Not wanting a dog

GlasweJen

Well_excuse_me. wrote: »

Letting a dog share your bed ? Weird (at least). I think sharing your bed with children is fairly weird if that helps.
Chatting to a dog is plain crazy, you might as well talk to a fish.

I talk to our dog and to our fish, we have marine fish who are named after celebrity chefs and I find watching them very relaxing.

ibizafan_2

I talk to the cat all the time he's awake if I'm around. Most animals respond to being spoken to, I've found. I do remember my youngest brother asking our mum not to talk to the dog when his friends were around as he found it embarrassing! Teenagers for you. He's changed his tune now.

catkins

Peter333 wrote: »

Are you actually serious? :huh:

I have never known ANYone have a dog - or a cat - and not talk to it.

In fact, people talk to all kinds of pets; birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, ponies, donkeys etc etc... Why would you NOT talk to them? They're living creatures with souls and personalities, and believe it or not, feelings too.

Why would you have a pet and not talk to them?! How sad for the pet.

About 40 years ago my boss had a Siamese cat. I said something to him along the lines of Siamese cats love to talk back to you and he said he never talked to his cat. I can actually remember his words - "What on earth would I have to say to a cat" - because I was so astonished by them.

I think it is sad to think there may be people who do not talk to their pets. I could never just ignore mine. I quite often talk to my dog in the street and get some strange looks. The funniest was once when he sneezed and I said "bless you". The guy coming towards us looked at me like I was a complete nutcase.

Peter333

catkins wrote: »

About 40 years ago my boss had a Siamese cat. I said something to him along the lines of Siamese cats love to talk back to you and he said he never talked to his cat. I can actually remember his words - "What on earth would I have to say to a cat" - because I was so astonished by them.

I think it is sad to think there may be people who do not talk to their pets. I could never just ignore mine. I quite often talk to my dog in the street and get some strange looks. The funniest was once when he sneezed and I said "bless you". The guy coming towards us looked at me like I was a complete nutcase.

:rotfl: That's so cute, but I don't think it's weird at all. I frequently say 'bless you' to our cats when they sneeze, and used to say it to our dog when we had one. Why would you NOT talk to them? As I (and several others have said,) it's very bizarre to not talk to your pet, as they are living, breathing creatures.

Me and my wife (and kids when they visit,) acknowledge the cats when they come in, with a greeting and a cuddle. And then we say 'do you want some food?!' And 'do you wanna go out?' And 'Are you being cheeky asking for more food?!' And 'have you had a nice time playing outside?' And stuff like that.

I mean, we don't go into lengthy conversations about our day, or our work issues, or the economy, but we do talk to them sometimes, and generally acknowledge them as part of the family.......because they are!

How you just not acknowledge them? How can you just ignore them? I just can't fathom it. It just simply does not compute. How odd. !!!!!!? :rotfl:

GBNI

I talk to all of my lot, even the deaf one! Talk to the rabbit and horses too. One of my dogs 'talks' back and the other tries too

Georgiegirl256

GlasweJen wrote: »

I talk to our dog and to our fish, we have marine fish who are named after celebrity chefs and I find watching them very relaxing.

Do you have one called Jean Christophe? He's my favourite celebrity chef?

I always talk to my cat. Infact any animal really. Because as Peter says, they are are living breathing creatures, and they do respond to people talking to them (Supervet anyone?), and besides, what are you meant to do? Just treat them like some inanimate object? What's the point in having them if you're just going to ignore them?

They have their own way of conversing with humans to let us know what they want. My cat for example knocks on the door when he wants back in.

pollyanna24

Also, random, and I haven't been completely following this thread, how would your dog know what to do if you didn't talk to them? My dog wouldn't know to cross the road or not cross the road unless I told her.

mellymoo74

I talk to all mine
New cat (she's moved herself in) has a full conversation with you
Tomcat has a brief chat
Dogs like to be spoken to but it's more one sided lol

picklekin

I not only talk top my dog, but he talks back, my husband and I have a "dog" voice we use and we imagine his thoughts! Our friends do think we are a little bit nuts though.

catkins

mellymoo74 wrote: »

I talk to all mine
New cat (she's moved herself in) has a full conversation with you
Tomcat has a brief chat
Dogs like to be spoken to but it's more one sided lol

My present dog is very vocal and talks a lot. When I respond he "talks" even more. I find it really cute but when OH is trying to watch something on tv he doesn't!

My cat also talks to me but the cats that have talked the most have been the Siamese and oriental cats I have had over the years