World’s First Dog Hearing Test App with Calming Music

Detecting hearing loss in pets can be tricky, especially because dogs and cats are experts at masking symptoms. In most cases, a veterinarian will perform a basic dog hearing test by making loud sounds, stomping on the floor, or examining the ears for wax buildup, ear infection, tumors, or injury. Fortunately, a leader in the pet industry is disrupting the way hearing tests are performed in pets with the world’s first dog hearing test app with calming music.

Janet Marlow, M.A., Sound Behaviorist and founder of Pet Acoustics, Inc., a globally recognized expert in animal hearing and sound sensitivity, launched the world’s first mobile hearing test for pets with science-based calming music. Thanks to the free mobile app, Pet Acoustics+, pet parents can instantly assess their dog’s hearing at home with no stress or vet appointment needed.

Marlow is a trailblazer in sound therapy for pets, as Entrepreneur Magazine named Pet Acoustics as one of their top 100 companies for brilliant ideas. In addition to the pet hearing test, the Pet Acoustics+ app includes clinically tested, species-specific music designed to align with your pet’s hearing range and reduce stress. 

We tried the Pet Acoustics+ app and are about to share our experience with you. Here’s everything you need to know about this revolutionary dog hearing test that empowers pet parents to take charge of their pet’s hearing health and emotional well-being. Best of all, the app is backed by science, trusted by veterinarians, and is easy to use.

Why a Dog Hearing Test Matters At Any Age

Because hearing loss can develop gradually, pet parents may not notice changes in their pet’s hearing. Since dogs and cats are masters at hiding changes, you may not notice a hearing deficit until it has advanced. 

When my first Cocker Spaniel, Brandy Noel, stopped responding to her name or the sound of a squeaky ball in another room, I knew something was amiss. She was eight years old at the time, and age-related hearing loss is common as dogs age, affecting up to 80 percent of dogs. 

Our veterinarian at the time tested my dog’s hearing by dropping something on the floor behind her during the exam. Brandy never flinched nor took notice of the sound. The vet clapped behind her, and again, nothing. That’s how and when my dog was determined to have hearing loss. It broke my heart to realize Brandy wasn’t ignoring me; she simply couldn’t hear me anymore. I started infusing hand signals into our daily routine, something I do with all my dogs and suggest you do as well. 

Middle-aged dogs can develop hearing loss from chronic ear infections, trauma, excessive noise exposure, or certain medications. Regular testing helps catch these issues before they become severe, and some causes may be treatable if caught early.

Some puppies are born with congenital hearing issues, and certain breeds like Dalmatians, Australian Shepherds, and Bull Terriers have higher rates of hereditary deafness. Testing young dogs helps identify these issues early, allowing you to adapt training methods and ensure their safety.

Our vet mentioned the BAER test (Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response) as an option for a more advanced hearing assessment on my dog. I declined because the test is involved, involves a veterinary neurologist, and is generally done under some form of anesthesia that includes placing tubal inserts that make sounds. 

Janet Marlow knew what pets hear matters, and there had to be a better way, so she invented it with the Pet Acoustics+ app, which is a companion to her Pet Acoustics website. The Pet Acoustics+ app addresses dog hearing testing by providing the world’s first free mobile hearing test specifically designed for dogs and cats. Finally, a handy, free tool that takes one minute and works from the comfort of home or on the go.

How the Pet Acoustics+ App Works

The Pet Acoustics+ app is a dog hearing test, but it also works for cats. Because pets hear at different frequencies, just like people, the app tests for high, mid, and low frequencies to understand their dog’s hearing capabilities across the sound spectrum. 

After downloading the free app from the App Store on your phone, you’ll be asked if the test is for a dog or a cat, along with a few other minor details (your pet’s name, date of birth). Next, you’ll follow the instructions, press play on the various screens, and note your dog’s reaction to each sound in the app.

The sounds your dog hears are animal vocalizations to which pets are accustomed, such as pig, monkey, and crickets. In addition to these sounds, there are embedded sine waves that further refine the pet’s hearing response. This works far better than beeps or harsh tones, so dogs are comfortable and test results are accurate. 

