Folks that talk to dogs...

[Marky_GTSt]

My ex used to leave the radio for the dog, untill I pointed out that the dog has no concept of language or music and to him it was just noise that made no sense what so ever (think radio 1), same goes for talking, they get key words, but I think animals react far more to your tone and body language than to the words themselves. Also, Most animals are unable to watch tv as again it makes no sense to them, I know dolphins and chimps are among the few creatures that can make sense of tv images, and even then they have to be fairly simple.

[L14M0]

I agree that they are more than likely to understand tone of voice and body language more than actual words

[Robbie 733]

I seem to remember reading somewhere about a Security Company buying some German Shephards that had been trained in Germany (strangely enough !) and the new handlers (in the UK) had to learn specific commands in German for the dogs benefit .....

[RSVFOUR]

I do talk to my cats especially when they have done something wrong (which with the bigger one is most of the time )

So much so that now he actually thinks his name is barstad not flloyd and happily comes over if you call it. ( embarrasing when someone says ooo whats his name)

Also they definately watch the big flat screen and do climb up to get a closer look. Even if it is only the movement they see they still do look at it.

[Miguel - Newera]

Originally Posted by Marky_GTSt

My ex used to leave the radio for the dog, untill I pointed out that the dog has no concept of language or music and to him it was just noise that made no sense what so ever (think radio 1), same goes for talking, they get key words, but I think animals react far more to your tone and body language than to the words themselves. Also, Most animals are unable to watch tv as again it makes no sense to them, I know dolphins and chimps are among the few creatures that can make sense of tv images, and even then they have to be fairly simple.

....Probably so
Our dog pays no attention to herself at all when I put her in front of the mirror by the front door

[Howsie]

Originally Posted by hodgie

When i picked up my miss`s last night, she said good buy to her dog. Then as she walked out i told her "you`ve left your tv on" she replied that it was on for the dog.
I really know how to pick ummm.

It stop them getting bored believe it or not.

[andy42uk]

When I tell my dog (staffie-whippet cross) to relax (when lying down) she lowers her head and relaxes....
I make an effort to NOT use inflections, she knows about 10 words well.
You can call it anthropomorphic projection, or anything you like, I'd call it well trained.

[hyrev]

When ever my dog does something bad and we say, "Who did this?", she knows what we are referring to and lowers her ears and walks into her kennel. Or, if we ask her to find our son, "Where is Nathan?" she will raom the house and look for him. Now that we have a new puppy in the house and has an accident, I will tell her, "Oooh, who did this?" she will also go into her kennel or if I just tell her, "Go inside" or just "Inside" she will go inside her kennel. It is the easy stuff she knows, but has no concept of the words Shut up, or shut the f$%k up, even while beating her to a pulp (just kidding) she acts like she does not understand it or puts the two together, go figure. The fuuny thing is, the older one knows how to ignore my wife, especially when the dog, Kira, is tired. She will often look the other way or just close her eyes and pretend to be asleep.

[freakazoid3]

I talk to my cat aswell, and she does recoginize words. For instance when I open my backdoor and call out her name, she immedaitley runs over to me (most off the time it takes a while as she likes to walk on the neighbours' rooftops
Now you could say that she only recognizes my voice or whatever, but when I come home with my motorbike (honda fireblade) She also comes running over to the house.
Even when I have just entered the street and she is at the corner off the street, she recognizes the sound my bike makes and comes running to the driveway. It sounds strange I know, but when I arrive at the garage and open it, she is always sitting on a small fence right by the garagedoor wanting me to pet her. And when I do pet her she starts to drool all over the place I know I have a strange cat but I like her a lot

i'll even post a pic off her

[Rain]

Originally Posted by Howsie

It stop them getting bored believe it or not.

+1

ITs not a cooky thing to do, its either TV or a radio, just voices, some dogs respond well to it, it relaxes them because they dont feel alone, others, like our Husky doesnt give a rats ass and howls anyway

[Cris]

Lassie is that you?

Quick go and tell old man Johnson that I've fallen down the well in the lower paddock but the nylon rope in the wooden cabinet is frayed so he'll need to go over to the shops and buy a new rope. If he could pick up some cartridges for my asthma inhaler that'd be good.

[harris2182]

when ever the dog whisperer is on the tv , sasha (staff bull girl 2years) sits in front of tv and watch`s it. i will get the camera out and try catching her watching it. . she understands alots of stuff i say.

[Stan]

They talk to dogs the same way people talk to a new born baby, it can't understand much either; but humans communicate in the easiest and most often used medium: voice.
Simple as that.