Anyone with a pet would probably admit that they’ve had a fair few conversations with their four-legged friend over the years. And why wouldn’t we? As humans, we’re designed for verbal communication, and just because our pets can’t talk back, it doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy having a good natter for their sake.

If you coo and fuss over your cat or dog, telling them you love them, they’re “soo cute”, and calling them all the cutesy nicknames under the sun, you’re one of many. Some of us even have full-on discussions with our pets, telling them what we’ve been up to today and asking them, “What about you?” as if we actually expect a response.

If you’re worried that talking to your pet is some not-so-secret sign of madness, fear not: it’s actually a great idea for many reasons. Here’s why talking to your pet is so healthy, just in case you need a bit of reassurance.

1. Our pets are genuinely listening

When you’re talking to a pet, you might not be helping their development like you are with a newborn – but you’re getting similar levels of attention. A study by the University of York found that while dogs might tune out if you’re talking about things they don’t care about, if you throw in a few words that actually mean something to them (walkies, biccies, etc.) they’re more likely to respond in their own doggy way.

2. Some pets take listening & responding to a new extreme…

Over the years, we’ve seen videos from countless pet owners claiming that their cats or dogs can “speak” back to them. Like Stella, a Catahoula/Blue Heeler mix from San Diego, who knows 29 words to this day. The thing is, Stella’s vocabulary range may seem impressive, but she doesn’t really understand the words she’s saying on a complex level – she’s just mimicking in a form of “intelligent imitation“.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_C_HySBR0k/

Stella’s mom is a speech language pathologist (of course), and she has trained Stella to use buttons that relate to spoken words to communicate her desires and emotions. The results are actually pretty interesting – Stella is able to express herself not only in words, but in strings of words that form sentences that actually (sort of) make sense.

3. Pet therapy

How many of us have used our pets as therapists, sitting or lying with them and proceeding to unleash a stream of semi-conscious thoughts on our day at work, whether they really did fly a dog into space, and the meaning of life itself? This is pretty normal, as pets, on the most basic of levels, are actually quite similar to therapists: they sit silently, never judging, and let you mull over your thoughts and reach your own conclusions while you’re with them.

4. You can build your relationship

Us humans use conversation as almost a form of social intimacy, so it’s no surprise that talking to your pet can help you build your relationship with them. Not only that, but your pet feels closer to you when you talk to them. While they might not be able to talk back, they can communicate when they’re happy, angry, and even sad. When you respond to these emotions, it brings you and your little fluffer closer together.

5. You’re teaching your pet

We’re a long way off from talking cats and dogs (and to be honest, that would be fairly terrifying), but that’s not to say that we’re not teaching our furbabies as they grow and develop their relationship with us. Our pets can start to pick up on words we repeat that relate to certain situations in the same way that they can pick up sounds (the shake of a biscuit bag can only mean food), which they can use to communicate with you in a simple way. So keep talking to your furry friend, even if your friends and family think you’re mad – you know otherwise!

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Source: Animal Channel, iheartdogs.com. WellandGood