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Who's a good girl?
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You are! Yes, you are!
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Yes, you are! Yes, you are!
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Um... do you even know what I'm saying?
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If you're one of the millions of dog owners who talk to man's best friend like this, you're not alone.
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But how effective is it?
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Do you want to have a real conversation with your dog?
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Well, here's how to do it, "according to science".
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At times, you might feel silly or a little embarrassed to talk to your dog in a high-pitched, baby-like voice.
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But don't be!
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Talking to your pets as if they're human is a sign of high intelligence.
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It's known as "anthropomorphizing", which is when you consider something that isn't human to have human characteristics.
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So, although talking to your Golden Retriever like a baby might make you feel stupid, you're really smart!
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And even if we wanted to stop talking this way, it'd be pretty difficult, and here's why.
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A 2017 study asked 30 women to record their voice while reading phrases you might say to a dog, like, "Hi, cutie, who's a good boy?"
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The women recorded the phrases while looking at pictures of dogs and humans.
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When they looked at a pictures of humans, their voice was normal, but as they looked at pictures of dogs and puppies, their voice got higher-pitched and more baby-like.
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Talking to dogs like this is natural for us, and it's not because we're so overwhelmed with their cuteness that we just can't help it.
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Well, there might be a little bit of that.
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But it's also because talking to them like this is the best way for them to understand us.
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Dogs are incredibly attentive animals.
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Notice how whenever you talk to your dog, they look at you as if they're listening.
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You typically don't get that with your cat, guinea pig, or any other house pet.
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Amazingly enough, even monkeys, the animals most similar to humans, won't look at you when you speak.
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Oh, and when dogs tilt their heads and perk up their ears when you're talking to them?
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That's not just for looks; it's them trying to understand what you're saying.
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Wait, I'm anthropomorphizing there; why would a dog do anything "for looks"?
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Now, just because they're trying to understand what you're saying, [it] doesn't necessarily mean that they're interested in discussing the current political climate or what happened between you and Jean at work.
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A 2018 study out of Emory University found that dogs are most likely listening and responding to us in hopes of making us happy.
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Or in hopes of getting some food.
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But that doesn't mean they don't understand or don't have their own language that they like to be spoken to in.
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A study from the University of York in England learned that talking to your dog with dog-directed speech and dog-related words is the best way to speak to them.
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In other words, asking your dog, "Hey, boy, wanna go for a walk?" is much more appealing to them than saying, "I picked up groceries."
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Here's the thing, though, you can't just trick them and talk about picking up groceries in a high-pitched tone and then expect your dog to get all excited.
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The study concluded that you have to use both dog speech and dog-related words for it to work.
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Although it may seem obvious, the study found that talking like this is the best way to get your dog to listen to you.
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What's less obvious is that talking this way creates a stronger bond between you and your pet.
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So, if you're someone who talks to your dog as if you're talking to a baby, you're doing it right!
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And if you don't, you should probably start.
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Another tip for all you dog owners out there: listen to your dog.
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The length, strength, and pitch of your dog's barking can tell you so many things about your little buddy, and help the two of you communicate better.
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We'll see you next time on another "according to science".