Tiger
A few months ago I revealed my guilty secret on Mamamia – that I don’t love our family dog, Tiger as I should.
I like him well enough, I feed him, exercise him, put million dollar anti-tick serum on him. All that. We just haven’t clicked on an emotional level.
Anyway, the ensuing discussion was, well – robust. And it extended beyond Mamamia. I found myself on Brisbane radio station 97.3FM talking to my friend Robin Bailey about my loveless relationship with the dog. Robin suggested we get Tiger’s side of the story. I reminded her that he’s a dog and an interview would make very dull radio. No worries, Robin knows an ‘Animal Communicator’ who would be happy to come to my home and talk to Tiger – find out how he’s feeling about life. Sure, I said, as long as it won’t cost me anything.
Now, I’ll just point out here that Isobel Johnstone is no quack. A qualified vet, she recently gave up clinical work to ‘help animals in a more meaningful way.’ Isobel helps people understand their pets – what’s stressing them, making them difficult to live with. A lot of her work, she told me, is helping new owners of rescued animals get a handle on what their pet might have been through. Tiger hasn’t been through anything more stressful than a hydrobath so I was a bit skeptical of what Isobel could do for our relationship.
The session worked thusly: Isobel and Robin arrived at my place. Tiger immediately disappeared upstairs. Isobel said that was not a problem – she does not need to see the dog as she talks to him. It is all done telepathically. Right.
So there we were on the couch – Robin reading the paper, me tweeting on the iPad, and Isobel making copious notes about her silent conversation with the dog who was no doubt fast asleep on the tiles in my ensuite. The ‘interview’ took about 30 minutes. Here is an edited transcript as provided to me by Isobel:
Isobel: Kate would like to know why you are so clingy and is it because she makes you sleep outside?
Tiger: No, I have a need for close companionship, it is nothing to do with being shut out. I have got over that. It is just me; I want to be close to people. They are my family; my pack and we are together so much so that when they are not here I get anxious.
Isobel: Kate wants to know if you would be happier with another dog.
Tiger: Yes, yes, yes! So long as I get to help choose it. It would have to get along with me, then we would be friends and I would not be so lonely when left alone.
Isobel: Whatever the family does you seem to want to do something else. Kate wants to know why.
Tiger: It is my mind, it wanders and I get to think of lots of things and just suddenly want to do something, maybe not what they were thinking I would like to do. I seize the moment and if something comes into my mind I go for it and don’t necessarily stay with what we are doing now.
Isobel: Kate would like to know why you do not seem really happy?
Tiger: I am happy, happy, happy! Don’t judge me by what they think I should be like, I am happy in my own way.
Isobel: Kate says they you seem to be never satisfied in the moment.
Tiger : My mind leaps from one thing to another and whatever takes my fancy I follow. I did not know that this bothered them. As I get older and settled in my ways.
Isobel: Do you realise that Kate is not as fond of you as the rest of the family?
Tiger: Yes, I realise that and it saddens me but we get along. Really I came here for the daughter, the young girl I am close to. It is important for her to have me in her life at this time. She will confide in me her thoughts and things she would rather keep to herself, just things that young children want to keep to themselves but need to tell somebody their inner secrets without being abandoned by them then telling the secrets. I am here for that. One day she will not need me as much, that is all right.
Isobel: Kate would like to know if you have a favourite member of the family?
Tiger: I love all the family members including Kate. Tell her not to worry, as she is not meant to be close to me, her daughter is. I enjoy her company, we get on well but it does not matter that we do not have a close rapport. You are not meant to be very close to everyone, just those that it is your job to be close to and I know what my job is and I do it well.
Isobel: What is the one thing Kate could do for you to be more settled, she says you seem skittish?
Tiger: As I said, that is just me, don’t worry. I am young don’t expect me to settle down for a while yet; there is plenty of time for that. Just take me as I am and don’t worry. Kate worries too much as underneath she is very concerned that she does not love me as she thinks she should. That is her expectation of herself, not mine. We really have a very happy family and I love being here.
