Want to keep the furry friend in your life calm and content this Christmas? Naturally - whether you’re a pet parent or you’re house sitting as a trusted pet sitter this festive season, you’re in the right place!
To find the best and worst Christmas songs for dogs (and your other four-legged companions), we analyzed the BPMs (beats per minute) of the Billboard Holiday 100 list.
Below, find a list of the songs that’ll be music to your pets’ ears this holiday season, and which to avoid completely.
Top 10 best Christmas songs for dogs (and your other furry companions)
Below find a list of the 10 best Christmas songs for pets and their beats per minute - spoiler alert: the lower the BPM, the better for your pet!
- Carol of the Bells, John Williams (47 BPM)
- Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree, Brenda Lee (67 BPM)
- Jingle Bell Rock, Brenda Lee (67 BPM)
- I Wish You A Merry Christmas, Bing Crosby (68 BPM)
- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, Michael Bublé (69 BPM)
- The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You), Nat "King" Cole (73 BPM)
- Happy Holiday/The Holiday Season, Andy Williams (74 BPM)
- Christmastime Is Here, Vince Guaraldi Trio (75 BPM)
- Sleigh Ride, Ella Fitzgerald (77 BPM)
- (There's No Place Like) Home For The Holidays (1954), Perry Como, (78 BPM)
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Why are these the best Christmas songs for dogs?
Studies have shown that high-tempo tracks can be overstimulating and anxiety-inducing for pets, while slower paced melodies can be more soothing and calm.
From smooth jazz to uptempo pop, there are many variations of holiday songs that families all around the world may find easy on the ears, but for their beloved pets, it may be something different that puts them at ease – so consider the BPM of your Christmas playlist if you’ve got furry friends at home.
The calmest Christmas carol for your pets is ‘Carol of the Bells’ by John Williams
Of the top 100 holiday songs on Billboard, ‘Carol Of The Bells’ by John Williams ranks as the best song to play for your pets.
With a slow tempo of 47 beats per minute, this ballad from the classic Christmas film ‘Home Alone’ acts as a joyous, uplifting melody for kids, adults, and pets alike to get into the holiday spirit.
The voices of the chorus avoid harsh, startling sounds usually found in upbeat holiday anthems, creating the ideal holiday song for your pet’s ears.
‘Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree’ by Brenda Lee keeps pets at ease
Finishing as the second-best pet-friendly holiday jingle is Brenda Lee’s timeless classic, ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’.
Although it feels high-energy, the song actually rests at a slower paced rate of 67 beats per minute, offering a steady rhythm that captures a pet's interest without causing stress.
The combination of Lee’s soft tone and the track’s smooth saxophone melody creates a happy and comforting environment– perfect for keeping your four legged friends at ease for the holidays.
‘Jingle Bell Rock’ by Brenda Lee came in at the third best Christmas song for dogs
Going back to back with the third best holiday song to play for your pets is Brenda Lee’s ‘Jingle Bell Rock’. At 67 beats per minute, this song differs from more frantic pop versions of this classic Christmas song.
Lee’s version provides a steady sonic environment that your pets can enjoy, making it an excellent backdrop for playtime that doesn't overstimulate them.
‘I Wish You A Merry Christmas’ by Bing Crosby was forth
For a smoother experience, Bing Crosby’s ‘I Wish You A Merry Christmas’ ranks as the fourth best holiday song to play for your pets.
With a tempo of 68 beats per minute, Crosby’s low baritone voice provides a soothing effect that helps replace the room noise from distracting sounds of winter storms or busy holiday guests.
Its simple, repetitive style is also a great attribute for your music-loving pets, as they’re normally soothed by consistent, non-complex rhythms and slower tempos.
‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ by Michael Bublé was the fifth best Christmas song for dogs
Michael Bublé’s ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ is the fifth-best holiday song to play for your pets. When it comes to pure relaxation, Bublé’s smooth vocals avoid high-pitched spikes and hit the sweet spots sonically for your pet to unwind.
At 69 beats per minute, ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ is the ideal track to play during the evening to help pets drift into sleep after a long day of playful festivities, as the song plays at the same pace as a large dog’s heart, which is a more relaxing and familiar pace for your four-legged friend.
Top 10 worst Christmas songs for dogs (and your other furry companions)
Below find a list of the 10 worst Christmas songs for pets and their beats per minute.
- Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas), Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters (203 BPM)
- It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, Andy Williams (202 BPM)
- Santa Tell Me, Ariana Grande (192 BPM)
- Wonderful Christmastime, Paul McCartney (188 BPM)
- Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24), Trans-Siberian Orchestra (187 BPM)
- Please Come Home For Christmas, Eagles, (183 BPM)
- Frosty The Snowman, Jimmy Durante (178 BPM)
- Frosty The Snow Man, Gene Autry (172 BPM)
- What Christmas Means To Me, John Legend ft. Stevie Wonder (170 BPM)
- Carol Of The Bells, Lindsey Stirling (168 BPM)
‘Mele Kalikimaka’ (Merry Christmas) by Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters is the worst Christmas song for dogs
Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters’ ‘Mele Kalikimaka’ ranks as the worst holiday song to play for your pets. If you want less howling and chirping, the Hawaiian-themed tune might be fun and calm for humans, but the piercing brass section can be off-putting for sensitive pet ears.
Set at 203 beats per minute, the high frequencies are missing the slow and repetitive rhythm needed to keep a pet relaxed, potentially causing them to be more alert than relaxed.
‘The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year’ by Andy Williams is the second worst Christmas song for pets
Andy Williams’ classic ‘It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year’ is the second worst song to play for your pets.
The song sonically is near flawless for any person to listen to during the holidays, but for pets, the orchestra, brass, and vocals combined create overwhelming sounds that leaves zero pace for your pet to be calm.
Especially at 202 beats per minute, this classic holiday jingle can be a bit chaotic and overstimulating for your pets.
‘Santa Tell Me’ by Ariana Grande won’t keep your pet content
Ariana Grande’s Christmas pop song ‘Santa Tell Me’ lands as the third worst holiday song to play for your pets.
At 192 beats per minute, Ariana Grande’s high pitch tones combined with the trap-style drums really sets the upbeat tempo to get up and dance!
But as pets like dogs and cats hear higher frequencies much louder than humans do, those higher notes and sounds can be a bit alarming for your pets.
‘Wonderful Christmastime’ by Paul McCartney might give your dog sensory overload
Paul McCartney’s ‘Wonderful Christmastime’ is the fourth worst holiday song to play for your pets.
It’s a fun and joyful song that millions around the world play every holiday season, but its high octave synth with the background strings can feel puzzling and unordinary to your pets. At 188 beats per minute, the delays and rhythm of the melodies don't give that consistent, slower paced sound that comforts pets.
Christmas Eve by Trans-Siberian Orchestra was the fifth worst Christmas song for pets
Rounding out the top five is Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s ‘Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)’ as the fifth worst holiday song to play for your pets.
With its distorted electric guitars and aggressive drumming at 187 beats per minute, it’s safe to say that hard hitting drums and high-pitched guitar riffs would better prepare your pet for the fight of their life, rather than a cool and calm environment to enjoy the holiday day with.
What makes these the worst Christmas songs for dogs and your other furry friends?
From high-pitched vocals to multiple sounds playing at once, there are different variations of holiday songs that families all around the world might enjoy blasting at get-togethers.
For pets, the experience can be quite the opposite. High tempos and sudden shifts in keys can make your pets anxious instead of at ease.
How to pick the best Christmas songs for dogs and your other furry friends
For pets, songs with a slow rhythm - generally 100 BPM or less - are your best bet at creating a calming environment that helps your furry family feel secure over the holidays.
Methodology
To find the best and worst holiday songs for pets, we analyzed the BPM (beats per minute) of songs on Billboard’s Holiday 100 using data from Tunebat. With faster songs being more anxiety-inducing for pets, we ranked each track from lowest to highest BPM to determine which songs are the best and worst to play for your pets.
Cats, dogs and music: FAQs
Can dogs like music?
Yes, some music can be soothing for dogs - such as songs with a BPM of less than 100, but dogs won’t necessarily have genre preferences like we humans do. It’s also important to be aware that your dog is incredibly sensitive to sound, so keep the volume low when playing music around your pup.
Can cats like music?
Yes, some cats might find certain songs calming if played in the background at a low volume - specifically those with a BPM below 100.
Does music calm dogs?
Yes, music can calm dogs if it’s at a BPM less than 100 - classical music can reduce stress, and promote calmer behaviors in dogs. Avoid anything faster than 100 BPM around your dog, and avoid genres such as heavy metal which can cause anxiety and stress.
