Science says puppies actually LIKE when we talk to them like babies

We're serious puppy people here in Shemazing! HQ.

So much so, we literally act like four-year-olds and squeal when our weekend editor sends us pictures of her family's dog. Whatsapp group chats, amirite?

Now, if you own a dog, then you can probably plead guilty to this, because we all do it. We all just can't help talking to our dogs as if they're babies.

'Ooooh hello there! Who's a good boy then, huh? Who's a good doggy? You areeee, yes, you areee.'

We're all guilty. But, it turns out they actually like it. Well, puppies do. Adult dogs can't really be bothered, tbh.

The Proceedings of the Royal Society B has just published a research article where 30 women were told to repeat the following:

‘"Hi! Hello cutie! Who's a good boy? Come here! Good boy! Yes! Come here sweetie pie! What a Good boy!"

They each had to record the above paragraph twice; once, in a slow-paced, high-pitched tone (as if talking to an animal) and the second, in their normal speaking voice (as if talking to a human).

The researchers then played those recordings to ten puppies and ten adult dogs.

And as you guessed it, the pups went WILD for the first recording – yelping and barking and running towards the speakers. However, when they heard the second recording, their enthusiastic manner dropped completely.

When they played the recordings to the adult dogs, well, according to the research all they did was glance at the speaker and look away. Clearly, couldn't give AF.

The authors of the study came up with two reasons for the outcome; one being down to innate receptiveness with high-pitched sounds, which is a genetic characteristic which deteriorates with age. SO, maybe older dogs actually just can't hear the high-pitched noises.

Their other reason was – maybe the older the dog gets the pickier it is with who they want to associate with, and are actively ignoring the annoying sounds that come from us.

We kinda like the second reason because that means our dogs are sassy AF. And we like sassy.