Animals are able to touch the heart. So much so that many times we prefer to talk to them rather than to other people; they do not judge us and are our silent accomplices.
Last update: June 11, 2022
Anyone who shares their life with one or more animals they adore will have preferred on several occasions talk to your pet rather than to his fellowmen.
However, on a social level it is still somewhat disconcerting to see someone talking to their dog or cat. Actually, we don't have conversations. We interact with our furry friends in a very particular way.
We deliver sentences and short questions, as well as funny compliments and loving comments. This conversation dynamic is as good for animals as it is for us.
When a pet becomes our family, we feel the need to express our love and thoughts to him. It is common and even necessary to communicate with them.
Beyond what some may believe, animals understand us. And, even more fascinating, in many cases they respond with their looks.
People talk to pets as if they were children. It is an innate instinct that fosters bonding with the animal and also offers great psychological benefits.
Talking to your pet: a very common need
Even if sometimes they don't understand what we say, our animals respond to us. They do this by tilting their heads, looking at us with their expressive eyes or making a sound. The simple act of listening to us, being present, and providing us with some sort of non-verbal response is already rewarding.
The person who says "I prefer to talk to my pet" is moved by the fact that the world of human relations is always excessively complex. Communication problems and relationship dynamics that can cause disappointment or stress.
Sometimes it is more pleasant, therefore, to talk with your pet rather than with the boss who constantly scolds. It will also be more rewarding to express your love to your dog than to spend the day with those narcissistic relatives who have never considered us.
The world of humans is often chaotic. In reverse, that of our pets is very basic, only affection, attention, games, companionship.
Pets are part of our social circle
The University of Vienna conducted a study on the bonding of dogs with people. We are at a time when human and animal life are closely intertwined.
Dogs are the species that have been domesticated and have been sharing life with us for the longest time. Our bond with them is very strong, therefore a very intense complicity can be established.
Communication with dogs is essential to educate them, establish healthy power relationships and facilitate coexistence. There is nothing negative or objectionable about talking to them. It is necessary because after all I am one more member of the family unit. Friends who become our daily allies.
Dogs need us to communicate with them. Understanding the orders and receiving reinforcements at all times facilitates coexistence.
Emotional talk with animals, a rewarding resource
When you prefer to talk to your pet, the idea is not to have a deep and enlightening dialogue with the pet. A positive, fulfilling and emotional interaction is sought.
In addition to this, the way we talk to animals is very similar to the way we talk to children. We tend to use short sentences and with a sharper tone. We articulate the words slowly and use, in general, almost always the same expressions: “Who is the most beautiful cat in the world? Who is the smartest dog? Do you know how much mom or dad love you? "
In the same way, often we just think aloud when we have them next to us. "I have enough for today, I turn off the computer, I'm not going to do anything else", "The world is falling apart!".
It is evident that our animals do not understand these comments, but they respond to us with their eyes. They listen to us and are there, by our side. Their complicity is a gift that also benefits us mentally.
Prefer to talk to your pet because it does not judge
Nicholas Epley is a behavioral scientist and author of the book Mindwise: Why We Misunderstand What Others Think, Believe, Feel, and Want. In this work he explained that talking to any animal is a sign of intelligence. It means recognizing the presence of a conscience in another living being and it is also an act of empathy.
In addition to this, whoever communicates with his pet every day puts the theory of mind into practice. In other words, we try to understand the mental universe of others, their thoughts and their intentions. Those who live with their pets know that they feel emotions, understand and get excited almost like us.
In the same way, if we often prefer to talk to our pets, it is because they do not judge us. I am pure and unconditional love. Our four-legged or feathered friends are our daily refuge, just waiting to receive affection and don't need to talk to show us how much they love us.
