Strange Pet Conversations

[Hrairoo]

Do you sometimes look at your pet and have a strange thought about them? Like, do you ever wonder how much they know or how much they understand?

For instance, Colby and I walk at least 5 times a day. Half of those times we stop to check the mailbox. On occasion, whatever I pull from the box, I let him sniff it. What does he think the mailbox is to me? Does he understand that I am getting something from it? Because some of the time when I check it, I don't get anything from it. Or is this like how he checks his marked spots, does he simply assume this is me checking territory. He's peed on the mailbox post before.

Another one: Do you think he knows that his face is black? The rest of his body is 90% white, with just a few black blotches. The parts of his head that are black, he cannot see, and he never gets to see his reflection(not clearly; he looks out the window often but I don't think he can see his reflection clear enough to identify himself). So....he doesn't know, does he?

What about you? Any pets you have, do you sometimes think and wonder about what they think, how they think, what their experience is like? Share your silly wonderings.

[Beorning]

Sometimes I do wonder what my cat thinks of the stuff I'm doing...

I know that he's always perplexed when I'm assembling miniatures. He sits on the table next to me and observes me working very closely...

On the other hand, I precisely know what he thinks when I'm walking around my apartment in the evenings, collecting dirty dishes and doing other stuff: he think I walk around, because I want to play! Cue running after me, pouncing, biting... 

[Oniya]

Do you sometimes look at your pet and have a strange thought about them? Like, do you ever wonder how much they know or how much they understand?

For instance, Colby and I walk at least 5 times a day. Half of those times we stop to check the mailbox. On occasion, whatever I pull from the box, I let him sniff it. What does he think the mailbox is to me? Does he understand that I am getting something from it? Because some of the time when I check it, I don't get anything from it. Or is this like how he checks his marked spots, does he simply assume this is me checking territory. He's peed on the mailbox post before.

We have a running joke when we see a dog sniffing a pole that he's checking his pee-mail.

Our Gemini used to have our schedules down pat (not a small task!).  When it was time for Mr. Oniya to go to bed, she would reach up and pat the arm of the chair.  When I'd get into bed, she'd wait until I got her pillow in place (protecting my vitals!) and told her 'Come on up, there's room.' before jumping up.  She'd sometimes bring down one of those long-unscented catnip mice and make a noise that sounded like 'Mou-ouse'.

[Hrairoo]

@Beorning that is delightful! Yes, my little Colby is my shadow and very rarely do I think he understands what I am doing when I'm writing or reading quietly. Then I'll get up and he'll follow me around and poke me for attention. For instance, if I am carrying food, sometimes I'll feel the nudge of a nose on the back of my knee. The other day, I was walking through the kitchen with him trailing behind and he hopped up and tapped the book in my hand with his snout. They're so funny. And cats have that extra hunter factor, so, when they get playful, there is a part of them that is trying to kill you, lol.

@Oniya it is humbling and rewarding to be so paid attention to that your pet knows you, knows your habits, and follows you through your schedule. That really just warms my heart. Colby is similar. He knows the alarm goes off every morning at 6:30, so, he'll crawl out from under the bed around then. Occasionally, I'm still groggy and checking messages, so, I won't get up for a bit. But I call him up onto the bed and he'll snuggle under the covers with me until I finally wake up enough to get up. It's the only time I let him up on the bed when the sheets are exposed; he waits for me after to fully make the bed before jumping up onto his spot at the foot right by the window.

@Beorning and Oniya and anyone: Do your animals have words you say that they understand, even when you're not talking to them?

Colby's trigger word is "walk" because that is what we do the most together. If I use it in a different context or I am not talking to him, he perks up and gets excited. He has a spot right near the entryhall where I always have him sit when I put on and take off his leash. If I carelessly use "walk" or "outside" in a sentence with my family members, he will run to this spot to sit patiently.

I was looking up why dogs like bones a while back, and the article I read said dogs like bones because it "stimulates their thoughts." And then I wondered, in what way? What is going on as he chews on a bone? Is it like a puzzle, a brain-teaser, a sudoku for him?

It got me wondering about his other thoughts. Occasionally, he picks up a stuffed toy and he'll cavort around the room with it; he knows the toy is not a real animal, so, what is his play-fantasy as he runs with these toys? Or how about the occasions when I hear him whimpering, softly woofing, or growling in dreams? What is his dream? Or when we watch birds and deer out the window, what is he thinking? Is he imagining a scenario where he gets to chase these critters down? Does he think of what he'll do to catch them? Does he even think that far ahead?

I flip flop between thinking he's got a simplistic relationship with the world, where wind in his fur, dirt between his toes, and smelling all the odors are goals and aspirations. And then thinking, "well, he's a working dog, so, very smart, and he knows more English than I've deliberately taught him(he surprises me sometimes)" so, I think possibly he has more heroic fantasies, that maybe the pieces are the same(wild thing, run, bark, chase, catch, proud daddy) but that he might construct them into a simple story of some kind. A story that if he could talk and tell me, I might equate it with a child's heroic fantasy of defeating some intruder and getting prizes and treasure as a reward.