Do You Talk to Your Pets?
Posted by Allen and Linda Anderson at 3/15/2008 6:31 PM and is filed under Animals in the News,Observations,Amazing Angel Animals,Topics in the News 
This week we read a story in Chuck Shepherd's "News of the Weird" column (March 11, 2008) about a man in Wales who went to jail and trial because the police had placed hidden microphones in his home. The man had been talking out loud to his cats and supposedly made confessions to them about committing the crime. A later
follow-up story reported that the man had not been convicted. The jury believed that his confessions were merely his laments over the fact that the crime had occurred, not admissions of guilt.
The story got us thinking about talking out loud to animals in your home. Of this, we are both guilty. It's not like we constantly jabber about the day's events or problems, but we do converse as if we think they understand or words. It's our understanding that animals, especially dogs, do have quite a large vocabulary of human words that they understand.
That's not why we talk to our pets, though. We do it because it feels natural to speak to family members who share our home. To outsiders it might seem bizarre, but it fits for us.
What about you? Do you talk with your pets? Do they answer?
follow-up story reported that the man had not been convicted. The jury believed that his confessions were merely his laments over the fact that the crime had occurred, not admissions of guilt.
The story got us thinking about talking out loud to animals in your home. Of this, we are both guilty. It's not like we constantly jabber about the day's events or problems, but we do converse as if we think they understand or words. It's our understanding that animals, especially dogs, do have quite a large vocabulary of human words that they understand.
That's not why we talk to our pets, though. We do it because it feels natural to speak to family members who share our home. To outsiders it might seem bizarre, but it fits for us.
What about you? Do you talk with your pets? Do they answer?
My cat and I spoke to each other all the time--even long distance. "Pumpkin" warned me if I left him with a cat sitter to go on vacation, I would never see him again. But, I went anyhow as it was only for 3 weeks. As I lay sleeping 1500 miles away, I heard meowing and meowing. When I called the cat sitter, she said that "Pumpkin" was fine--just hiding. I asked my son to check, and he did. But it was too late. Poor dear "Pumpkin" had been left outside and had died under the porch after scratching by the lighted windows trying to get the sitter's attention. This is such a sad story, but true. It shows the power of communication between people and the animals who love them.
Reply to this
I talk to all of my pets all the time. So does my family. I strongly believe that they understand everything we say.
Pets learn tricks by us showing them what we want and saying a keyword. This is also how we teach a human baby the names of objects. It isn't a stretch of the imagination to think pets are learning the language of their human. They hear it all the time whether we are talking to them or not, and they are observing our actions while we speak. This is why they get excited at the word treat, and hide at the word bath. Just because they can't speak our language doesn't mean they don't understand.
Reply to this
Eliot, now gone to the Rainbow Bridge, was adopted by mom to be company for Tucker. And they all lived happily until Mom had to go to assisted living. Tucker and Eliot came to live with me in my one room cabin with Feral and KittyBaby, who was introduced to this readership in Angel Cats, Divine Messengers of Comfort. Their first day here, Tucker and Eliot spent most of the day under the cabin like a couple of trolls.At bedtime, Eliot jumped up on my bunk. I asked him, "Where's Tucker?" He looked around the room, then looked back at me. I said "She's out under the cabin. Go tell her its dark, it's time to come inside." Eliot jumped off the bunk and went out the cat flap. In about half to three quarters of a minute, he came back in, followed closely by Tucker. I told him his cover was blown, that now I knew he understood every word I said! And this was proven more times than one. I would call the answering machine the night before I was returning from a trip and ask him to have everyone at the house waiting for me when I got home. And I would tell him he I would be home about forty five minutes after he heard the plane go over the house. . .we live right under the flite path and the jet goes over the house at about two hundred feet of elevation! I would be properly met by all the residents whenever I called ahead with those instructions.
Reply to this
I can't imagine anyone having a pet and not talking to it! Most of us feel our pets talk to us too. We may not speak their language, but we interpret the expressions in their eyes and their offerings of love and understanding.
Reply to this
I talk, they listen; they talk, I listen. It's a great arrangement!
Reply to this
Yes we talk to our animals and I believe they try to talk back. I believe some dogs have a long list of words they recognize. My sister is 83 and lives alone except for her dog. She talks to Tiny as if he were a human. I believe animals are more intelligent than given credit for. If they had the capabilities, they would talk to us. I believe the more we talk to them, the more they interact with us. If you just ignore a dog or cat, they will not learn as much as one that is truly part of the family.
Reply to this
Yes, I talk to my fur kin, all the time. These are my feelings about dogs...
Dogs are like the brightest star, blazing through the darkness of night, and they are like a sun that outshines the day. They burn so intensely, so brightly. And for some, that blaze is for only a short time on this planet. Well, at least they get to spend more time in Heaven if their stay here is not as long as we'd like it to be. In nature there must always be a balance. Perhaps their stay is weighed with the goodness that fills them. It is said one cannot get enough of a good thing--dogs are that good thing to me.
I think our furry family members have the capacity for deep compassion, love, and concern for beings of all types, human and otherwise. I believe it goes beyond human understanding--because what they give comes from a heart that is pure, a spirit that is guileless, and a soul that operates on a level higher than anything close to human.
I am convinced dogs unfurl their wings when we are not looking. Have you ever noticed an expression they have, especially when they smile, that gives hint to something wondrous and grand? As if they have the most incredible gift they are hiding behind their back but you can tell they want so very much to show you what it is. Well, when I see that expression I could swear I feel the flutter of their wings in my heart. ...
Dogs can touch and mold our hearts, our spirits, and our minds. And in so doing they bring us a little bit closer to embracing, within ourselves, the goodness they are. Which is grander than any concept of humanity.
Kathy Pippig
Reply to this
I have an American Eskimo dog named Mickey. We fell in love about 5 years ago at a shelter for unwanted animals. Mickey was terribly abused and very skiddish when we first met, it took a long time and lots of love before he began to trust me. In the beginning I thought that I was meant to save Mickey but as it turned out we were meant to save eachother. My life took a left turn and was turned upside down with serious health issues resulting in a divorce. I have had a long hard struggle trying to get on my feet for the last two and a half years. Several times I wished I was no longer on this earth and thought about ending my life. The only thing that stopped me was my love for my furry friend, who would take care him and love him as much as I do?
The day came when I had to go to divorce court. After all was said and done I walked out of the court room and looked at a woman who I was sitting beside before I went in and said "well, the best man won! I got the dog.....the entire room of people split a gut laughing breaking the tension that was looming as people awaited their fate.
For those of you who never thought of this.....Dog spelled backwards is God, nothing but pure love. Truer words have never been spoken. The good Lord sure knew what He was doing when He put Mickey and I together, I don't know how I ever lived without him. I thank God every single day for putting such a special angel in my life, Mickey is nothing short of a miracle.
Reply to this
I only wish that I had understood Shannon's language earlier in her life. Heavy breathing means she's happy or excited about what's coming up-i.e. when I head toward the door going outside. I wish that dogs lived 40 years like birds do. She is my divine dog.
Reply to this