Women use the pet equivalent of baby talk to make the most of their interactions with their dogs, according to a new study.
They adopt "pet-directed speech" (PDS) when addressing their dogs – varying the tone, pitch and intensity of their voice – just like they do with newborn babies.
Experts found that PDS was useful to pets, and helped them to understand the emotions and intentions of their owners.
Researchers recorded women interacting with their dogs in different conditions, such as after being separated for a short period, and found that they clearly varied how they spoke depending on the situation.
Lead researcher Sarah Jeannin, of the University of Paris Nanterre, said that the results "show that female owners do adapt the way they communicate with their dogs" allowing them to interact more easily.
Previous research showed that men were "less likely to use PDS" so were not included in the study, Miss Jeannin said.