Friday, April 13, 2012

National Pooches Radio

When Mr. B first came into our home, he was very anxious and this was clearly audible whenever we left the pooches home. Mr. B would howl and bark so loud that we can hear him at the end of the block and he would continue until we came home.
We thought that we would have to live as people on house arrest, but lucky for us, Curtis was able to "cure" Mr. B of his isolation distress. One of the tactics we used to calm Mr. B down whenever we left was to play a recording of us talking in the second bedroom. It was a bit unnerving to come home to hear us talking down the hall, so we started playing the radio in addition to the recording. Over time, we were able to stop the recording, but we kept playing the radio because we had this strange feeling that the pooches would be upset missing an episode of Fresh Air. 
 
A takes reading specialist classes, and she is learning about emerging language literacy and she has learned that one of the most important things for language acquisition is to hear spoken language. We believe that Miss M is really benefitting from having Chicago Public Radio on all day and she actually knows differences in words. She knows 'tomorrow' meaning the itinerary for the next day, and she also knows that 'party' and 'riding in the car' are something to be excited about. 
But to poor Mr. B all of the talking on the radio is just background noise and after years of hearing news radio, he still cannot tell the difference between shake and down.

19 comments:

Two Grad Students and a Pittie said...

Havi listens to Dave matthews Band while were out of the house. Same thing, right?

cailin7 said...

My husband is convinced that our dogs like to listen to metal while we are gone. I, on the other hand, usually put on some Iron and Wine for them...there's something soothing about sam beam's voice.

Millie and Walter said...

Such cultured pooches listening to public radio all day.

Cindy

Rebelwerewolf said...

Since my spouse is home with the dogs all day, they will sometimes whine when my spouse has left the apartment, but I am still home. Thanks for the love, dogs. =/

girlpolice51 said...

HAVI AND PARENTS HAVE EXCELLENT TASTE!

girlpolice51 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sarah said...

What Mr B lacks in intelligence, he makes up for in sheer cuteness. We have the same issue with Sadie. She's not the smartest cookie in our house but man, she's the most loving, most cuddly and has the highest desire to please just to make her people happy. I'd take her any day over the smartest dog out there!

Anonymous said...

Of course they would listen to NPR...I'll have to be sure to discuss some of the latest stories with them the next time I see them! :)

Tania Welch || indobay said...

That is hilarious! We also leave the radio on NPR. I always joke that our pittie and beagle must be two of the most informed four-leggeds around. :)

Two Kitties One Pittie said...

SO FUNNY!!!! I totally agree!!! Zoe, Freddie, and Stella need to be up to date on the latest news and culture. They would be lost if WBEZ wasn't playing in the background!!!

Kiira said...

Monkey and Petey also tune into WBEZ every day. Petey enjoys Marketplace (this means dinner time), All Things Considered, and BBC updates. Monkey is mostly bummed that NPR drowns out all of the outside sounds that need to be barked at.

And so cute that you guys went as far to record your own voices for B.

Kitty+Coco said...

Well, he may not know "shake" or "down", but no barking is a win in our book. We just love good ol' Mr. B.

My two aren't very vocal (unless a doorbell is rung, then WATCH OUT). However, we noticed that after we got Coco, our first dog Kitty was MUCH calmer, content and less anxious as we left the house.

Lulu Louise said...

I bet your poochies are way up to date on all the world's happenings. Very cool.
XO,
Lu
p.s. great photos!

Emily said...

My own kiddos don't seem to know that many words but if you say "Go get your ball!" to Madden she will run around the house until she finds it and deliver it to you outside for fetch. She can also understand "go get your bone!"
Maybe Mr. B's first language is just something a little more exotic. ;)

Two French Bulldogs said...

both you guys are so much like us its amazing...momma was hysterical about your recorded voices
Benny & Lily

2 Punk Dogs said...

That's a good idea! Now I have to figure out how to get NPR without leaving the computer on all day, the signal isn't very good in the house.

A Wonderful Dogs Life said...

Aww, Mr. B a dog after my own heart. Rest assured you are not slow or challenged. I have so say you are most brilliant.

I learned a long time ago why work for it when the humans will eventually give in and hand over the treat when you just "don't get it" ;)

Emma

Sara Grace said...

He's fooling you... he's way smart since he's been listening to NPR. He's just trying to win his way to more treats by playing dumb! ;)

Dutch, however, listens to Animal Planet or Mumford & Sons.

xo,
Dutch & Me

Kate said...

I'm a big fan of NPR, especially Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me (hilarious!). I used to leave NPR on for the dogs too when we left, but I think they prefer the quiet, haha.

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