Why Dogs Love It When We Slow Down Our Speech

Did you know that your dog might understand you better if you speak more slowly? A recent study found that dogs’ brains process human speech best when it’s at a slower pace. Scientists at the National Centre of Competence in Research Evolving Language discovered this by comparing how dogs and humans vocalize. Dogs usually make about two sounds per second, while humans make four. But when speaking to dogs, humans slow down to about three sounds per second. This matches the speed at which dog brains best understand sounds, called the delta band. In the study, researchers recorded brain activity in both humans and dogs as they listened to different speech speeds. They found that dogs were most likely to understand commands when human speech was slowed down to match their vocalization speed. So, if you want your dog to understand you better, try speaking more slowly and consistently. This behavior might be due to the long history of cooperation between humans and dogs. Over time, we’ve developed ways to communicate effectively with our furry friends. The study shows that slowing down our speech can help strengthen this bond even further.