Behavioral effects of auditory stimulation on kenneled dogs
Kogan, Schoenfeld-Tacher & Simon · Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 2012
Shelter dogs spent more time resting and less time barking when hearing slow classical music.
Read the researchThe science
Why Hushimal works the way it does
Each part of Hushimal is based on published research. Here's what the studies looked at and what they found, with links to read each one yourself.
Science-backed sound
Slow, simple, species-appropriate sound
Every animal hears a different slice of the sound spectrum. Hushimal keeps a soft carrier tone inside each species' comfortable hearing band and wraps it in slow, predictable music near a resting heart rate.
Studies in shelters, kennels and clinics have found that calm, slow music is linked with more resting and fewer stress behaviors, while varying the playlist helps prevent animals from tuning it out.
The effect of different genres of music on the stress levels of kennelled dogs
Bowman et al. · Physiology & Behavior, 2017
Several music genres reduced stress signs; variety helped avoid habituation.
Read the researchCats prefer species-appropriate music
Snowdon, Teie & Savage · Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 2015
Cats responded more to music built around their own vocal pitch and tempo.
Read the researchEffects of music on behavior and physiological stress response of domestic cats in a veterinary clinic
Hampton et al. · Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 2020
Cat-specific music lowered stress scores during clinic exams.
Read the researchSensory stimulation as environmental enrichment for captive animals: a review
Wells · Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 2009
Reviews how sound and other senses can improve welfare across species.
Read the researchStories in your voice
A familiar voice carries meaning
Animals that live with us learn the sound of our voices. Research shows dogs process both the words and the tone of human speech, and cats can tell their owner's voice from a stranger's.
Hushimal stories are narrated in a copy of your own voice, so your animal hears a familiar, gentle speaker even when you are busy or away.
Neural mechanisms for lexical processing in dogs
Andics et al. · Science, 2016
Dog brains process both word meaning and intonation of human speech.
Read the researchVocal recognition of owners by domestic cats
Saito & Shinozuka · Animal Cognition, 2013
Cats distinguished their owner's voice from strangers' voices.
Read the researchWho's a good boy?! Dogs prefer naturalistic dog-directed speech
Benjamin & Slocombe · Animal Cognition, 2018
Dogs paid more attention to warm, dog-directed speech.
Read the researchOrienting asymmetries in dogs' responses to different communicatory components of human speech
Ratcliffe & Reby · Current Biology, 2014
Dogs process familiar speech cues differently from unfamiliar sounds.
Read the researchJoint bonding activities
Calm touch and shared time
Gentle, consent-led touch such as slow massage, and quiet time together, are linked with calming body chemistry in both animals and people.
Hushimal's guided activities teach owners to let the animal choose, watch for stop signals, and keep sessions short and predictable.
Neurophysiological correlates of affiliative behaviour between humans and dogs
Odendaal & Meintjes · The Veterinary Journal, 2003
Calm, friendly contact raised oxytocin and lowered blood pressure in dogs and people.
Read the researchOxytocin-gaze positive loop and the coevolution of human-dog bonds
Nagasawa et al. · Science, 2015
Shared gaze between dogs and owners raised oxytocin in both.
Read the researchEmotions in dogs being petted by a familiar or unfamiliar person
Kuhne, Hößler & Struwe · Anthrozoös, 2014
Dogs' heart rate changed with petting, and touch location and familiarity mattered.
Read the researchPhysiological and behavioral responses of horses to wither scratching and patting the neck when under saddle
Thorbergson et al. · Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 2016
Scratching the withers lowered horses' heart rate more than patting.
Read the researchResearch findings vary between animals and settings. Hushimal is a wellness tool and does not replace veterinary care. If anxiety is sudden, severe or getting worse, please see your vet.
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