Morning radio programs designed to entertain and soothe pooches

By Adair Teuton

Durango, a town known for its deep love of dogs, has introduced a quirky and heartwarming addition to its local airwaves: dog-centric radio programming called Doggy FM.

Originally launched on KKDG 99.7FM (Radio Free Durango), the programs are designed to entertain and soothe canine listeners while also providing valuable community resources. They air on Sunday mornings from 8 to 10 a.m.

“Durango is unlike any place I have ever been,” says Dustin Nolen, chief operator at Hutton Broadcasting and program director of Doggy FM. “The strength and love that comes from the community in good times and bad is absolutely unbelievable.”

The inspiration for Doggy FM came about during a format change for KKDG, when Nolen’s team saw an opportunity to do something unconventional.

“We wanted to do something somewhat insane but still just believable enough to get people wondering,” Nolen explains. “After reading about how many people leave the radio on for their pets, my co-host and I thought, ‘Well, let’s cater to that.’”

And Doggy FM was born. Designed with Durango’s dogs in mind, the station’s programming includes soothing classical music, calming nature sounds, and an entire library of dog-themed songs crafted to put furry listeners at ease.

To develop the programming, Nolen and his team dove into research on music and sound effects known to have a calming effect on dogs.

“We featured the ‘Nature Hour’ with soothing sounds of nature, so dogs could get a taste of the outdoors but also to soothe them,” Nolen says. The programming lineup also includes “Doggy News” and “Doggy Weather” segments aimed at providing owners with updates on pet-friendly activities in the area, tips on dog care, and even weather conditions suitable for outings with their pets.

The station’s impact extends beyond entertainment. Doggy FM has partnered with the La Plata County Humane Society to support pet adoptions, a mission that has resonated with Durango’s pet-loving community.

“Our hopes are to keep adoption levels high for pets in our community,” Nolen explains. “We feature the ‘Pet of the Week’ segment, introducing listeners to a wonderful pet up for adoption at the Humane Society.”

Hutton Broadcasting made a cash donation and provided a $20,000 advertising budget for the shelter, helping spotlight adoptable animals and support local adoption efforts.

Community feedback has been positive, he said, with listeners sharing heartwarming stories of their dogs’ interactions with the station.

“We had some ‘what in the world’ reactions initially, but people quickly got into it,” Nolen recalls. “The dogs barking on the radio got everyone’s dogs barking at home.”

The station’s comedic “Benji & Toto Morning Show,” touted as the only canine-hosted morning radio show, became an unexpected hit as well.

“Durango will support anything a community-oriented group puts together,” says Nolen. “We just happened to pair that with something the town already deeply loved.”