Blog 3 Topic 2

I have two pets at my home in Bremen, Georgia. I have had some type of pet for my whole life until I moved here to Young Harris. As a result I have been around animals for my whole life. I have also grown to recognize certain reactions of my pets to different tones I talk in. I do not believe animals can actually decipher words when humans speak. I know they recognize tones, though. My dogs usually react with their ears; they will perk their ears up when they hear joyful or exciting tones, when my dogs hear a scolding tone they will cower their ears. I have actually told my dogs good job, but said it in a deep scolding tone to experiment with their perception. When I said this they seemed to think I was mad at them because they tucked their tails and cowered their ears. In the same aspect, if I talk to my pets in a sweet, happy tone, they will wag their tails and raise their ears in response. Dogs, as a whole, can sense when a human is upset or happy or mad; for example when I come in my house from an activity that I have enjoyed and I am in a good mood, my dogs want to play with me and are excited to see me. The same principle stands for when I am mad and I enter my house, my dogs are still excited to see me, but they know not to aggravate me. This is clearly proof dogs understand tones and emotions, not words.

Animals do communicate, but it is not a language of speaking like humans. Most animals communicate through actions, scents, and noises. They naturally are born with the instinct to be able to communicate with other animals of their type. They must learn to relate their messages to humans through other ways. My dogs, for instance, will look at me then walk to the room they are fed in when they are hungry. If I do not respond the first time, they will continue to walk back and forth until I acknowledge what they want and feed them. I have no doubt this is something they learn through the desperate need to communicate in some way.