The Safe and Sound Protocol for Dogs: A Fresh Approach to Calming Our Furry Friends

Have you ever wondered: If music can help people relax, could it work for dogs too?

The Safe and Sound Protocol (or SSP Therapy) is originally developed by neuroscientist Dr. Stephen Porges for humans. Now, it is being adapted for our four-legged furry mates. Early results are promising for anxious, sensitive, or reactive dogs. (1)

What is the Safe and Sound Protocol?

The Safe and Sound Protocol is a form of audio therapy that uses filtered and processed music to stimulate the middle-ear muscles and activate the vagus nerve, the key pathway that carries “safety” signals to the nervous system. This therapy helps shift the body from a state of fight-or-flight into a regulated and calm state. (2)

Although the SSP Therapy is originally designed and developed for humans, it generally works on the autonomic nervous system, which all mammals, including dogs, have in common. (3) This is why the same calming and regulating principles of SSP can be applied to our furry friends too.

Why Dogs Might Benefit from SSP

Many dogs, especially puppies, experience system dysregulation, which can show up as:

• Separation anxiety – distress when left alone
• Noise sensitivity – fear of fireworks, storms, or loud noises
• Reactivity – barking, lunging, over-arousal
• General anxiety – restlessness, panting, pacing

This shows that not only humans experience dysregulation, but dogs as well. Since we share our autonomic wiring, SSP may help our furry friends feel safer and more relaxed by training their nervous system to tolerate calm states (same with us, humans). (3) 

How SSP is Adapted for Dogs

Dogs have more sensitive hearing than humans. They also have different needs that SSP specifically can help tend to. These are some aspects of SSP that, when adapted with care, can surely help our furry friends achieve a regulated state: (1)

• Very low volume, gentle on sensitive ears
• Short sessions, typically at around 2-5 minutes
• Delivered via speakers, not headphones
• Conducted in a space where the dog has a freedom of movement where they can choose to stay close or step away
• Practitioners or caretakers closely observe stress or calm cues (like yawning, lip-licking, or relaxing)

What a Session Might Look Like

Here’s how an SSP-for-dogs session might unfold:

1. Set up a calm space with few distractions. 
2. Play SSP music at low volume through speakers. 
3. Let your dog choose whether to engage, move around, or step away. 
4. Keep it short at the beginning. You can start a just a few minutes. 
5. Watch for cues of stress or calm and adjust accordingly. 
6. Gradually extend the length of sessions over days or weeks. 

If you’re convinced that your dog might benefit from SSP Therapy, we offer our services for our furry friends too! Click the button below to know more about our SSP packages, starting at A$450.

To know more about our Safe and Sound Protocol services, visit our main page here:

References:

1. Nickerson, C. J. S. (n.d.). Safe and Sound Protocol For Pups. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from Carol J. S. Nickerson website: https://www.carolnickerson.org/ssp-dogs/
2. Ottaviani, M. M., & Macefield, V. G. (2022). Structure and functions of the vagus nerve in mammals. Comprehensive Physiology, 12(4), 1–49. https://doi.org/10.1002/cphy.c210042
3. Guyton, A. C., & Hall, J. E. (2021). Textbook of Medical Physiology (14th ed.). Elsevier.
4. Safe and Sound Protocol. (n.d.). Anxious dog and the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP). Retrieved August 12, 2025, from Safe and Sound Protocol (Netherlands) website: https://safeandsoundprotocol-ssp.nl/en/anxious-dog-and-the-safe-and-sound-protocol/