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Studies have found that baby talk, officially called “parentese,” improves a human baby’s speech and language development. In addition, babies have an innate preference for the slow, sing-songy, higher-pitched intonations that are the hallmark of baby talk.
It turns out puppies and dogs prefer baby talk as well. Studies show dogs are most likely to respond well to high-pitched voices, a vocal style called “dog-directed speech” in the canine research world. So if you baby talk to your dog, no shame. It actually elicits a better response.
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How to Tell Which Puppy Might Excel at Service Work
Wondering which puppy would make the best helper? Look for eye contact, says Emily Bray, a post-doctoral research associate at the Arizona Canine Cognition Center at the University of Arizona’s School of Anthropology.
Bray has been studying guide dog development for the last decade in collaboration with Canine Companions, a non-profit organization that provides dogs, at no charge to adults, children, and veterans with physical or cognitive disabilities.
“How willing the puppy is to make and maintain eye contact is predictive of growing up to become a successful service dog,” she says.
This article originally appeared in the award-winning Modern Dog magazine. Subscribe today!
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