When my dad retired he found himself with all kinds of free time. Free time mainly spent indoors. I guess 30+ years of the 9 to 5 commute didn’t inspire him to hit the road much. One thing he started doing with his newfound free time was talk to his dog Scooter. A lot. In fact, he probably talked to Scooter more than my mom. And Scooter, who also spent most of her time inside, loved it. When I started dating my girlfriend, and her cat came into my life, I thought I would experiment with my dad’s new pastime. Surely talking to an indifferent cat wouldn’t yield the same happy results? While I expected to be completely ignored, I was met with perked ears and total attention. Turns out, Rogue loved to be talked to just as much as Scooter. I altered the pitch in my voice so Rogue knew when I was communicating directly to her. She loved the special attention.
While this might read crazy, there is scientific benefits associated with communicating with our pets, even if they don’t have a clue about what we’re saying. Scientists in New York tested this in a local animal shelter. They recorded a woman talking to her dog and played it over a loudspeaker inside the kennel. Nine of the 10 dogs involved in the study started running towards the speakers upon hearing the woman’s voice. Puppies were more likely to run to the speakers, while adult dogs were more likely to stay put. No one is sure why, but it’s clear communicating with your pets from an early age helps build a bond.
Our pets are more interested in our words than we think. Another study from the United Kingdom found that dogs responded better to human speech when it was dog-specific. Phrases like “who’s a good dog?” and “who wants to go for a ride?” brought more of a positive response from the dogs than general human speak. Much like I alter my pitch with Rogue, most people, subconsciously or not, do the same things with their pets, and their pets pick up on that. That communication creates repetition that the pet can learn from. Our pets are able to learn a certain amount of words, which helps with training the pet.
Still think it sounds crazy? It turns out communicating with your pet may be a sign of your own intelligence. For years people who talk to animals have been seen as crazy or lonely. University of Chicago professor of behavior science dispelled that stereotype. His study found that our ability to read emotion and recognize the mind of our pets is a byproduct of the ability to sense the same things in people. Basically, the study found that sensitive, perceptive people talk to their pets. The myth of the “crazy cat lady” is actually completely wrong. Talking to your pet may also help your health. Many therapists recommend it to help with conflict resolution.
Talking to your pet is a great way to connect with the animal. While it may not provide any benefits on the surface, the communication and bond will help tie you together for a lifetime.
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