I was reading another post, and the comments regarding humanizing dogs, transposing human traits and genders on them etc.

I felt a small twinge of guilt because I often, in fact almost daily, ‘talk’ for them in scenarios where they are having conversations with us and each other, for example, if Kaiser is sound asleep on one of the sofas, and Sam comes down stairs to put her face on, she will say to him that he has to get off, and I say, in what I imagine Kaiser would sound like as a human, “for god’s sake, I have waited on the floor for the doddery old fart of a Pointer to get off so I could FINALLY have a seat!”

Then Hootie, who I think would look splendid and appropriate in a cravat, and a tweed cap set at a jaunty angle, says - in a high pitched aristocratic English voice, “I have been a member of this family a lot longer than you, and if I can pull off the doddery old fool act and get mum and Sam to fall for it, that not only makes me smarter then them, but that I have earned the right to curl up on the sofa, so naff orff you peasant, take your fat arse out of my face, and get your own sofa!”

Then of course, Sam hoikes Kaiser off, and he grumbles about how unfair it is, and he will go and sit in front of his mama, look heartbroken and pathetic, and she will shove up and let him sit with her, then in my mind, he sticks his tongue out at Hootie and smugly gets in position to do the sad eyes at me!

I do this for many and varied possible scenarios, and even make myself laugh at the ‘conversations’ they have with us and each other.

Am I alone on this quite sad activity, or are my children right, and I should actually get out more?!

Umm, well, no, you're not alone. I have always carried on conversations with my dogs. I ascribe feelings and opinions to them, put words in their mouths, etc.

I work from a home office and, before my husband retired, there was about a 14-year stretch where it was just me and the dog (singular at that time) for most of the day. So I think I would have gone bonkers if I hadn't been doing that.

Oh thank god for that! I had a feeling the menopause had turned me into a fruit loop

What bothers me more than what I say to my dog is what she says to me!

I wouldn't call it sad but you may want a 5150 evaluation, LOL

was it the word " anthropomorphising " ?

of course , tracy , all of us dog people do that .

even though i respect my dogs as dogs and wouldn't want them to be any more " human " , i think it is normal to see them , and " hear " them , as partners in our relationships , which involves reactions and responses to the things that go on around us and them .

 Quote: ian bunbury

of course , tracy , all of us dog people do that .

Ian, speak for yourself. Tracy, you need to get out more.

Ian, speak for yourself. Tracy, you need to get out more.

Now where is the emoticon for blowing a raspberry when you need one??

I love you too honey.

Glad to see you've moved from the rocker to the couch. And that little struggle with the pups for a spot is good moral booster. They do let you on right?

The house rule is, the owner - that would be me! - gets seated first, after that its every woman/dog for themselves

The one thing the dogs miss about the old house, is the room for 2 three seater sofas, there is always one on the dog bed in the lounge, usually looking pissed off that they have to put up with the bed on the floor that most humans would be pleased to sleep on, its that padded and comfy!

Sucks to be that dog LOL