16 Things your dog wants you to know (and 9 things from the cat)

They can’t talk themselves, but there are a few things your dog and cat want to tell you… 

FROM THE DOG’S MOUTH 

1. I’m pleased to meet you, but you scare me when you reach out towards me and pet me on our first meeting. Crouch down on one knee, look slightly away and allow me to sniff you. Aaah, you are from those Van der Merwes…!
2. A wagging tail doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m happy. It can also mean that I feel threatened, insecure or conflicted because I can’t read the social situation.
3. Big hair, I don’t care! Don’t think because I’m a husky or a German shepherd that you need to shave me to survive the summer. Bad human! My fur insulates me and protects me against skin infections. Please brush my coat with a rubber brush to promote circulation, and a bristle brush to remove dead hair.
4. Can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Not so! Even in my senior years I’m eager to be challenged and learn new behaviours.
5. I’m an expert in body language. You confuse me when you say “no” because I’m being bad, but you keep smiling and your body is relaxed.
6. You may call me your “baby”, but I can’t eat the same food as you do. Raisins and grapes, chocolate, coffee, macadamia nuts, and avocados are all bad for my health.
7. I get scared during fireworks or thunder because I can hear a lot better than you. Allow me to stay in a room that I know and prepare a corner for me where I can hide. It will help if you give me a bit of background music (like a soft radio or TV) and tell me everything will be okay. PS. The vacuum cleaner and the hairdryer also scare me.
8. I need some time to poop! I first need to smell the area to decode the “messages” other dogs have left behind, then I need to circle a few times to make sure that there are no predators and to mark my territory. Don’t judge me! You take a book with you to the bathroom!
9. Grass is yum! Sometimes I eat it because I feel sick and I need to regurgitate, but other times I just eat it because I like the taste. Don’t worry about it. Just make sure that you don’t use poisonous pesticides in the garden.
10. Don’t shove my nose in it when I have peed inside the house. I have no idea why you do it. Rather take me outside and praise me whenever I pee in the correct spot.
11. I don’t rub my bum on the carpet to entertain you – it means I’m itchy “down under”. Scooting can mean that I have worms or that I have an infection of the anal sac. Deworm me (you can buy a pill at the pet store) and take me to the vet if it doesn’t clear up.
12. If my behaviour changes, I may be sick. If I lose my appetite, drink more water than usual, gain or lose a lot of weight, or suddenly sleep a lot, it means something is wrong. Please take me to the vet.
13. Please don’t tie me up in the yard. I’m a social being and I feel incredibly isolated when you do that. That will make me depressed or destructive.
14. Please don’t leave me in a car. Cracking the window open or parking in the shade has little effect on the temperature in the vehicle. My core temperature rises much faster than that of humans, which makes me at risk for heat stroke, brain damage or death.
15. I know how you feel. I don’t only understand your body language, I also understand your tone of voice. Because I love you so much, I often feel the same emotion as you do. If you feel anxious, I will feel it right along with you.
16. Hugs and kisses are a human thing. I don’t show affection with hugs and kisses. Sometimes we do learn that humans show their happiness with a hug and a kiss and therefore we will allow it. But I would much rather lick your skin to show you my affection.

FROM THE CAT’S MOUTH… 

1. When I put my bum in your face, you should feel flattered. It is my version of a human kissing somebody on the cheek. I grant you full access to all my private areas, a sure sign that I trust you completely.
2. Sometimes I wink at you by closing both my eyes. That is my way of saying I trust you. You can return the compliment by looking at me at close range and closing your eyes slowly for a few seconds.
3. I knead you, man! If I stomp on your bed, sofa or chest as if I’m kneading dough, don’t punish me. As a kitten I kneaded my mum to stimulate the flow of milk whilst she was nursing me. Now it is an instinctive behaviour that comforts me and puts me in a trance-like state. I also have scent glands in my paws, which I use to mark you as my human.
4. Look at it through my eyes. You see the world as horizontal, but I see it as vertical. Don’t get upset when I knock things off the table, rather provide me with a place to climb and jump – like a chair in front of a bookcase with shelves.
5. Just because I’m purring doesn’t mean I’m happy. I also purr when I feel stressed or have anxiety because it is self-soothing. It is like a child sucking its thumb.
6. I jump on your laptop, sit on your textbook, or interrupt your phone calls because I feel jealous that you’re not spending the time with me. Play with me a bit and get me some toys. (You don’t always need to buy me toys – I love playing with empty boxes or string.)
7. I head-butt you (called “bunting”) because I want to mark you with my scent and claim you as my own.
8. I know all the jokes about you being my slave, but you can actually train me. Find videos on YouTube to help you to teach me to sit, stay or come, or to touch something with my nose. Also, it is possible to teach me how to walk on a lead.
9. I’m a carnivore and I don’t need to eat any sugar or carbohydrates (that turn to sugar). Even a small amount of chocolate can kill me.

Sources: iheartscats.com; Reader’s Digest; petmd.com; hillspet.co.za