How do you talk to your pets?

[charlie and algernon]

Poll question: How do you talk to your pets?

[TZ]

1. A combination

Although I talk to them the same way I talk to annoying lounge lizards...just last night I told Sophie to "Stop it Creekdog!" :rofl:

[Arkansas Granny]

2. I've always talked to my pets like I do young children. They understand

more words than most give them credit for and they can certainly pick up the tone of my voice. I'm not very good at giving doggy commands, but my pup knows what "sit down like a good girl" means as well "stay there, I'll be right back" and "get your nose out of there".

[MorningGlow]

3. Other

I talk to the MG kittehs like adults (I KNOW they understand every word I say to them!), but I don't have full conversations with them. And what I say is usually full of admonishments, because they are quite bad kittehs. (Sample: "All right, Clover, quit pooping in the hallway. I KNOW it was you, so don't try to deny it!" Response: Fuzzy-faced glower but refusal to admit guilt.)

[Lil Missy]

4. I scold them. They scoff at me.

Little snots. x(

[Heidi]

6. When my mother-in-law scolds Ginger, he has NO IDEA what she's talking about.

He never hears harsh tones at home. :rofl:

[Rhythm]

5. Toby understands a LOT of English, so i talk to him like a pre-schooler

He understands an assortment of keywords in sentences, so i just talk to him in sentences.

The cats... they could care less WHAT i say, as long as the food and water dishes are full, and i'm not sitting on THEIR side of the couch.

[pokerfan]

7. they understand more than we think

and they are very adept at plucking the words that they do understand out of entire conversations.

Among humans, there are four types of vocabulary: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Listening and reading typically outstrip speaking and writing. With other animals (vocal chords unsuited for spoken words) and no ability to write, this is even more so. I did have a dog once who I am convinced would try to speak. It was completely unintelligible, of course. Sounded kind of like Scooby Do.

I would love to work my dogs into a frenzy with the simple question, "do you want to go for a walk?"

[SoxFan]

8. Brianna is part Maine Coon, so she does a lot of the talking!

[fizzgig]

9. i don't necessarily have full conversations with my cats

but i talk to them on my own level. fat cat and i will have conversations, but i don't really think either of us know what the other is saying ;)

[LostInAnomie]

10. Like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2s8x5XhCGA&feature=related

[bluethruandthru]

11. I talk to them...and for them!

I tell people that I can "channel" the cats thoughts..and put them into words. :rofl: