Update: I used to think baby talk was harmless for grown dogs...

I had this little pomeranian mix named Pepper for like 8 years. I would baby talk her constantly, like high pitched 'who's a good widdle girl' stuff all day. Then my sister brought her new puppy over last month and Pepper just froze up. Wouldn't play, wouldn't even look at the puppy. Realized I probably trained her to be too dependent on that sweet voice and she can't read normal dog cues anymore. I feel like a jerk. Has anyone else messed up their adult dog by treating them like a baby too long?

2 comments

2 Comments

riley_wood846d ago

Hard disagree here. Baby talk is just one way we bond with our dogs, it doesn't ruin their social skills. Pepper's reaction to the new puppy is more about her being a senior dog who's used to being the only pet in the house. My own lab got the full baby treatment (squeaky voice, cuddles, the whole deal) for 10 years and she's still great with other dogs at the park. She reads their cues fine, she just prefers me because I'm her person. Maybe focus on slow introductions and giving Pepper her own safe space when the puppy's around, that's probably the real issue here.

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the_thea6d ago

Bet your lab's probably sitting there thinking "yeah, I tolerate other dogs, but she's my human and I'm not sharing the squeaky voice.