All my animals "talk" to me. They'll come and get me and meow at me or bark if a food or water dish is empty or if they need to go out. All of my animals have always done this, but I don't see the same thing with other people's pets. So, my theory is that, like babies, pets learn to talk more when you talk to them. What are your thoughts?
Agree totally ... When striking up a conversation with a new person do you persist if that person answers in monosyllables? Our four legged friends are not that much different.. they give back what they receive ... Nice to know I'm not alone :)
Our cat talks to us.
It's called "oprant conditioning". Your pets have learned that by barking or meowing (or in the case of our birds making a ruckus in their cage) that they get your attention. You then "reward" their actions by doing what they want, thus reinforcing that behavior. The cycle repeats. They could just as easily be conditioned to push a paddle to ring a bell.
In turn you have been conditioned to look at the pet and determine the need by the cues that they give you such as them standing near the door (to go outside) or near their water and food bowls (in the case of hunger and thirst).
It's not unique to any particular animal, or group of animals and it's not an indication of higher intelligence, just a response to the creatures' environment.
This was observed and well documented by psychologist B.F. Skinner (and others) almost a century ago. Skinner actually coined the term "oprant conditioning".
It's called "oprant conditioning". Your pets have learned that by barking or meowing (or in the case of our birds making a ruckus in their cage) that they get your attention. You then "reward" their actions by doing what they want, thus reinforcing that behavior. The cycle repeats. They could just as easily be conditioned to push a paddle to ring a bell.
In turn you have been conditioned to look at the pet and determine the need by the cues that they give you such as them standing near the door (to go outside) or near their water and food bowls (in the case of hunger and thirst).
It's not unique to any particular animal, or group of animals and it's not an indication of higher intelligence, just a response to the creatures' environment.
This was observed and well documented by psychologist B.F. Skinner (and others) almost a century ago. Skinner actually coined the term "oprant conditioning".
i think youre right and that sounds cute
I agree
my cat is very vocal with a
million different inflections of her meow.
during our conversations. haha
