December 24, 2024, 9:38 am | Read time: 5 minutes
Brown noise is a type of background noise that is said to have a calming effect – not only on humans but also on dogs. On social media, brown noise is, therefore, repeatedly recommended for anxious dogs on New Year’s Eve. But what’s the truth? PETBOOK has investigated.
New Year’s Eve fireworks cause fear and panic in many dogs. So-called brown noise is supposed to help animals survive the fireworks better. The calming sounds are advertised everywhere on social media. They are available on YouTube, for example, where you can find hours of playlists. But what is brown noise, and how can it help dogs with anxiety? PETBOOK editor and biologist Saskia Schneider investigated the question. Below, she explains what is known about the effect.
What is Brown Noise?
Brown noise is a type of background noise. It sounds a bit like a waterfall rushing or a kettle running. It is named after Robert Brown, a scientist who discovered “Brownian motion.” This refers to the way particles move in random patterns when suspended in water or air.
Applied to sound, this means a noise that is produced by random movement. It consists of a combination of different frequencies that we can hear. In brown noise, however, the lower frequencies are louder, and the higher frequencies are quieter. This distinguishes it from white and pink noise. These contain all the frequencies that the human ear can perceive, with pink noise being a muted version of white noise in which the lower frequencies are more prominent and the higher frequencies are slightly more muted.
Brown noise, in comparison, has the highest emphasis on lower frequencies. Many people use the noise to help them concentrate better or fall asleep more quickly. Brown noise is said to help people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in particular. But how?
How Does Brown Noise Work?
Just like white or pink noise, brown noise also consists of a uniform sound. This can help to mask other ambient noises. This effect has already been well-studied for people with white noise. It helps some people to concentrate better, for example. The background noise masks distracting thoughts in the head or ambient noise that has a distracting effect. White noise is also said to help people with tinnitus, as it can block out disturbing noises. 1
Compared to white and pink noise, brown noise is a relatively new discovery. Therefore, there are still few studies on it. It is assumed that focusing on particularly low frequencies can mask high-frequency noise more effectively. It is precisely this effect of brown noise that is also thought to help dogs with their fear of New Year’s Eve noise.
Can Brown Noise Help Dogs with Anxiety?
As brown noise mainly plays low frequencies, dogs are said to perceive noises at higher frequencies less strongly. This includes loud bangs, for example. The effect is said to work particularly well when the noises are further away. The brown noise should also make sudden and unexpected noises in the environment less noticeable.
The brown noise could, therefore, help dogs, especially before and after New Year’s Eve. This is because many animals panic days before when the first firecrackers are set off – even if these noises are a long way away. This would at least help the dog to calm down at home during this time. However, it is questionable how effective it is if the fireworks go off right on your doorstep.
So Far, There Have Been No Studies on the Subject
The effect that the noise has on people has been little studied to date. It is, therefore, not surprising that no legitimate studies on the effect of brown noise have been found for dogs either. However, there are various experience reports in forums. For some, the noise seems to help; others are disappointed by the effect – and this is precisely where the crux of the matter lies. It is often suggested on social media that this is some kind of miracle weapon that will get your dog through New Year’s Eve completely relaxed.
This is not the case. Even if brown noise has a similar effect on dogs as it does on humans, most users do not use it to overcome their fear of noise. It is mainly used to relax and focus. In addition, the noise works best when the sounds are further away or quieter. 2
Another disadvantage is that the noise has to be played at a certain volume constantly and sometimes for hours to achieve the best effect. Although there are plenty of videos about this on YouTube, humans also have to live with this noise level. If you have an anxious dog, you often have to put up with a lot, but as an owner, you have to weigh up whether it is worth it, especially for dogs that are only a little stressed.
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For Which Dogs Is Brown Noise Suitable?
If you have a dog that is stressed on New Year’s Eve but doesn’t panic completely and is responsive, you can try brown noise. At least before and after the firecrackers at midnight, it could help your four-legged friend to calm down more quickly or not become so anxious in the first place. However, you should not expect a miracle effect.
Especially if the dog has had a strong fear or panic of bangs for years, there are often more factors at play than just the noise itself. For example, people’s smells or behavior. None of this is influenced by brown noise. But it could be part of a plan to keep fear and stress to a minimum.
It is always important to keep a close eye on the dog and never leave it alone. Even if you have observed a positive effect with brown noise, the animal should never be left unattended on New Year’s Eve.