Christmas tune music to dogs' ears

ANDREW GORRIE/The Dominion Post

DOG'S OWN: Believed to be a world first, A Very Silent Night, by The Underdogs, was recorded as an SPCA fundraiser at the highest frequency possible on CD, so only dogs can hear it.

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It's music to the ears of dogs and the creators say it's a sure hit - but to those who are not canines, this Christmas hit is closer to The Sound of Silence.

Believed to be a world first, A Very Silent Night, by The Underdogs, was recorded as an SPCA fundraiser at the highest frequency possible on CD, so only dogs can hear it.

Lwindi Ellis, a spokeswoman for DraftFCB who thought of the idea, said: "Humans may be able to hear a few high-pitched noises - but it's not designed for us."

The single, which has been picked up by Universal and was released yesterday, will be accompanied by a music video - styled on Snoop Dogg's Drop It Like It's Hot and Scribe's Not Many - featuring rapper Dei Hamo, who plays Santa.

The video, with 14 dogs and models dressed as elves, is also inaudible to humans with subtitles asking viewers to buy the CD "so they don't end up in the dog house".

After a test run at Wellington's Newtown SPCA, director Bob Kerridge said there were diehard fans and some not so sure. "There's been a whole mixture from our canine critics."

Mr Kerridge, who was unable to hear the track, said the dogs were able to clearly hear the recording. "None of the dogs that have heard it have been repulsed by it. They all think it's pretty good - but in varying degrees of praise."

The CDs cost from $4.99 at The Warehouse.