Isobel: Tiger is there anything you would like to say to Kate?
Tiger: I just want them all to know now much I love them all.
Well. That was certainly nice to hear. Not sure I believe it but it sure didn’t hurt.
Do you think your pet understands you? Can animals communicate with people at all?
Kate Hunter is an advertising copywriter with 20 years experience and hundreds of ads under her belt. She’s also written two novels for young readers: Mosquito Advertising, The Parfizz Pitch and Mosquito Advertising, The Blade Brief. You can visit Kate’s website here or follow her on twitter here.
Comments
87 Comments so far
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Oh all these stories and gorgeous dog pictures have made me cry like a baby. We moved overseas 3 months ago and had to leave our 4th family member our 6 year old dog with my family and I have missed her terribly
However this is a very exciting week….. all the paperwork is complete and she arrives on Thursday!!! I think I am more excited than my daughter.
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hahahahaha i could’ve written that. I’m not a skeptic when it comes to psychics and ghosts or anything paranormal but that is ridiculous a load of rubbish!!!
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Hahahahahahaha oh this made me laugh. Perhaps we should give Isobel the benefit of the doubt – she must be passionate because she must have taken a massive pay cut when she gave up clinical work to become Dr Dolittle hehehe. What a relief that Tiger doesn’t really care that you don’t love him!
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My ‘long haired domestic’ kitty is a great communicator. She doesn’t talk very much, but has definitive sounds for play and feed me.
She lets me know when she wants to be let outside, be fed, be chased, be given pats, have cuddles and play ‘the stalking game’. She used to fetch toys and and drop them at my feet for them to be thrown. She is very social and sits high on a cupboard to watch us while we’re in the kitchen, jumps on the shower to watch the water (has opened the screen on me) and rolls around as I hang out the washing.
She knows her name and will come when I call her in from outside and swishes her tail when she knows she’s been busted for being naughty.
She seems to seek me out for play and my partner more for affection – although we each have a different relationship with the cat, we can both understand what she demands of us!
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I have a westie who shows absolutely no affection other than enjoying a belly rub & ear scratch but I always have to initiate – I still love her though & her independence means there has never been any separation anxiety. If only I could stop her from watching tv, she even watches from outside & in the mirror reflection and she has to bark at every animal, I have to put the guide up every ad break because there’s an animal in every bloody commercial!!!
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I’m not sure I believe strangers can communicate with our pets but I believe that people experience bonds with their animals that can’t be explained. I had an experience where I was sitting on my back step talking to my partner and my ridgeback x Bribie was laying on her bed. I was particularly frustrated about the events of my day at work and the more I talked about it to my partner the angrier I became. Bribie got up off her bed, walked over to me, laid at my feet and put her head on my foot. In that instant i felt all my anger and frustration drain out of me and I just looked at her in awe, my partner saw it happen too and wasn’t surprised when I said I wanted to change the subject and didn’t feel the need to waste any more energy on the topic. I also have a mastiff mix -Keizer- who I knew was my dog the moment I saw him, he had a heart defect and required expensive surgery at 3 months old to repair it, I feel he came to me for a reason as not many people would spend thousands on a dog, hes 19months old now andwe are extremly bonded, he follows me everywhere, understands me and I always know what he’s thinking and wants to tell me. I also had a cat who passed last year – a Siamese named Felix – that cat was my soulmate, we could communicate through looks, he loved to stare, my partner would tell him how ugly he was (admittedly, he was) and he’d look at me all indignant and I’d say ‘I know, Felix, I heard him too’. My partner always knew when I was due home as Felix would come running to the house meowing in that loud way that siamese do and within minutes I’d pull into the driveway. At 9.30 each night I’d call out ‘Felix, bed time’ and I’d hear his bell jingling and he’d come racing home for the night. He was with me constantly during a particularly nasty relationship break up and would sit with me, rubbing his face on my chin as i cried and I knew that I’d never need a man as long as I had my Felix (this was true until I finally met a nice one) He was hit by a car last year and it was the worst day of my life so far, I have two cats now, a Siamese and a Burmese who I love dearly but there’s no bond like there was with my main man Felix.
