Is It a Good Idea to Talk to a Dog Like a Baby?

Human beings never stop surprising us, especially when studies like this one show that most people talk to their dogs in the same tone they'd use with a baby.

But... why do we talk to dogs like babies? Does it make them pay more attention to us? Or is it simply because we think of them as our children / fur-babies?

You'll be quite surprised to learn how dogs react to this peculiar behavior, so common among people who share their lives with dogs.

Talking to a Dog in a Normal Tone vs. Talking Like to a Baby

Whether consciously or not, we generally raise the pitch of our voice when talking to our dog, adopting a much more childlike, gentle, even human tone.

In fact, numerous studies, like the one conducted by National Geographic, reveal that dogs feel more comfortable with people who use a childlike tone of voice, compared to people using a normal tone.

They ran an experiment with a large number of dogs and evaluated their behavior, concluding that dogs prefer a more childlike, close, familiar tone.

Why Do Dogs Prefer Us to Talk to Them This Way?

Dogs can't talk, but they can understand. Careful, though! This doesn't mean they understand everything we say — they actually only understand some common words like "come," "sit," "eat," "no," and so on.

In other words, they understand the words we've taught them through training exercises, or the words we use with and toward them regularly.

That said, there's something they understand perfectly: the tone of voice we use with them. That's why when we use a soft, gentle, cheerful, affectionate tone (the way we'd talk to a baby), they feel more at ease.

In a way, thanks to the sound and tone of our voice, they can pick up on our mood, so they know we're calling / talking to them affectionately, without any danger involved.

Is It Bad to Talk to a Dog Like a Child?

No, not at all. In fact, it's been shown that talking to our dogs strengthens the emotional bond between us, fostering a more family-like, welcoming, natural environment.

That said, we should remember that a dog isn't a child — maybe a fur-baby. Not sure if you have a dog or a fur-baby? Find out in a minute: How to Know If I Have a Dog or a Fur-Baby.

It's good to talk to them like babies, to interact with them, but remember — it's not good to treat them like a baby, meaning don't humanize them.

Things you should avoid:

• Don't carry it in your arms pretending it's a baby
• Don't pick it up when you see a dog you don't like, just to "protect" it
• Don't let it up on the sofa / bed
• Don't treat it like a human — treat it like a dog

And by this, we're by no means saying you should treat a dog badly — quite the opposite, they need to be treated well. Just not like humans, but like dogs... dogs don't enjoy being in our arms like a baby — they enjoy walks, playing with other dogs, chasing a ball, and so on.