Music to calm a naughty dog - Los Angeles Local News, Weather, and Traffic

Santa always brings gifts for those who have been nice all year. But what about for the dog that's been naughty?

Kara Stockton is FOX 5's SkyFOX traffic producer, and she says her dog Ziggy is impossible to control.

"He's running around howling, barking, gets the other dogs all wound up. It's a nonstop struggle. He's not a very good dog. He's sweet and cute, just not great," said Stockton.

Meet Atlanta's own musical dog whisperer, pianist and composer George Skaroulis. Skaroulis has been playing since he was five years old, but never thought he could make a career of music.

"I went to a Yani concert one year and I was like, if he can do this and people are responding to his music, maybe they will have a similar reaction to mine," said Skaroulis.

Skaroulis was right. Thirteen successful albums later, he was surprised to find out the audience with the biggest reaction to his music had four legs.

"I've heard it for a long time, but I wasn't, until I got more responses then the behavioral director from the Atlanta Humane Society says this is working here. We're hearing less barking and less anxiety and that's when it really took off," said Skaroulis.

How did Ziggy react to the music?

"He will stop and calm down. There's some cocking of the head to the side he's curious about it. There's no barking. Zero barking when the CD's on. I think I will continue to use it and have it play when we're not home so when we get home, he'll be in a good mood and calm and wagging his tail and happy. I feel animals, like us, are in tune with their environment to sound and noise, so it's cool to know it's working and it helps," Stockton said.

Skaroulis' latest CD is also the soundtrack for Jennifer Skiff's new book The Divinity of Dogs.  The book is collection of inspirational stories from people all over the world who've had miraculous, life changing events through their dogs. You can purchase both on Amazon or iTunes.