Do You Speak To Your Dog?

[FiveRoooooers]

You aren't alone! I really enjoyed this recent NYTimes article.

One of my favs, and spoken quite often (although less so since we lost Paddy Mayhem): Don't Even Think About It.  It works. Annie can confirm 

[Banjoman]

“Now what are you up to? You’re bound to be up to something!” - Usually to Nutmeg whenever I hear strange rustling or other unexplained noises, often when I am upstairs and the dogs are downstairs.

Then I chuckle to myself because that’s what Nora Batty always said to Compo in ‘Last of the summer wine’ TV programme.

[ramonaghan]

  "Don't even think about it" is popular here too. 

I often ask Sweep "Someone you know?" when a p-mail stop lasts too long.

[sarabz]

Well, who DOESN'T talk to their dog?!?

 

Recently, "Gracie, knock it off!" when I'm in my basement office and can hear her scratching the rug above my head.

 

 

[MerseyGrey]

Yes - just now: ‘Hey Buds, are you ok?’ No answer. ‘Do you really want to eat that?’ About the thing he has just puked up in the garden. No answer (unless you include eating the thing he puked as an answer).

[palmettobug]

ALL. THE. TIME! The cats, too. Gino thinks his name is "quit licking". The cats are "did you HAVE TO?!", right after a nice big HURF on the rug.

[Lexi]

I think the thing I say the most to the cat is, why are you licking my kitty? Usually followed by, all you've been doing is sleeping so you haven't done anything to require cleaning yourself. Before we leave the house, I always go to her and tell her that mommy and daddy are leaving and mention where we are going. I throw her a kiss from each of us and wave bye bye to her.  At night I give her kisses on both ears before going to bed.

Oh crap, I think I qualify as a crazy cat lady. 

[ramonaghan]

 Cats: I always tell newbie Momo "Make good decisions" when he starts to approach a sleeping Sweep. 

[Remolacha]

Most often said to all: “What?!” Also to the cat, “you are not, in fact, the center of the universe!” which he does not believe for a minute 

[MarcR]

" Don't pee in your water bowl do I?"

[greysmom]

I live in fear of someone bugging our house and having documented proof of how much I talk to the dogs all day!

Seriously.   I talk to them just like I would toddlers in my house.  We have conversations,  little songs, special names - and that's not counting outside! I talk to them more than I talk to my husband!!! 

I need to get a life!!!!!

Edited August 6, 2019 by greysmom

[HeyRunDog]

Another vote for "What?!" Usually it's when I'm halfway through my first coffee of the morning and a head appears above the arm of the sofa emitting a pleading whine which translates as "I've held it in all night but I need to pee NOW!" 

[FiveRoooooers]

15 hours ago, Lexi said:

I think the thing I say the most to the cat is, why are you licking my kitty? Usually followed by, all you've been doing is sleeping so you haven't done anything to require cleaning yourself. Before we leave the house, I always go to her and tell her that mommy and daddy are leaving and mention where we are going. I throw her a kiss from each of us and wave bye bye to her.  At night I give her kisses on both ears before going to bed.

Oh crap, I think I qualify as a crazy cat lady. 

You have just the one? Nah, you're good

15 hours ago, ramonaghan said:

 Cats: I always tell newbie Momo "Make good decisions" when he starts to approach a sleeping Sweep. 

Love that

6 hours ago, greysmom said:

I live in fear of someone bugging our house and having documented proof of how much I talk to the dogs all day!

Seriously.   I talk to them just like I would toddlers in my house.  We have conversations,  little songs, special names - and that's not counting outside! I talk to them more than I talk to my husband!!! 

I need to get a life!!!!!

Sounds just right!

[EllenEveBaz]

A range from "Move, please, sweetie" to "MOVE #@##*!"

Also compliments on their handsomeness, sweetness, etc., etc., etc.  

[LaFlaca]

All the time! When I'm getting laser-eye, "What?", when I'm leaving the house, "I'll be right back".  "Wanna go outside?". "Wanna cookie"?. "What are you doing?"

[BatterseaBrindl]

      

Faboo,article..thanks for sharing!

[palmettobug]

19 hours ago, ramonaghan said:

 Cats: I always tell newbie Momo "Make good decisions" when he starts to approach a sleeping Sweep. 

My crew is so used to Johnny's reactions (he was all "meh" most of the time), they get a BIG SHOCK when Gino gives them the gobble-snark for messing with him at rest or with his food/treats. Can't tell them ANYTHING.

[ramonaghan]

32 minutes ago, palmettobug said:

My crew is so used to Johnny's reactions (he was all "meh" most of the time), they get a BIG SHOCK when Gino gives them the gobble-snark for messing with him at rest or with his food/treats. Can't tell them ANYTHING.

Gobble-snark!  I'm stealing that.

[PattyE]

I feel sorry for the dogs that have owners that don't talk to them.  My FIL who is not a pet person asked me once if I talked to my dog.  I told him, of course.  He asked what the dog said back and thought he was so funny saying that.  I told him that he responds to me in many ways.  He understands and yes, sometimes he will sigh, or bark in response.  Dogs are smarter than some people think.  

[Patsy]

"Don't even think about it!" is big here. Also "beep beep" when I'm trying to get by. I also always say as I'm leaving "I'll be back". 

Why would you not talk to your animals?  What would be the point of having them?

 

[FiveRoooooers]

Curious that many of us use Don’t Even Think About It.  I wonder how much our tone (read: VOG) has to do with achieving actual results. There are very few other things I say that require the VOG. 

[DaveS]

Typical: (Insert dog's name), you know you're not supposed to do that.

Often: (Insert dog's name), get your nose out of there.

[DesiRayMom]

"oh, fer cryin out loud......what are you whining about NOW?"

[Banjoman]

“Get out of my way” when I am trying to get ready to take them for a walk and one or both dogs are jumping and prancing around in excitement.

[queenwinniesmom]

Just seeing this.  What a lovely article!  And it makes me feel that I'm not a wacko.  Well, maybe I am.  I speak Spanish to my 3 Galgo girls.  Well, English too, but I kinda thought they didn't have too much loving Spanish spoken to them from the galgueros, so I tell them some every day.  Actually, a lot.   Here is what I say most often:

Sabes cuanto te amo? Te amo mucho. Porque tu eres una buena Galga.  Tu eres muy hermosa, muy cariñosa, muy jugeton, muy lista, muy fuerte y muy valiente.

Translated:  Do you know how much I love you?  I love you a lot.  Because you are a good Galga.  You are very beautiful, very sweet, very playful, very smart, very strong, and very brave.   I said this a lot to Kiva when she first came, because she didn't seem to think she was any of that.

Then I add their names, with their Spanish middle names---Evangelina, mi pequeña Corazon (heart), Esquiva, mi pequeña Milagra (miracle), and Laila, mi pequeña Mariposa (butterfly).  And sometimes Laila won't sit until we say Sientaté!

But I also say, There's no whining in Galgos! There was also No whining in Greyhounds!