A few months ago, we explored whether our pets could speak (they can)! In today’s blog, we’re going to turn the tables and talk about
how to speak to your pet!
Just like our pets have learned to communicate with their humans without the use of words, we can learn how to speak to our pets!
Facial expressions, body language and behaviors can speak volumes! (Remember, human communication is already 70-93% nonverbal!) These same nonverbal cues can help you learn how to speak to your pet.
Let’s talk a closer look at the specific ways you can communicate with your dog and cat!
Every species is always communicating; it is no different with your dog! What’s important is speaking “dog” in a way your canine can easily understand.
Thanks to over 30,000 years of close contact with humans, canine communication skills have evolved to those similar of young children. Remarkably, our domestic K9s today not only recognize consistent gestures, but they have also developed a sensitivity to the human voice!
Dogs and Spoken Words
According to Dr. Stanley Coren, a psychologist and expert on dog intelligence, “the average trained dog knows about 165 words.” The top 20% of dogs can understand up to 250 words (equal to a 2-1/2-year-old child).
When it comes to effectively speaking “dog,” the emphasis lies on the how and consistency used.
How to Speak Dog
Once you have Fido’s attention (eye contact), use specific tones of voice to distinguish between:
Consider this, just from the tone of your voice, children immediately know if they are in trouble when you call for them. It’s the same for your dog! Consistently use the same tone so your dog understands what you want.
Always use “dog-directed speech.” In other words, use short and simple words instead of full sentences (just like you would with an infant or young child). With young puppies, using a higher pitch or tone can help attract and keep the younger dog’s attention.
So, what if, instead, you want to know how to speak to your family cat?
Just like with canines, our feline friends respond to simplicity and consistency in our attempts to communicate with them. But unlike our canines, cats do not have the same abilities to interpret human language.
When communicating with your cat, remember to use the same:
Understand your cat’s body language at Catser.com.
Speak Cat with the Cat “Smile”
When it comes to the felines who share our life, scientists have uncovered a unique form of communication called the cat “smile.” This form of communication uses specific eye language and movement which experts believe can strengthen the cat-human bond!
So how do you smile at your cat?
Communication strengthens an existing bond. So consistently learn how to speak to your pet to strengthen and nurture the pet-human bond!
Known to her clients as the “Fur Therapist,” Taria has been featured as a pet grooming expert for over twenty-five media outlets (TV, radio and print), including the Wall Street Journal, Philadelphia Inquirer, Tribune and Magazine, Grooming Business magazine and others. Click here to learn more about Taria on LinkedIn.
Servicing: Montgomery, Delaware, Chester, Philadelphia and Bucks counties, Southern New Jersey and parts of Delaware.
Avery’s Mobile Pet Spa offers full spa and styling experiences to express touch-up grooming. Click here to learn more about our services, call 877-528-3797 or email for a free consultation or to schedule an appointment.
I’m the owner of Avery’s Pet Styling Salon and Boutique. We offer comprehensive mobile pet grooming services for pet parents who want a professional pet grooming service to simplify their pet care decisions and enhance their lifestyle. I am also the owner of Avery’s Holistic Paws, the creator of Probiotic Dental Sticks for Dogs.
Just like in humans, the gut plays a vital role in a dog’s overall health and well-being. In this article, we will discuss probiotics for dogs, what they are, how they work, and the benefits they provide. We will also talk about the signs that your dog might need probiotics, how to choose the right one, and how to introduce it to their diet.
There are numerous benefits of probiotics and prebiotics for dogs, including improved digestive health, better immune system function, reduced allergy symptoms, improved skin and coat condition, reduced gas and bad breath, improved brain function, reduced risk of disease, improved nutrient absorption, reduced stress and anxiety, and improved overall health and wellbeing. Let’s take a closer look at each of these benefits.
Yeast covers the skin of humans and dogs as part of the normal flora and it’s also inside your dog’s body, mostly in the gut and normally in a healthy state of balance.
However, things can get out of balance quickly when your dog sees the immune system is under stress and the yeast becomes overgrown and out of control spreading throughout the body and over the skin as fungus. Welcome to the ugly world of yeast infections.
Did you know that probiotics can benefit your dog’s health? Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that live in the gut and help to promote health and prevent disease.
Dog dental sticks are becoming increasingly popular as a way to keep dogs’ teeth clean and healthy. This is because they provide an easy and effective way for owners to help maintain their pet’s oral hygiene.