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I know exactly what my cats are thinking right now.
The Cat of Little Brain (on the floor under the chair): Here! here! here I am! Did you forget me yet? Can I walk on the keyboard? And did you put your innersoles back in your boots, they’re not where I left them this afternoon. Here! Helloooo, I’m on the floor! Snacks? Cravers? Here I am! Hello??? Did I have dinner yet? Oops, a tail – where did that come from? That’s right, it usually follows me round. Hello??
Bruiser (on the couch): Wht are you even talking to her? It just encourages her. Why are you still playing on the computer? You know that I’m too big for your lap when you’re at that table. Come and sit on the couch, or even better let’s go downstairs and watch TV. A movie would take up just the right amount of cuddle time before it’s time to go to bed properly. I like the ones with subtitles. Icecream would be good. I wonder whether she really remembers that we’ve already had our tea … I should remember to hide the plates straight away. Come and sit down, Mum, I need my ears scratched.
(In contrast, bloke (in bed after rolling home from the pub). Golf. Fishing. More beer.)
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This was brilliant!!
Loved blokes thoughts too.
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Is this a joke?
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No. It really and truly happened (ie Isobel came to my house to communicate with Tiger). Jury’s out on whether she did, but no harm done
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Oh, Tiger’s adorable!!
Anyone who has ever lived with a pet for any length of time knows that animals are living proof that you don’t need words to communicate. It’s not magic. As a vet, Isobel is just leveraging years of experience with a huge range of animals to help out pet owners who don’t have the same level of experience.
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So, was she right about your daughter being close to the dog? Did she know this before the ‘interview’?
Even if this is a swindle, I think it’s a nice message she is communicating none the less and what harm is there in that.
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I had a gorgeous Lab X named Zach who was very close to me, and understood me very well. He was hit by a car while our parents were overseas and my brother called to tell me he was injured, unfortunately he died while I was driving back to our parents home. I was sooo devastated that he had died before I could get there, I was inconsolable (luckily my partner was driving). We had our little dog in the back seat who also loved Zach and about 5 min after my Bro called me to tell me that our dog had died, our dog in the back seat of the car started barking wildly at the empty seat next to him…very uncharacteristic for him, and was barking in that way dogs do when they are trying to tell you that they have found/seen something. I had the strongest feeling that Zach had come to find me and that he was there in the car with us. Our little dog barked and jumped around for a few minutes, and then stopped, and went silent and laid down!! I will always believe that Zach came to say goodbye and that comforts me still.
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Most people would tell you I am a very “practical” person and not much for the esoteric side of life, but I will swear up and down that the night after I had to put my my beloved Kelpie Chloe down, and was crying my eyes out in bed, I felt her small little body jump on the bed and lay at my feet like she always used to when I was upset.
I also swear my baby looked over my shoulder and giggled at the same moment I smelled my (deceased) grandmas perfume.
I am also quite sure that I can look at my Lab Scout, and know exactly what he is thinking.
I think if these things are possible, why on Earth couldn’t somebody be given a gift to communicate with them?
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Here is my little guy as a baby (he’s now one). I couldn’t resist sharing a pic!! I love him like my child
xx
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I snuffled into my hand the whole way through reading this. It’s cute, funny and completely daft.
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Leo the Labrador only has two messages for us: “Feed me” and “Let me in”.
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This is Tiger with one of her “cousins”, Wynnie the Schnauzer. She looks pretty content with her lot. And just quietly, of these two, it’s not Tiger who needs the therapist…
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@nicmclachlan As the owner of the Schnauzer I do admit she’s needy, but I don’t think she needs therapy. However, I do believe that your dog “Leo the Labrador” has some behavioural issues that need to be addressed, see pic below.
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Ok, do I believe that animals can communicate telepathically with humans? Nope. But hey, I could be wrong!
