i hear it over and over again
even coming out of my own mouth
and wonder how and why
we ever began the tradition
of talking to our pets in baby talk.
they must consider us to be quite simple people
ever working on our vocabulary and articulation
always hoping that some day
we might master our own language.
—
“i’ve seen a look in dogs’ eyes,
a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt,
and i am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts.”
-john steinbeck
—
image credit: zazzle.com
I didn't have my glasses on.... 
So funny and true…
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so true -)
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And don’t even get me started on what cats think of us…
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oh, they so do, and while dogs are more tolerant, cats…..
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hahah; I think cats think humans are nuts too 🙂
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absolutely no doubt about it!
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I have never met a human that a dog couldn’t train.
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right, or cat for that matter)
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Too true!
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it so is !
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LOL – This is 100% true!! The only time we don’t talk in baby talk is when they are in trouble for something….
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an excellent point!
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If only they could talk back!
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Oh, the things they would say!
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Haha, exactly. 🤪
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I thoroughly agree with Mr. Steinbeck! Great post Beth!
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Thanks!
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You’re very welcome Beth!
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Babies make us speechless!
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They they do!
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Wonderful comments, Beth. We’re on our 4th rescue dog and have talked that way to each one. Actually, my wife talks the baby talk and I just talk to them, hoping beyond hope that, one day, the dog will talk back and we can have a conversation about Life. Hadn’t happened….yet😉
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Cute)
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For some reason, Beth, I have bestowed upon our cherished rescue mutt Ellie B the voice of a Brooklynite, so she converses with my dear wife Karen and myself in a manner of a dog that walks the streets of the dear New York City borough of my past …
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That’s so cute
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baby talk is the universal language that all pets understand…
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Their parents must teach them that
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I really don’t do the baby talk thing. Sure, I make silly noises sometimes, but talking is straightforward. Ha! It was the same with our kids. They didn’t get baby talk either.
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Was that a conscious decision or just happened organically?
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A bit of both, I think. Our daughter was so articulate as she learned to talk, baby talk seemed an insult. Our niece named me “Uncle Dim” because she couldn’t say the ‘J.’ She still calls me Uncle Dim. I guess I’ve earned it.
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we just fell into the baby talk mode with our kids, along with all of our pets over the years. that is the best uncle name ever
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I’ve never tried that with Chewy and Dutchy. Maybe they’d listen more if I did:)
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Interesting…)
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This is a phenomenon to me. I don’t know why we, grown-ups, tend to talk like this to little kids and pets.
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So interesting isn’t it?
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Totally!
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Now, of course, I’m going to be very self-conscious about the way I talk to my pets …
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Hahahaha
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Oh, yes we are. But then who else listens to us in most of the time, complete silence?
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Right
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Is there any other way to talk to dogs? No, there isn’t. Baby talk all the way. 😉
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🐶👶
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Hahaha. I completely agree with the dogs – we are nuts. Hahaha…
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i embrace it
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I’m with you…
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Here’s something. I talk to Bear in complete sentences and NEVER baby talk. Teddy gets baby talk. Is it because Bear is so large and Teddy so small or because as I’ve gotten to know Bear I’ve learned she’s my partner and pal. Teddy? Definite a pet, a very intelligent pet, but a pet and the best boy, who’s the best boy? 😉
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isn’t that interesting ?
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I will try discussing it with them later.
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I have to wonder what is going on in their heads when people are dressing them up in ridiculous costumes.
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I’m sure they have a few choice words
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It really is crazy. LOL We all do it. I agree with Steinbeck…they must think we’re all nuts.
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I have no doubt!
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I only use that style of conversation with my bank manager
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and how does that work for you? )
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I’m asked to leave the office
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))
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The animals, they wouldn’t be wrong. 😉
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Never
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Why would anyone sit in a chair at a typewriter when one could be walking in the woods or chasing squirrels? Clearly, Steinbeck’s dog was not wrong. 🙂
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Right!!! Great question
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Totally agree – I always have to take myself back when ‘meeting up’ with a pet. Great quote too….
Let’s behave in a way that our pets don’t have to be ashamed by our presence 🙂
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that should be our goal –
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So true, and so funny. Love the Steinbeck quote.
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he understood )
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