In 1999, Los Angeles-based record producers Skip Haynes and Dana Walden were searching for something original in a time when music was becoming digital and record companies across the country were closing. One night, while eating at a country club, a dog broke loose from its owner and urinated on their table. As the dog’s owner apologized profusely, an idea popped into Walden’s head.
“Songs to Make Dogs Happy” is an album of songs made for dogs and produced by Haynes and Walden’s label, Laurel Canyon Animal Company. Initially, the label produced albums about animals targeted at animal-lovers, which led to several experimental albums — including songs performed by animals such as parrots and gorillas. After the success of both, they sought out animal communicators to discuss the possibility of creating songs for animals to enjoy.
Haynes and Walden found a communicator that was willing to try the experiment on dogs. She played different kinds of music for almost 250 dogs. Haynes said he wasn’t expecting such an in-depth and definitive reaction from the dogs and was just hoping to make them happier. He was impressed by how well the communicator gauged the dogs’ reactions.
“We had no idea what we were doing, but it turns out dogs really like this,” Haynes said. “It turns out it works for separation anxiety and for traveling. We started getting letters from vets telling us it was helping dogs in recovery. That’s basically how we got into this.”
Haynes said the animal communicator played a critical role in putting the album together because she noticed the dog’s reactions and understood what caused them. One thing she told Haynes and Walden was to not use sidestick or rimshots on the drums because dogs from bad neighborhoods would equate the sound with gunshots and become fearful.
The biggest takeaway was that the dogs appeared to enjoy up-tempo songs the most. Haynes said this was because of the happier connotation it creates, and dogs responded negatively to sad songs. Haynes said the dogs responded the most negatively to Johnny Cash. The animal communicator said one of the dogs responded to his music by saying, “That’s just a sad man talking.”
The animal communicator said there was no discernible difference in music preference based on the breed of dog. However, there was a noticeable difference in music taste based on the dog’s size. One song included several dogs barking in harmony, but the song was not put on the album because the deep bark of one of the dogs was threatening and would cause some dogs to act violent or defensively.
Haynes said one of his favorite things about making the record was the diverse types of music he and Walden experimented with. Of the many genres of music on the album, only a few are popular enough to create mainstream hits, but the dogs enjoyed some of the more obscure ones.
“We even did a polka,” Hayes said. “We never would have done a polka on any other album we did because we don’t do polkas. That’s a very limited market, but because it’s for dogs, and it’s up and it’s fun, we got to do a polka.”
Haynes and Walden have sold their album to organizations like PETA, the Best Friends Animal Society and animal hospitals and shelters. They also donate a large portion of profits to organizations that support animals, such as the United States War Dogs Association. The proceeds of each album are generally given to a charity for the type of animal relevant to the album.
Laurel Canyon Animal Company is now in its 18th year of making music for people, animals and lovers of both to enjoy. “Songs to Make Dogs Happy” is available on the company’s website along with all of their other hits. Their next project is just as ambitious as the album for dogs — “Songs to Make Cats Happy.”
“Our communicator basically said, ‘Well, we’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is cats like music better than dogs. The bad news is they don’t like to talk about it,’” Haynes said.