[NickDMax]

I get made fun of quite a bit at home because I talk to our pets. I say hello and good-morning to them, I ask them questions. I compliment them, I explain what is going on. It is not as though I really expect them to start talking back in complete sentences with an English accent one day -- I just feel that it is rude to bark commands at them all the time.

Plus I believe that at the very least with a combination of Pavlovian coincidence and a little animal sense the pets pick up a small vocabulary this way. My cat definitely knows the words: "can", "outside", "nap", and "Time OUT!" and "treat"-- I suspect that he also has learned the word "vet". Our dog knows the words "out" (but not really "outside"), "walk", "bone", "rope", "ball", and even "toy" as a general term (the others are specific to the type of toy).

So anyway, I don't see anything wrong with talking to the pets... its not like I really expect them to understand. -- Am I crazy?



I have no idea how this ended up in the C++ section... moved

[Bort]

Not crazy. I don't have any pets at the mo, but when I di I talked to them all the time.

Pets can be quite smart and usually start to pick up on what you say

[RudiVisser]

I talk to my dog all the time, she normally helps me solve complex programming issues by staring aimlessly back into my eyes.

[tommyflint]

I talk to my dog all the time!

Quote

Plus I believe that at the very least with a combination of Pavlovian coincidence and a little animal sense the pets pick up a small vocabulary this way

I believe this is true too, my dog is now able to tell which toy i want it to return which i think is pretty amazin

[Ellie]

tommyflint, on 11 Jun, 2009 - 01:59 PM, said:

I believe this is true too, my dog is now able to tell which toy i want it to return which i think is pretty amazin

Mine knows the difference between a toy and a ball, and about a thousand different ways of inferring food (as well as the usual sit, stay, leave it, please don't roll in that fox shit etc). I think I talk to him a bit more than other animals I've had since he's so big and pretty chilled, so he always seems like he's paying attention when you talk. But then I even occasionally talk to our puffa fish when he's trying to attract attention and feeding at the front of the tank, so hell maybe I'm just crazy

[mostyfriedman]

its not crazy, I've had this cat for about 11 years now and she's part of the family..my cat understands a few words too..anyway also my sister and mom talk to her sometimes

[PsychoCoder]

I talk to my pets all the time. We have 4 (now) inside dogs, my Miniature Schnauzer, our Lap and the wife's Jack Russell Terrier (she just bought a Schnorkie (Miniature Schnauzer & Yorkie) and we get to bring him home this weekend, hopefully I'm home by then) and we talk to them like humans (that's not to mention the outside pets, the Rottweiler and the cats)

[bflosabre91]

i would talk to my dog all the time. I would greet her when i got home from. Say goodbye to her before i left for work. I wouldnt even have a convo with her, but i would sometimes say stuff to her like she actually did understand me. It was a great relationship. I miss her

[NickDMax]

Yes I even talk to fish... though not as much and not really as "freely" as I talk with the cat or dog. Heck I even talk to the squirrels -- I don't ask them for stock tips or query them about acorn futures but I will say good morning and, "looks like it might rain today."

"Looks like its going to be a hot day to-day" (ah Saturday morning cartoons...) Maybe I am crazy -- but just in general.

[skyhawk133]

Working at home with nobody around means it's just me and the dogs most of the time. I talk to them throughout the day. Bounce the occasional idea off of them. Keeps me sane..... or does it?

[mostyfriedman]

NickDMax is the new Dr. Dolittle

[computerfox]

you guys shouldn't really care that much about what people think of you if you do certain things. if you love your pet, you'll spend time with them and if they love you, they'll stay instead of just running off. so no, you are not crazy nick.

[r.stiltskin]

Of course they understand. They're people, aren't they? Best thing is, they don't always agree but they hardly ever argue with you. Nick, I think you're selling your dog short. I never actually counted, but I guess my dog understood at least 30 words & probably more. "Wanna go for a run?" "...a ride?" "get the white ball" "... green ball" "... tennis ball" (he was very much into balls) "where's Elsie?" "where's Dorothy?" "where's E.T.?" (squeaky toys) "Lady", "Guy", "Chava" (other dogs) "let's go to the park" "get the kong" and he sure as hell knew what "beach" means.

I miss him.

[moopet]

I also talk to my computer. And sometimes my reflection.

[NickDMax]

There was once a goose that was laying claim to a bit of walkway to the ship -- he was terrorizing the passing sailors on their way to the ship. I just walked right up to him and said, "Your pretty bold for something I might eat for Christmas dinner" -- He promptly gathered up his gaggle and moved on.

Maybe I am Dolittlesk -- maybe I am just crazy -- but I don't have to take the long way to work when a goose has claimed the path.