baby talk

Question
Good morning, Sandra,
Actually I have a couple of questions... 1)Recently I read that it is a bad thing to "baby-talk" dogs. Can you tell me why? 2)I also read (on my dog daycare forum) that it is wrong to kneel down to a dog's level. This surprised me since I had been taught that it was a good thing to do because it kept the dog from feeling threatened.
Can you clear these two issues up for me?
Thank you,
Britlyn Whalum
LittleVisitsBigLove Petsitting

Answer
I don't see a specific issue with baby talk (other than it is a little annoying). Frequently it goes along with unearned stroking and cuddling, which can - with some dogs - lead to spoiling. For some dogs, speaking in a high pitched whiney tone can make them anxious or overstimulated.
As to kneeling - it depends on the dog. I wouldn't kneel next to a dog I thought might be aggressive if I valued my face. However, for most dogs, kneeling makes the human more accessable, is an invitation to interact, and is a whole lot better than bending over the dog - especially with the little guys. Sandy Case MEd CPDT www.positivelycanine.com