Home

Study shows: Dogs are into baby talk.

Study shows: Dogs are into baby talk.

Study shows: Dogs are into baby talk.

“Such a good boy!” “Yes, fine!”, “Would you like some food?”: Owners like to communicate with their dogs as if they were babies. But they are often ridiculed for this in public. Scientists have discovered that they are wrong to do so.

If you talk to a dog, you can’t help it: your voice is raised, words are emphasized particularly clearly, absurd terms like “poopie” come across your lips – and that’s all there is to it, the typical baby language in which many a master and mistress communicate with their dog.

Every wagging tail and every loyal doggy look is then rewarded with an enthusiastic “Yes, you find one!”. But if you talk to your dog like a baby, you’re doing your four-legged friend a favor. Because that’s precisely what fur noses like, at least that’s what emerges from a study by New York researchers published in the journal Animal Cognition.

Dogs like baby language

To the realization, the scientists came, by an experiment, in which 37 dogs participated. Each of the four-legged friends was led on a leash into a room where two humans were present. The researchers then played various spoken phrases and words to the animals – once in a normal voice, another time in a baby voice.

Meanwhile, the scientists measured how long the dogs were attentive during each recording. Then the researchers let the dogs off their leashes to see which of the two humans they preferred to linger with.

The result: puppies preferred high-pitched voices. The little puppies were more attentive as soon as they were spoken to in an exaggerated, high-pitched voice. On the other hand, older animals were more interested in the content of the spoken sentences and words – for example, terms like “walk,” “food,” or similar.

Addressing dogs like babies: What’s behind it?

When masters or mistresses talk to their dogs like babies, it seems funny at first glance. Researchers assume, however, that the phenomenon is essential for the human-animal relationship. It strengthens the bond between the two.

Behind the baby talk is less a reaction to a cute dog than a basic impulse to want to communicate with the animal that doesn’t understand the language. At the sight of a puppy, this stimulus intensifies. The reason: the infant schema, in which the facial features and proportions of a baby trigger protective and nurturing behavior.

HZOES.COM

HZOES.COM

Cute and funny, info and tips about dogs, cats and other animals. Great pictures and funny videos from the animal world. Your animals on hzoes.com

More articles from dog

Diet for dogs with pancreatitis
Dog Food

Diet for dogs with pancreatitis

Diet for dogs with pancreatitis Pancreatitis often leads to a permanent dysfunction of the organ. The diet of your dog usually has to be changed …

Read More →
How your dog learns to do the manikin
Dog Training

How your dog learns to do the manikin

How your dog learns to do the manikin Male-making is probably one of the sweetest tricks that can be taught to a dog. But how …

Read More →
Teaching the dog to retrieve: Tips
Dog Training

Teaching the dog to retrieve: Tips

Teaching the dog to retrieve: Tips Whether it’s a ball, a soft toy, or a dog toy, teaching your dog to play fetch is a …

Read More →
Which dog breeds are suitable as riding companion dogs?
Dog Buying

Which dog breeds are suitable as riding companion dogs?

Which dog breeds are suitable as riding companion dogs? If you are looking for dog breeds that are suitable as riding companion dogs, you should …

Read More →
Causes of osteoarthritis in dogs
Dog Health

Causes of osteoarthritis in dogs

Causes of osteoarthritis in dogs The causes of osteoarthritis in dogs are still not fully understood. However, it is clear that the dog’s age plays …

Read More →
Dog walking in winter: Tips against freezing
Dog Keeping

Dog walking in winter: Tips against freezing

Dog walking in winter: Tips against freezing When four-legged friends freeze during a dog walk in winter, it can be very unpleasant for the pelt-noses. …

Read More →
This site uses cookies

By continuing to use our site, you agree to our T & Cs and the use of our Cookies & amp;trackers as well as those of our partners in order to offer you content, services, personalized advertising and to generate statistics & amp; audience analysis.