Speaking to animals

[Jaymes]

Do you believe it's possible to speak to animals?

I believe we can really communicate with just about any social animal. Even if we're not having a drawn-out conversation, we're communicating. I believe we can have simple conversations with some of the smarter parrots, apes, and dolphins.

 

[Druidus]

I know of an african grey who understood the concept of God. They have the intelligence of five year olds, but there are the exceptional geniuses.

Non-humans understand far more than we credit them for.

 

[Bastet]

I converse with my cat all the time. She really is quite argumentative.

 

[Zephyr]

I talk to my cat all the time. Sometimes she understands what I say, sometimes she doesn't. Oddly enough she understands the words "Good Kitty, sleep some more." but not the words "NO KITTY! NOT ON THE CARPET!!!"

 

[EnhancedSpirit]

I believe people can communicate with animals if they are willing to listen.

 

[Zephyr]

I believe people can communicate with animals if they are willing to listen.

So...Not very often?

 

[Pussyfoot Mouse]

I have two cats with very different personalities and very different ways of responding to my idle chatter to them. My older cat (Jubey), who I think is going senile, just looks at me like he has no idea who I am or why I'm even wasting his time talking to him. But he has no problem climbing up on my lap whenever I'm on my computer. And the other kitty, (Mickey), just loves the attention and even makes his little noises in repsonse to what I'm saying. I don't think he even cares what I'm talking about, as long as I'm giving him lovins. LOL

But to answer your question, I most defintely believe they understand us. I just don't think they comprehend exactly what it is we're saying because if they did, OH BOY...the tales they could tell! (Well I don't think I'd need to worry too much about the old guy)

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I communicate with my dogs and cat all the time. I find it a bit easier to communicate with my cat, and she does understand more. But as to why, I have some theories, but Im not sure.

 

[capthowdy]

I talk to my dog all the time, I sit there and just have a conversation...she looks at me like she might understand, alas she does not speak back

 

[Melody]

Yes, I think we can communicate with animals. I do on a regular basis with our two ferrets, cat and bird. I'd have to say no to the guinea pig, rabbit and chickens. Or perhaps I'm just not listening...or they have nothing to say to me.

 

[Pussyfoot Mouse]

Yes, I think we can communicate with animals. I do on a regular basis with our two ferrets, cat and bird. I'd have to say no to the guinea pig, rabbit and chickens. Or perhaps I'm just not listening...or they have nothing to say to me.

Oh Melody, you really must try to listen to the little guinea pigs. We had two of them and they were the most verbal of all the animals we've ever had. Those little guys would start chattering as soon as we came into the room. And they always seemed to know when we were going out, you could hear the difference in their high pitched screeches, as if they were saying "Bring us with you, please".

 

[michel]

I talk to my dog 'Jessie' - but she's far too intelligent to listen to me...:biglaugh:

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Yes, I think we can communicate with animals. I do on a regular basis with our two ferrets, cat and bird. I'd have to say no to the guinea pig, rabbit and chickens. Or perhaps I'm just not listening...or they have nothing to say to me.

You must communicate pretty well to keep the Ferrets from eating the others.!:biglaugh:


Terry
_________________
Blessed are the gentle, they shall inherit the land

 

[Melody]

You must communicate pretty well to keep the Ferrets from eating the others.![/quote\


No, the "others" communicate pretty well to the ferrets. Kismet, our cat, plays with the ferrets on a regular basis but I have a sinking feeling that it's more of a "hit and taste" to determine if the meat is worth facing the teeth and claws.

My son cut holes all over this box, which Kismet loves to sit on. It's a riot when the ferrets crawl inside the box and then attack her from the holes, while she bashes at them. Whack a mole for cats. :biglaugh:

I haven't decided yet who's faster.

 

[Snowbear]

I believe people can communicate with animals if they are willing to listen.

Ah - if you know their "language," they understand far more than most people think. And people can learn to "read" what animals tell us by their body language as well as their vocalizations. Most pet "owners" know that domestic animals like dogs and cats seem to easily learn how to get us slaves to do their bidding

Other than an occasional nicker of welcome, horses actually don't use vocal communications much except to call for each other or to express extreme displeasure. I have found ways to learn their language and "speak" it with body language and sometimes a word (usually a murmered "good boy," but sometimes a command). It's funny though, even spoken words to the horses are almost never given without some body language to reinforce.

I have spent most of 40 years learning to communicate with horses. People who have been scared for me as they watch me interact with a herd consisting of a stallion, several mares and a colt or two tend to just see a woman surrounded by milling horses (especially at feeding time!) and somehow escaping unscathed and unstepped upon. What they don't see is the body language between me and them and between each other.

I know the subtle signals they give each other depending on where they are in the pecking order and what will come next if the subtle signal is ignored. For instance, if a less dominant horse gets too close, the switch of the tail will be first. Next comes the pinned ears and maybe a lifted hoof in a threat to kick or bite. If this stronger signal is ignored, the kick or bite will follow. Since I don't have a tail or opposable ears, I have to use head movements, shoulder drops eye contact and sometimes hand signals. It's amazing how quickly a new addition to the herd figures these out. Often they're automatic! Pretty cool, I think.