playlists were the only category where rock did not lead, with pop slightly ahead (21% vs. 20%).
The occasion shapes not just the genre but also the song length. Dog walking playlists average 3.9-minute tracks, compared to 3.1 minutes for calming and anxiety playlists. The top songs on dog walking playlists are:
Home-alone playlists also skew surprisingly high-energy and most often feature:
Calming and anxiety playlists feature a mix of neoclassical composers and unexpected mainstream names in the top 5 artists:
Over 3 in 5 tracks on dog playlists (63%) were released in the 2010s or 2020s. Tracks from before 2000 make up about 1 in 4 songs (24%), driven by classic rock staples on walking playlists.
Overall, pop is the fastest-rising genre on dog playlists, gaining 9 percentage points in share among tracks released in 2023 or later, compared to pre-2020 tracks. R&B/soul (+5pp), K-pop (+4pp), and hip-hop (+4pp) are also climbing. Rock is declining the fastest, dropping 23 percentage points as newer genres take over.
Music plays a consistent role in how many pet owners interact with their dogs, though approaches vary widely.
Nine in 10 dog owners reported playing music for or around their pets. Most kept it simple, with 87% playing their usual music instead of tailoring selections to their dog's personality or mood.
Singing was a common way for owners to connect with their pets. More than 3 in 5 said they sing to their dogs, and over 1 in 4 had even created original songs specifically for them, reflecting a strong emotional bond.
Dogs responded to music in different ways:
When leaving the house, owners reported doing the following:
Interest in music as a calming tool was high, with nearly 7 in 10 owners either trying or open to using it for anxiety. However, fewer than 1% reported receiving this recommendation from a veterinarian or trainer.
Music preferences often reflect broader pet care habits, from spending decisions to daily routines and overall engagement.
Classical music fans reported the highest rate of noticeable reactions from their dogs at 74%, compared to 54% among rock fans. More than half (53%) said their dogs calmed down or fell asleep. Half also believe music helps reduce their dog's anxiety, with Lo-Fi and ambient fans reporting similarly high success (45%).
R&B and soul fans have seen the most active responses, with their dogs most likely to perk up (36%), wag their tails (35%), or howl or "sing" along (20%). These owners were also the most likely to purchase calming products (56% vs. 44% overall) and sing to their pets themselves (80%).
Lo-Fi and ambient fans showed strong investment in premium care, with 66% purchasing high-quality or organic dog food and many hiring walkers or sitters (31% vs. 22% overall). Indie and folk fans were more likely than the average owner surveyed to pay for dog training, hire walkers, and enroll in pet insurance.1
Classical fans led all groups in pet insurance enrollment at 31%, along with higher rates of GPS tracker usage (18% vs. 13% overall) and playlist creation (23%).2
Owners who created playlists for their dogs stood out as highly engaged. Among them, 88% sang to their dogs compared to 59% of non-creators. They were also more likely to say music helped their dog's anxiety (59% vs. 22%) and to celebrate their dog's birthday (85% vs. 71%).3
In contrast, the 11% of owners who did not play music at all were the least engaged across nearly every behavior, including lower rates of pet insurance, calming product purchases, and GPS tracker use.
Music has become a meaningful part of how many Americans care for and connect with their dogs. While most owners rely on their favorite songs, others take a more intentional approach, tailoring playlists or using music to support their pet's well-being. These choices often reflect broader habits, from daily routines to long-term care decisions. As more pet parents look for simple ways to enrich their dog's environment, music may continue to play an important role in strengthening that bond.
This survey, conducted by Fractl on behalf of MetLife Pet Insurance on April 6, 2026, questioned 1,003 American dog owners about how music intersects with their pet care habits, emotional bond, and daily routines. The average age of respondents was 38; 59% were female, 38% were male, and 2% were nonbinary. Generationally, 33% were baby boomers and Gen X combined, 50% were millennials, and 17% were Gen Z. Genre-based behavioral comparisons reflect respondents who selected each genre in a multi-select question; because respondents could choose multiple genres, individuals may appear in more than one genre group.
Additionally, we analyzed 523 public Spotify playlists returned across eight dog-related search terms, including "music for dogs," "dog walking," "dog anxiety," and "relax my dog." These playlists encompassed over 83,000 track appearances from more than 9,000 mainstream artists. Playlists were categorized into four purpose groups based on their titles and search terms: walking, calming/anxiety, home alone, and general/fun.
To focus on recognizable artists, we excluded pet-specific functional music producers, piano cover and tribute artists, and ambient micro-artists, and required remaining artists to appear on at least two unique playlists. Genre analysis used Spotify-provided tags supplemented with manual classification for approximately 375 high-reach artists missing metadata, bringing genre coverage to 77% of tracks. Artist and track rankings are based on the number of unique playlists in which they appear, measuring breadth of popularity rather than raw stream counts.
MetLife Pet Insurance provides comprehensive insurance solutions for pets, offering pet owners financial security and peace of mind when it comes to veterinary care. Depending on your level of coverage and the plans you choose, we can cover almost everything from routine checkups to emergency services. Help your pets get the care they need and worry less about the costs with MetLife Pet Insurance.
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