I tried the Pet Acoustics+ hearing test on my Cocker Spaniel, Sir Alvin. The test took less than a minute, and the results were sent to my email with next-step suggestions, which is an excellent baseline as my dog ages. Pet parents have the option to share the results with their veterinarian for professional follow-up if desired. Here’s Sir Alvin in action:

More Than a Hearing Test: The Power of Calming Music for Pets

Once the auditory test is performed, the Pet Acoustics+ app generates a custom music playlist based on your dog’s unique auditory profile. Aimed at stress reduction and calmness at any time, anywhere, Janet’s custom musical compositions are tailored to how dogs and cats hear. Some of the situations where the music may help are:

• Vet visits
• Car rides
• Grooming appointments
• Nail trims
• Separation anxiety 
• Every day downtime 
• To wind down before bed
• During cuddles 

Contrary to the poor advice to blast your television to mute fireworks or thunder, Marlow’s species-specific calming music is composed and designed to reduce stress, anxiety, and sound sensitivities in pets. For 33 cents a day, the Pet Acoustics+ music app gives pets and their parents peace of mind. 

According to Marlow’s recent interview with The Hustle, to validate her music, Pet Acoustics completed a study where dogs in kennels listened to no music, classical music by the likes of Beethoven and Mozart, and music by Marlow. Using biometric collars, the study found that Marlow’s music led to calmer and lower pulse rates than traditional classical music or no music.

Meet the Mind Behind the Innovation: Janet Marlow

Marlow, a fifth-generation musician from New York City, spent years touring the world as a jazz artist, performing her original compositions, playing her primary instrument, the guitar, and studying music in Spain and France. Along the way, she learned a lot about concert halls and acoustics, and at home, she began watching her dogs and cats react to her music. They would sit by her side during practice sessions.

“What is it about an animal’s hearing?” she pondered. “I know I couldn’t play my guitar in everyone’s home, but how could I help pet parents have this music for their own animals?”

Marlow’s fascination with how dogs and cats hear led her to dive into psychoacoustics, the study of how different animals perceive sound and how their bodies respond to it.

What she discovered was pretty amazing. Dogs can hear almost twice as many frequencies as we can, and they’ll pick up sounds from 80 feet away that we’d need to be within 20 feet even to notice. Cats are even more impressive—they can hear three times more than humans, and their ear muscles can rotate 180 degrees to pinpoint precisely where sounds are coming from.

The numbers put this into perspective. Most adults can hear sounds up to about 20,000 Hertz, while dogs can hear up to 45,000 Hertz. But cats? They are super amazing, with their ability to detect sounds up to 85,000 Hertz.

Marlow realized she could combine her research skills and love of music to create something totally new. In 1994, she founded Pet Acoustics, combining her formal training as a musician with years of research into how animals process sound, creating a new category of pet wellness along the way.

Fun Fact: With more than 30,000 early adopters already using the app, Pet Acoustics+ is quickly becoming an essential wellness tool for pet parents, veterinarians, shelters, trainers, and groomers.

Where to Get the Pet Acoustics+ App

The app is free to download, with in-app subscriptions unlocking extended music content and features.

The Pet Acoustics+ app features:

• The world’s first mobile hearing test for pets
• Species-specific, science-based calming music as indicated above 
• Bluetooth-enabled stream featuring calming music through Bluetooth speakers for a totally immersive, multi-room solution to anxiety (ideal for vet offices, shelters, your home, at a hotel, and more)
• Flexible subscription options: The app and dog hearing test are free, with music libraries starting at just $9.99 per month.

Whether you’ve got a curious puppy, a middle-aged mutt, or a golden oldie, the Pet Acoustics+ app offers a fast, free way to monitor your dog’s hearing from home. Backed by science, the app combines an easy hearing test with calming music designed for dogs and cats. 

This app represents the evolution of pet care, where technology meets veterinary science to support your dog’s wellbeing at every life stage. We plan to use it, recommend it, and of course endorse it highly because my heart beats dog(r)!

FAQs

Giveaway: Enter to Win a One-Year Subscription of Pet Acoustics+

Janet Marlow is generously giving away TWO (2) one-year premium plan + complete pet care of the Pet Acoustics+ app for your dog or cat!

One entry per person per email. Good luck!

Two lucky winners will receive a code to apply for a one-year premium subscription!

How to Enter the Giveaway

There are two easy things to do in order to enter this fantastic giveaway:

1. Download the free app from the App Store for iOS users or from Google Play for Android users.
2. Comment below in the Comments Section after downloading the app stating the name of the dog or dogs that you’ll be using the app with. That’s it!

Must be 18 or older. Randomly selected winners will be notified by email. Must respond in five business days or a backup winner will be drawn.

The giveaway closes on August 10, 2025, at 11:59 a.m. ET. Winner notified within 24 hours of giveaway closing.

FYI:

• The App Store listing confirms Pet Acoustics+ is available to users in all regions where Apple allows app distribution. It’s accessible via search or direct link  .
• For Android, the app is also listed on Google Play and supports users worldwide, though availability can be region-specific depending on local app distribution rules.