In Madrid, classical music has gone to the dogs

Police dogs in Madrid, Spain, are experiencing a new way to cope with their stressful duties: classical music therapy.

These brave canines deal with a lot of pressure on a daily basis, particularly those in La Sección Canina de Policía Municipal, a police dog unit that specializes in detecting explosives and narcotics, and participating in rescue missions. The unit is a pioneer in police canine work, particularly in Spain, and consists of 22 dogs. For a city as big as Madrid, that's a lot of work, even for such talented dogs!

For that reason, the Policía Municipal is refurbishing the dogs' quarters with air-conditioning for the summer, heating for the winter, and classical music several times a day, a technique also known as the "Mozart effect." The police department says that it has used this technique before and that it has been successful in reducing stress levels in listeners — even dogs.

Rafael de la Gándara, a police sergeant in charge of the unit, ensures that this treatment will help relax dogs, but also keep them alert and responsive in case they need to be summoned at a moment's notice. The dogs also will have a more secure door system to protect them while they rest, a new bathing and hygiene center and a renewed veterinary service clinic.

Now, these puppies will not only be cute and good at their jobs, but they'll also know their classical repertoire!

For the official Policía Municipal de Madrid press release, Click here.