Doggerel: We All Speak It

Just as the term "Motherese" was given to name the baby talk we do to babies, the term "Doggerel" has been given by some as the name for the way we talk to dogs. Using short sentences, commands and instructions, asking questions, and repeating ourselves characterize Doggerel.

This term comes from Stanley Coren, a popular dog guru, who has authored five books on the subject. According to Coren, "there is no evidence that speaking to a dog in Doggerel helps the dog understand what we are saying, there is a lot of evidence which suggests that talking to dogs in a normal, purposeful, and meaningful manner improves their receptive language abilities." Consistency is key if you want your dog to understand you, says Coren. It doesn't matter what signal, symbol, or word you use - as long as it's always the same one.

Some cultures not only speak to their animals, they sometimes speak through them. For instance, there's a South American tribe that uses their dogs as part of their communication system with each other. For example, when a husband and wife are in a room together with their dog, they will talk to the dog instead of each other. When they're fighting, they use the dog to communicate with each other instead, as in, "Well Fifi, perhaps you could speak to my wife who loves you and ask her if she would mend my pants then I could go out and visit the next farm and sell our crops." Then the wife would respond (to the dog), "Well Fifi, because you know I love you, perhaps you could speak to my husband and ask him if we have enough money to go to the market this week and buy some thread so I can mend his pants?" By using the dog to communicate, they avoid having to deal with facial expressions which can "charge" the conversation.

The way you greet your dog and talk to it throughout the day about mundane things -- knowing full well he cannot answer you back -- is what constitutes Doggerel.

Have you talked to your dog today?