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Yes my dog ‘speaks’ to me and i’m not afraid to tell people that anymore. People don’t believe in it but when you do have those experiences yourself, you know for sure. Each to their own though…
This year I have had help from Trisha McCagh ‘Stories from the Animal Whisperer’ in Sydney. I have read her book and spoken with her. Her website is called animal talk. She has helped me to understand why my dog got cancer and how I can help her through the effects of radiation. What she has done for me and my dog has worked. Asking someone else to talk to my dog required trust in the process and when I put judgement aside I started to see how I could communicate with my dog, too.
I know my dog understands me and I understand her. I will ask her to pick up her pig’s ear and she will do it straight away. She understands other people’s names and things like ‘dinner time’ or ‘bath time’ or ‘bring your ball’ or ‘do you want this’. She also knows when someone is coming home- she will wait at the door well before they pull up in the drive way. I talk to her and she licks my hand to say she has heard everything. I tell her where we are going and she knows the difference between vet and walk. I know she understands me because she shows it in her actions.
My dog also knows when someone is sick or upset. She comes and sits either on you or right next to you. If you cry she will try and lick your tears away. She puts a paw up to your face or on your leg or might lick your hand. It’s her way of saying i’m here for you. She also does things to make me laugh when she knows i’m sad
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I completely agree. Dogs who have a lot of human contact are just as smart as a 3-4 year old child who doesn’t talk. I have a early childhood degree so I know what children can do and my dog is the same as a child of that age. It’s a really special bond.
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My dog Molly definitely can communicate with me especially when she isn’t well and when she is so happy she smiles and knows me so so well like all my sounds and what emotion they are related too. She is also so incredibly smart and cheeky but that’s why I love her. She is my companion and my best friend. She makes me laugh so so much. My crazy little monkey dog We have lived with other people and their dogs and she knows how to handle herself.
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DEFINITELY!!! My gorgeous 2 year old miniature schnauzer, Pepper, is in fact bi-lingual (or to be more accurate, can understand both English and Korean; unfortunately speaking is limited to barks, whines and long, meaningful looks with her puppy-dog eyes).
She can understand short phrases spoken in either English or Korean, such as, “Let’s go out”, “Do you want dinner”, “Grandma has arrived”, “Who’s at the door”, “Where’s your toy?”, “Time for Bed”, as well as words for basic commands.
But the most amazing thing is that she somehow senses what I’m feeling, whether it be anger or sadness – then crawls into my lap and licks my face or collapses onto me or offers me her paw (yes, just as you would place your hand on the shoulder or knee of an upset friend, relative). And even when nasty me pushes her away or shouts at her, just because I feel like being nasty, she just won’t give up – now that’s what I call unconditional love!!
And I know what I’m saying may induce vomiting, but I say it because I mean every word I say – dogs are absolutely astonishing! They know and can express love. It is a quality they possess in spades. That emotion which is so innately human is felt intensely and powerfully in the hearts of our most beloved companions. I don’t believe it when cynical non-dog owners rattle off rubbish about dogs being happy with anyone as long as you give them food. When a strong connection is established between dog and human – I believe that no other human can simply replace the original. My cousin’s dog cried every single night he was away from his family, despite everything we did to comfort him. Now, whenever a visit from my cousin’s family ends, their dog goes absolutely crazy wanting to leave with them!!
My dog, Pepper, also cries and wanders around the house looking for me when I’m away for a few days, though the rest of my family is still there with her. Although, even after a few hours away, she will greet me at the door as though months have passed – she just can’t wag her tail fast enough and so she shakes her whole bottom!! We call it Pepper’s Samba!!
And I just have to add, sometimes me and my dog will lie on the floor together (face to snout) while I stroke her furry chest and talk to her about my day, things that I’m worried about, plans for the future and she will just lie there, very still, ears upright and open and if I happen to stop stroking her chest, head, ears – she will push herself closer to me and begin tapping me and scratching me with her paw!!! It is sooo funny and sooo cute!!! So there – concrete proof that dogs can understand people ^.^
Here’s a picture of my baby~ prettiest dog in the world as far as I’m concerned (but that’s what all mothers think of their babies, isn’t it??)
