Do you think “companion animals” is a more uplifting term for God’s creatures? Do you think “pets” is somehow slightly degrading? Any thoughts?
Ask your local dog or cat. See how they react when you say “pet” or “companion animal”. I don’t think they’d care either way. After all, I have yet to meet a dog or cat that understands much more English than “sit” or “stay”.
I prefer “pet”. Fewer syllables.
[quote=“Chris”]Ask your local dog or cat. See how they react when you say “pet” or “companion animal”. I don’t think they’d care either way. After all, I have yet to meet a dog or cat that understands much more English than “sit” or “stay”.
I prefer “pet”. Fewer syllables.[/quote]
A cat I would agree, but dogs understand lot’s more than ‘sit’ and ‘stay’ … more than your average 2 year old kid …
It’s not about how the dogs and cats perceive it but how other people do. Calling a companion animal a pet makes him or her sound like a toy, an object, something for one’s own entertainment, etc. By calling them companion animals, we automatically raise their status and therefore the level of care that should be bestowed upon them.
Can you still eat them when you’re hungry?
I like my veal young, though, so there’s not much opportunity for overlap.
I disagree. Calling an animal a pet makes them sound like, well, a pet. It’s a word I’ve never perceived as having a negative connotation. It implies loving and caring.
“Companion animal” sounds silly… another phrase for the euphemism treadmill in which terms are constantly replaced by ever longer mouthfuls of polysyllabic ridiculosity.
Woof! Meow!
PC terms for pets? REALLY?
Maybe in the future people will get offended, “Oh dear, he called scruffy the P word!” :bluemad: :scooby: :bluemad:
My Jack Russell is smarter than me and can actually read my mind. Like when I think “wonder if Eddie Needs to go outside in the rain”, he jumps in my lap and licks me til I take him. Dogs have been mans friend for 50,000 to 100,000 years and actually can read your face. If you have a dog watch how they look at you when you talk, are mad, are happy, they are the worlds best face readers.
Dogs have been kissing human asses for 50,000 years because they are incapable of surviving without food handouts.
Cats, on the other hand, can go catch their own dinner if they don’t fancy what you put in their bowl today.
Yah, we MADE them that way.
Domestication of the dog. Dogs come from wolves. Simple.
Don’t be naive. Most cats feed in at least two other homes to yours. There is always an old lady giving your cat food that you don’t know about. I want to put a web cam on my cat to see exactly where he buggers off too each day. I bet he has more than one name that he responds to as well. Cheeky little blighter.
Dogs are just not agile enough to leap about on roofs and such so they tend to stay in one location unless they run with a pack. Nothing to do with brains, everything to do with physics.
I’m not sure how I feel about dogs reading your mind. There is very good evidence that your dog knows what you are up to even when you are a long way from the house. I’ve seen stuff about dogs who know exactly when their owner is leaving work. It’s all very puzzling, but is probably to do with the visual and magnetic fields that we have sacrificed for our ability to use a sophisticated language. Our brains are otherwise engaged.
[quote=“superking”]
I’m not sure how I feel about dogs reading your mind. There is very good evidence that your dog knows what you are up to even when you are a long way from the house. I’ve seen stuff about dogs who know exactly when their owner is leaving work. It’s all very puzzling, but is probably to do with the visual and magnetic fields that we have sacrificed for our ability to use a sophisticated language. Our brains are otherwise engaged.[/quote]
That’s interesting. You got any sources for that? I wouldn’t doubt there’s some truth to it, based on watching my own pups.
[quote=“NonTocareLeTete”][quote=“superking”]
I’m not sure how I feel about dogs reading your mind. There is very good evidence that your dog knows what you are up to even when you are a long way from the house. I’ve seen stuff about dogs who know exactly when their owner is leaving work. It’s all very puzzling, but is probably to do with the visual and magnetic fields that we have sacrificed for our ability to use a sophisticated language. Our brains are otherwise engaged.[/quote]
That’s interesting. You got any sources for that? I wouldn’t doubt there’s some truth to it, based on watching my own pups.[/quote]
I think it was on a show called weird connections. http://science.discovery.com/tv/weird-connections/episodes/episodes.html They randomised when the owner would leave work and the dog displayed the same behaviours in connection with when the owner was thinking about leaving and then actually leaving work. It was weird!
DP, I think my computer is dying.
[quote=“NonTocareLeTete”][quote=“superking”]
I’m not sure how I feel about dogs reading your mind. There is very good evidence that your dog knows what you are up to even when you are a long way from the house. I’ve seen stuff about dogs who know exactly when their owner is leaving work. It’s all very puzzling, but is probably to do with the visual and magnetic fields that we have sacrificed for our ability to use a sophisticated language. Our brains are otherwise engaged.[/quote]
That’s interesting. You got any sources for that? I wouldn’t doubt there’s some truth to it, based on watching my own pups.[/quote]
Right here: http://www.scientificexploration.org/journal/jse_14_2_sheldrake.pdf
A little more complex than that.
The best study I have ever heard of actually involved foxes, but I assume the principle would be the same:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domesticated_silver_fox
There is an amazing documentary about this study," Horizon S48E08 (2010): The Secret Life of the Dog - BBC"
A little more complex than that.
The best study I have ever heard of actually involved foxes, but I assume the principle would be the same:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domesticated_silver_fox
There is an amazing documentary about this study," Horizon S48E08 (2010): The Secret Life of the Dog - BBC"[/quote]
Yes you are right - I never manage to get irony right on the internet 
- it’s not that simple. And yes I’ve seen that documentary!