Learning From Animals
August 17th, 2009 by ComputerBob
My wife and I have always treated our pets like family members. In return, they have blessed us thousands of different ways.
And just like it works with children, the more time you spend interacting with your pets, the more you learn about them.
And from them.
I don’t remember if I’ve ever mentioned this here before, but several years ago, I taught Mini to speak. I’m not talking about barking; I’m talking about talking.
It took a few weeks of progressive training and encouragement, but when I was done, Mini could open her mouth wide and say “Out!” — although it sometimes sounded more like “Rout!” She said it very clearly whenever she had to go out. And she clearly understood the concept of what she was saying because the only times she ever said it were when she had to go out.
Mini was also always our family’s official time-keeper. She always told us, within one or two minutes, when it was time to eat, as well as time to go for a walk and time for her nightly crunchy boney bone. If we intentionally ignored her — which we often did for fun — she would quietly grumble under her breath while scraping at the carpet with her front paws like an angry bull, until we paid attention to her.
In much the same way, Petey is our morning alarm clock.
And after I taught Max how to lift one front paw and “shake,” he quickly generalized the concept and started lifting his paw any time he wanted to say “Please.” So when he wants a treat, he comes over, sits down in front of me, and lifts his paw. And when he has to go out, he sits by the sliding glass door and politely lifts his paw. He even does it when I take him to the vet: At the end of his visit, he sits and lifts his paw, to ask them to please give him a treat. He’s so cute that they always give him a whole bunch of treats.
And Pookie is the most sensitive of all of our pets. If my wife is feeling sad or bad, Pookie knows it and sticks to her like glue, to comfort her.
I think animals are a lot smarter and a lot more sensitive than most of us realize, and we’re cheating ourselves if we don’t pursue ways to communicate with them better — to have actual relationships with them on more than a “feed me” level.
But first, we have to stop thinking of them as “dumb animals.”
For example, you may not have any trouble believing that an elephant can play a harmonica and dance.
But unless you’ve seen it before, I’ll bet that you’re going to have a lot of trouble believing that an elephant can actually paint a very realistic picture.
And don’t forget Koko, the gorilla who speaks American Sign Language. My wife and I bought her amazing and inspirational book, Koko’s Kitten, more than 20 years ago, but a few weeks ago, I was talking with a friend who had never heard of Koko, and she was shocked and amazed when I showed her Koko’s web site.
I think it’s pretty obvious that we humans still have an awful lot to learn about — and from — animals.
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