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My Jack Russell, Milo, was the same as the one mentioned below – he just KNEW things that hadn’t been taught and was my own little fan club. Wherever I was, he wanted to be. He knew his place in the pack too – his idea of heaven was lying down at my feet, using my foot for a pillow (as you can see in the picture)
If there was a bug or mouse, a little special whistle (too short sharp lows followed a very sharp high) brought him running from the opposite end of the property to catch it. He wouldn’t kill it there – he’d kindly take it out into the garden bed that was his toilet and dispose of it there. It was hilarious to watch because he was so determined! (But then – Jack Russells were originally bred for rodent-hunting so it’s instinct to them)
Sadly he was put to sleep the day after Mother’s Day this year (at 17yrs of age) due to his blindness/deafness/dementia/torn crutiate ligaments/twisted bowel/etc. He was perfectly healthy right up until Feburary and then he started going – fast. It broke my heart to do it but I know it was the right thing. He wasn’t enjoying being in pain, he was old and he was tired.
I still miss him every day. I still go to talk to him and it’s habit to always look down and behind me for him before I open a door or take a step back, so that I don’t step on him. Last week there was a cockroach on the patio and out of instinct I gave the little “get-it” whistle…. except he didn’t come running
It’s actually because of this that I don’t want to get another dog yet. I miss Milo too much and I don’t want another dog to “not live up to him” and ergo disappoint me.
http://thefridgedoorblog.com
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Aw Milo is such a Cutster,i’m so sorry for your loss!
I can imagine it must be so hard to suddenly don’t have that little creature around anymore,and i can also understand why you don’t want to rush into getting another dog.
My little Vinnie (also a JRT mix) is such a character,i can’t imagine another dog just taking her place.She’s only around 1 or 2 years old,i picked her up from the pound as a foster dog,but knew rather quickly i wouldn’t be able to let her go,ever…
all the best to you,big hug!
xx
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That is so special, thanx for sharing. People always say jackrussells r ankle biting shitheads but they r the smartest most loving dogs in the world. My jack Russell is the same and knows things that he shouldn’t understand as a dog. But then again except for the fur he’s really not a dog, more like my little baby. Im sorry u lost yours. Sometimes I wish they lasted our lifetime.
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My three dogs are my babies – Freddy, Girds and Riley – and I know they understand things. I know they know each other’s names. I ask one where the other is and off they go and find him! They know the word for treats and if they’re good in the bath or when they have a haircut etc they get treats. Only one of them is really good but they all have them. I tell them to use their words and they huff and growl and talk when they want something. When we come home they do a lot of talking mainly having a go at us for being away so long! Combined with much tail wagging.
Riley gives me hugs when I pick him, puts his head on my shoulder and just stays there. And Girds gets very jealous.
And they know what it means when I ask if they want to come watch tv with me…they get to sleep on the bed and keep me company.
My husband doesn’t enjoy this last part!!
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Roosters fan??
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I think my sister may be a cat whisperer in disguise. When we brought ours home, she gave us two drinks coasters, with the words: ‘The Cat Rules the House’ around the edges. Ain’t that the truth?
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I think my dog can definitely communicate with the rest of the family! And he understands us too, he’s very smart (he’s a spoodle).
One funny example is when he was lying on the couch and my mum accidentally sat on his tail. He yelped, jumped off the couch and looked straight at her and started barking. He also tries to get my attention at the table (because i’m naughty and feed him from the table) by going up on his hind legs and tapping me with his paw.
He also knows words like: car, walk, park, dinner, shower, schmackos, ham, cat etc.
And he understands certain situations, like when my mum is going for a walk (he barks like mad so she takes him along), when we are heading down to our holiday house (packing up the car) etc.
I’m a bit nuts about my dog (called Cody).
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This is bizarre and hilarious.
I think I can already understand my cat, her main moods are ‘feed me’ and ‘move your face and let me sleep on your pillow or I will smother you with my belly’ and the occasional ‘I love you sooooo much let me paw you until I fall into a love coma’.
