First Take

So Spotify has come up with a ‘pet playlist’ generator. You know, because our dogs and cats really, really give a bark what they’re being forced to listen to. And because ‘musicologists’ apparently have nothing better to do.

The aim of the music streaming service is to ease the supposed anxiety your pet feels when they have to be left alone. I think they’d probably just rather sleep, but then Spotify didn’t ask me.

The playlist uses an algorithm based on the pet’s breed and personality type … whether Fido or Fluffy is the shy or friendly type, relaxed or energetic, apathetic or curious. Cool idea.

Even if they didn’t ask me, I have a song suggestion anyway. ‘Who let the dogs out’ is an obvious choice. With lyrics like ‘Who let the dogs out? Woof, woof, woof, woof, woof. Who let the dogs out? Woof, woof, woof, woof, woof,’ it’s surely a given on anyone’s playlist. Unless your lovable furball is a cat. Then, not so much.