No. Don't have any pets now due to working away but I always find myself saying good morning / afternoon to any horses / cows / dogs / larger creatures I pass when walking or cycling. Not sheep though, having spent many years on the periphery of sheep farming I consider them to be barely sentient.
Not sheep though, having spent many years on the periphery of sheep farming I consider them to be barely sentient
That's what they want you to think, under cover geniuses the lot of them.
I've just walked our labs. In the local fields where the farmer has deposited some sheep. I know this not because of any visual verification of the animals, more this conversation
Me: What are you eating
Lab1: Nuffin
Lab2: Can't talk, mouth is full
Me: Stop eating sheep Poo. It cannot have any nutritional value having passed through a sheep.
Lab 1: Poo? This is Poo? I didn't know. Honestly. I thought it was an acorn
Lab 2: Still chewing
Me: Can you at least not eat your own bodyweight in it before we get home?
Lab 1: How much do I weight?
Lab 2: I am a Poo Harvester, A Poo Vacuum. You can refer to me as 'The Poover'
They've both gone for a lie down now. I dread the inevitable farts that are sure to follow.
Oh and just going to leave this here for Tracey
I don't have a dog but have a cat. We talk to each other all the time although I'm not sure if we understand what each other are saying. She's a Bengal so never shuts up unless she's asleep. Her nick name is Meowalot.
I’ve taken more notice today and I do it more than I though I did.
@Tracey think that’s were my question really started. I suddenly realised that I was talking to Leyla a lot more then I realised and not just when at home.
Anyway thanks to all for your positive affirmation that talking to cats, dogs and assorted animals is normal, well, not unusual at any rate.
but I always find myself saying good morning / afternoon to any horses / cows / dogs / larger creatures I pass when walking or cycling
I keep a running conversation going with any cows I have to pass on my travels, I like to think it sort of reassures them and avoids any of them getting any nasty surprises and squashing me!
Yes, I do talk to my dogs and cats.
The dogs would listen but the cats simply got bored.
The dogs would bark sometimes while the cat just gave a me "miaow" and walked off ... (probably told me to sort off).
My girlfriend does her cat’s voice in a Bulgarian accent.
She is from Glasgow
Ok I’ve spent too long today trying to hear Bulgarian accented Glasgow patter. Any chance she’d do us a little recording because honestly that sounds full of potential.
Of course.
When you read out a shopping list to your ex-police dog...
I greet any dog that gives me eye contact with "hey up pup" seems to keep them happy. Did it today with a very large pit bull outside Home Bargains and got a pit bull grin back.
I’ve been around dogs my entire life. My dogs always end up as my constant companions, we go virtually everywhere together and my current hound comes with me to work which can be very long days out by myself so I chat to him all day long. I recently lost a dog early to cancer which was heartbreaking, I still chat to her all the time too. There’s a really lovely book called ‘Never Leave The Dog Behind’ by Helen Mort which is about our relationship with dogs and mountains which I’d thoroughly recommend. Though I read it whilst my older dog was very ill and dying which was not the best time. Kept getting misty eyed…
No, but only because I don't have a dog, I do talk to the neighbour's cat though when he wanders into the garden.
If I had a dog, I'd definitely talk to it.
@The-Beard thanks for that book recommendation and sorry you lost a pal early. I’ll be honest until six months ago I did not consider myself a dog person but circumstances being what they are I can now see why dogs are so important to people and I’d be lost without Layla.
Yes, all the time....
He's far more intelligent than he lets on - despite being startled by towels, cuddly toys and the bin......
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In fact my wife says I talk to the dog more than her - probably because he's the only one who gets excited when I come home from work!!
We have a Springer called Jenson, I talk to him on walks, he's a great listener. I like to imagine his inner monologue too, now he's 11 he's got the personality of an old man and likes to grumble about the state of the world/paths/trail snacks. He was far more optimistic in his youth.
Also, my dog is obsessed with me when I sneeze.... just me, nobody else.... won't leave me alone for a few minutes afterwards. If I'm on the sofa he gets on and sits up right in my face. Anyone else experienced this?
First lockdown provided time around lessons for more walks.
I was talking to the horses and llamas (both in the llama field) and bovines.
I even came up with a "hi coo" haiku. Which weirdly I've now forgotten.
I'd probably consider it strange if anyone with dogs (or cats, hamsters, goldfish or snakes or whatever) didn't talk to them.
Yup. In my defence she's blind and a bit dim, so I figure she needs to hear my voice when we're out and about, just for the reassurance that I'm still there.
But I feel like a right plonker when anybody hears me talking to her