She’s so cute but, i love her.
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“let me paw you until I fall into a love coma” – fantastic!
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I don’t believe she knew what the dog was saying ‘telepathically’ but I know for a fact that if dogs are given the chance they know more about us then we do. Dogs communicate primarily by body language and para language and humans communicate using at least 80% non verbal language when communicating so dogs ‘read’ our body language to know when we r sad or happy. Using this technique, dogs can learn anything for example: my jack russell knows the name for every 1 of his 30 toys, he knows every room in the house and the furniture in it ( when we tell him to find a toy we will say “it’s in the kitchen near the oven” and he’ll run out where we said and find it), he knows our names and nicknames and anyone who visits regularly. He knows every place we take them which is about 35 different parks and places. He knows all basic commands (out, up off on no yes go wait stop, lay down, go to bed (I send him to bed when he’s naughty, my bed of course, he’s spoilt rotten), as a matter of fact I can’t think of anything he doesn’t know really. Even if I talk about putting washing on he goes to the laundry door and waits. Smartest dog I have ever known. We also have a pit-bull female who isn’t as human smart but the male jackrussel tells her anything important. We tested it 1 day and whispered on the jack Russell’s ear “we’re going for a ride in the car and u can come to ” and we watched him run out and jump all over the pitbul friendly growling then both of them ran to the front door. They’re my babies and I treat them the same as I would treat my kids and they act like kids who don’t speak my language really it’s amazing. Anyway I could talk about them all day, merry Christmas everyone and don’t forget to get the dog a present too!
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That is absolutely amazing! I want a Jack Russell! I think we humans completely underestimate the intelligence of all animals.
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Definetly bat girl. He even has a favorite colour (which is pink.. Lol)
I really recommend them even for people who likes big dogs better. I always said I’d never have a little dog but he fell in my lap and I’m so glad he did. I would never go back now.
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Aren’t dogs colour blind?
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UNO I’m not sure, but he definetly can tell the difference but it could be the smell of the dye used. People say dogs can’t see tv either but he watches tv with us all the time. U can tell he sees it because he hates crows and even when a fake one comes on he howls.. Lol.
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Oh that is hilarious. I am the owner of a very pampered schnoodle (looks like Lana’s dog but is dark brown). She was my baby until I went and had 2 real babies, so her position on the food chain has moved down a few pegs. I have had 2 dog ‘trainers’ try to help me with her, and both have failed. Or perhaps it is me that has failed.
She is highly emotional! She cries each night when I put her to bed in her crate but if I don’t put her to bed in her crate she cries and scratches at my bedroom door at 5am.
I have spent more money on her grooming this year than I have spent on my own hair. I have also spent more on her teeth this year than I have spent on my own teeth. I am not kidding.
Gosh I love her but she is hard work and very expensive! It is a good thing she is cute!!
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Oh I have a Schnoodle too and I could have written your post (all except the teeth, we’ve been very lucky with them). That tells me it’s probably to do with the breed. Mine is coming up to 2 years old and despite the hard work, she is such a delight and we all adore her. She also gets put to bed in her crate at night. Originally we had thought that we’d allow her to sleep on one of the kids beds, but she soon made it clear that if she was allowed to choose, it was going to be me she slept with. Not at the end of the bed either, under the covers and as close as she could get. So the crate it was, and she’s really very happy in there. She knows the night time routine and settles down quite quickly (sometimes carries on a bit but eventually settles) and then wakes me at 7am on the dot to go to the toilet. So yes, a lot of work, a lot of money (I also have mine clipped by an expert groomer every 8 weeks) but as you know, totally worth it.
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PAH HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
Thanks for the laugh Kate, needed that today!
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I have had the pleasure of meeting Tiger. This is what he said to me.
” “. – in case you can’t make that out, its nothing because dogs can’t talk.
