Dogs listen and respond to tone of voice, regardless of gender
When it comes to communicating with your dog, remember that how you talk to your dog is equally as important as what cue you’re using.
Julia Jenkins, a certified dog trainer at Pet Dog Training Today, told The Dodo, “The tone of your voice does matter when it comes to how well your dog listens to you, so its not just about being male or female. The way you sound to your dog is based on a variety of factors, including the pitch, tone and volume of your voice.”
She adds, “Generally speaking, dogs do tend to respond more favorably to people with a higher pitch and softer tone, but there are always exceptions. Be positive and upbeat, and use lots of encouragement when training your pup.”
Research appears to confirm this theory, particularly a UK study in 2018 that demonstrated dogs were more responsive to high-pitched “baby talk” when combined with “dog-related” speech, similar to how adults often talk to babies.
Dogs respond to who they perceive to be the leader of the pack
Jacquelyn Kennedy, founder of PetDT and a canine behavioral specialist and certified dog trainer, told The Dodo, “Who a dog listens to depends on who he identifies as being the alpha in a family unit. If he thinks that a woman is the head of the pack or household, he’ll be more likely to listen to her than the man of the house regardless of the tone of anyone’s voice. For a dog, pack position is all-important, and the alpha will always be his primary focus regardless of whether said alpha is male or female.”
Dogs Prefer Adults — Particularly WomenA dog’s preference for one person — or type of person — over another has a great deal to do with socialization. Dogs don’t, as a rule, dislike men, but most dogs are cared for by women, and are thus more comfortable around them. A single woman is more likely to have a dog than a single man; in a couple, the woman is more likely to handle the dog’s care. In addition, most animal care workers and veterinarians are female. Some dogs may also be intimidated by a man’s physical appearance, as men are often taller and more sturdily built, with deeper voices and strange features, like facial hair and hats. Dogs who lack contact with children during their
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