HOWEVER my dog understands English (and a little bit of Portugese because I have a cleaning lady that my dog adores and she only speaks Portugese) . Okay maybe he doesn’t understand sentences but her certainly understands the following words
walk
car
office
around the block (see a sentence)
granny
Maria (the cleaning lady)
daddy
home
Ethan (my son)
Here he is. You may note he does get to sleep on my bed
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he clearly understands ‘throw cushions’ too.
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oops, he’s the wrong way. May need to call in a photographer whisperer
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I want those cushions! Where are they from?
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Love it!! My dog sleeps on the bed too. In fact I travel a lot for work and people are always asking if I get lonely and miss my husband…. truth is if I wake in the middle of the night the first thing I usually notice is the lack of warmth and weight on my toes (I just don’t tell my husband this)
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What a cool dog!!! And what a cool job, I would LOVE to be an animal communicator, I have animals everywhere – 3 dogs, 4 cats and 3 chickens. That is so sweet that Tiger believes his ‘job’ is to look after the little girl and listen to all her secrets and be there for her, I truly believe that if that chick is for real and she really heard Tigers thoughts, that he would think that was his real job. I actually got a little teary reading that, it is just so sweet!!! My dogs have always been there for me through the toughest times and know when I’m down and need some support. My youngest dog Mango, is really tuned in to whats going on between his people and watches over my babies. He has only just turned two, is a big goofy golden retreiver x labrador and is just a bundle of love really. He is a big softy and loves everyone instantly. Cats on the otherhand, I honestly think, are pretty selfish and have a single track mind, as cute as they are. Whenever I’m trying to study, or read, or cook, or anything really, my most sociable cat BamBam will come and sit directly in front of me, purring loudly, staring intently into my eyes – I am 100% sure he is lasering into my brain “Feed me… feed me…. FEED MEEEEEE!!!!!” Cats are hardcore….
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I think it depends a lot on the cat. My mother has one who is not the sharpest tool in the shed, all he says is “LOVE ME!”
See?
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T, have you been adding vodka to that cat’s drinking water again….?
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This was actually incredibly sweet!
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goodness – no need for Eddie Murphy, we have our own Dr Doolittle!
wonder what Cesar Milan would have to say about her telepathic technique!
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Gee, I must be a bit over-emotional – that actually made me a bit teary – the bit about being close to her daughter and being there for all the little girl secrets that she can’t tell anyone else.
Maybe it’s because I’m on the verge of losing my old dog who has been with me for 16 years and seen me through some very, very rough times – sometimes she was the only one I could turn to and honestly tell my feelings and have a cry on her head. She always knew when I needed a cuddle…
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Gee, that made me tear up. Damn you watery eyes x
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oh that reminds me of what my dog used to do. She was unfortunately put down 2 years ago and i still cry when i think of that day.
I’m positive you already do but make sure you spend lots of time giving your dog lots of TLC. They really do appreciate it!
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My favourite quote about dogs:
I have sometimes thought of the final cause of dogs having such short lives and I am quite satisfied it is in compassion to the human race; for if we suffer so much in losing a dog after an acquaintance of ten or twelve years, what would it be if they were to live double that time?
Sir Walter Scott
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That is true, Tania, though at any time it is hard enough. She’s been with me for nearly half my life (give or take a few years) and practically all of my independent adult life.
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Let’s face it, Tiger CLEARLY needs to be a guest on Dr Phil ….
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I’d hate to think what my cat would tell me if a telepath spoke to her, she already talks non-stop. My brother in law looked after her for a weekend. Me “How is Belle?” BIL “Noisy!!”
Does Belle my cat (Isobel actually) understand me? Definitely. She knows damn well what I’m saying. “No” “Off” “Down” “Naughty” “Good girl” “Sit still” “Kisses”
Do I understand her? Well, I know when she’s hungry, I know when she’s angry and lately she’s been able to tell me every time she has a tick (she does a specific cry) so yes, I do. No idea what all the random wails and meows and whatnot she’s constantly telling me are (whatever it is I’m sure she thinks it’s fascinating).
As for the validity of this transcript. Well, I seriously doubt that Belle would know what “rapport” meant.
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Let me guess – Belle is a Burmese or maybe a Siamese?
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Somali – I believe Burmese & Somali are related
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My neighbours used to have a Burmese who’d often come over to my place* if they were out & she was bored. She chatted non-stop: “Hi, can I come in? What are you doing? Why aren’t you sitting down so I can sit on your lap? That’s much more important than whatever you’re doing in the kitchen.”
(* I wear a sign saying ‘Sucker’ , visible only to cats)
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Ha! Yep, that sounds just like Belle. ALLLLL the neighbours know her. One tried to introduce her to their cat, she FREAKED OUT.
She thinks she’s people.
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Good to see her vet skills being put to good use. Does she do cats too?
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Yes! In fact after her session with Tiger Isobel was seeing two cats who were a bit stressed about going to the cattery!
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like the dog collar in UP that translates what dogs are saying “i just met you and i love you”
kate – i know how you feel – SOOO dont love our dog either!!
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In my head, the whole interview was in the dog from Up voice…
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Favourite movie ever! (Even though I cried for 3/4 of it.) “Did that dog just say hi there?” “Oh yes!”
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Squirrel!!!
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Squirrel!
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People pay her for this bollocks?
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I snorted with laughter when I read this the first time.
Having said that … I’ve grown up around animals of all sorts my entire life and there’s something to be said for what seems to be their innate understanding of our emotions. Our blue heeler at home will get all snugly and licky when he knows you’re in a bad mood. Or feeling sad.
The cat? Well, I’m pretty sure she knows. She just gleefully ignores everyone as a badge of honour I suspect.
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Its unbelievable how they know your emotions. My sausage dog is obsessed with my husband but when I’m sad he’ll come and cuddle me everytime! Wish husband was as in touch with me as the dog!!
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I have a selfish desire to get a sausage dog and call it Chorizo! I also think they are the most hilarious dogs – their little legs go a hundred miles when they walk.
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I have two friends who each have sausage dogs. One is named Devon, the other Kransky. Love it.
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My friend has one called Snagger
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When I was a kid we had a sausage dog called Saus. Saus the sausage dog.
She died when I was 5-6 and I remember crying and staying home from school because I was so upset.
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My dog was gorgeous but had no regard for people’s feelings! No matter what kind of day you’d had, she was determined to get us excited about going for a walk.
However I was walking through the park one day feeling very very down, and I was watching a young black lab bouncing around and playing with his owners. He looked over at me, dropped the stick he had in his mouth, slowly ran over to me and just started licking my hand. I stopped to pat him and he just sat there looking at me like he knew exactly what was going on. I thanked him and he gave me one last lick and ran back to his owners. It was magical!
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Agreed – our dog always knew to come to my room whenever I was crying or upset. Granted he was also the biggest wimp – he once ran away from a butterfly!
My cat used to sleep on my head. I would wake up unable to move because he was lieing across my forehead and in my hair.
What is with cats and hair?!
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The head is the warmest part of the body apparently.
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I watched an sbs doco on this – dogs have been selectively bred to tap into and respond to our emotions. It’s not chance. Call your dog, watch him watch you, and see how his eyes track the left side of your face (the more reliable emotional display side). It’s science, baby. We both needed it to survive and hunt effectively.
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That makes perfect sense! It’s really very cool.
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Did the cows know ‘slaughter, come on, slaughter time?’
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Wow…your dog is WAY more articulate than most teenagers…well, I’m convinced…
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As a parent of a couple of teenagers, I’d have to agree!
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Aww. So cute.
I remember that post, I loved reading it. I took my iPhone to the bath and read til I was as wrinkly as all get out!
Sounds like my ‘relationship’ with my dog. I’m certainly not his favorite, but we both try to be tolerant of the other. All said, I’d not rule out animals communicating, there is so much about them we don’t know. If I could talk to animals, I’d ask them to ask insects why they hate me so much.
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Is it just me or does Tiger sound like Yoda??
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Need for close companionship I have, hmmm?