A Dog’s Best Friend

/ roughwighting

ChatGPT, rescue dog, I can’t believe what I saw.

Charlie and I sat in his living room. Toto, Charlie‘s dog, a rescue who seemed a mix of German Shepherd and poodle, sat quietly by Charlie’s side.

I knew that Toto‘s presence was beneficial to Charlie, who was deaf with only partial eyesight. Despite this fact, my new friend was loquacious; he talked about dozens of topics with focused intelligence and wit: politics, religion, matters of the Spirit, and the Arts.

I understood Charlie’s speech, even though as a deaf person his words were slurred and at times indecipherable. Thus, the 70-something gray-haired man with a stoop and one roving eye was disconcerting to some. I’d befriended him a few months ago when I saw the man and his dog sitting on a park bench companionably, but alone. Image by photosol1969 from Pixabay; Halloween cookies

I began a conversation as I shared cookies from the local bakery, and within an hour we became fast friends – me, the man, and the dog. Weeks later, we three now enjoyed the warmth of Charlie‘s home as the rain pelted against the windows. As I sat in an armchair near Charlie, who was sitting on his couch, I noticed him look toward Toto and not say a word.

Toto got up and licked my hand.

ChatGPT, dog's teddy bearHmm. Then Charlie nodded, peered toward his dog, and grinned. Toto walked to the corner, picked up his soft teddy bear, and deposited it on my lap. I didn’t touch the bear until Charlie coughed softly, and Toto nudged it further in.

As I picked up the bear, Toto raced over to Charlie for an approving pet.

“Are you…?” I began, disbelieving.

“Yes, we can read each other’s minds,” Charlie confirmed.

“What’s Toto thinking?” I countered.

Charlie’s smile grew wider. “He’s wondering if you’d like to stay for dinner and by the way, would you please add more water to his water bowl.”ChatGPT, Man and dog

At that, Toto left Charlie’s side and walked over to his water bowl, waiting for my answer.

Dog whisperer, Yorkshire terrier

Can you communicate with YOUR pet?

97 thoughts on “A Dog’s Best Friend”

  2. I can communicate with my dogs, especially Dot. (who turned 10 today!) For example, occasionally, In the middle of the night, Dot will come up to my bed and put a paw on my blanket. I wake up almost nose to nose with her and she says with her eyes, please open the door so I can go outside and not make a mess on the floor. Which I do and all is well.

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    • An important communication although one wishes it wasn’t in the middle of the night! I have some friends who leave a little bell by the inside front door and if it rings they know their dog has pushed it and it’s time to go out.

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  3. I swear Zeke and I understood each other.

    Now my son’s cat, who lives with me “talks” to me every time she goes downstairs. She calls to me and her meow sounds like “hello”! We hello each other until she finally comes back up… so funny.

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  5. What a sweet post, Pam. When my dog was alive, she and I communicated with each other every day. And one of my cats, in particular, is a strong communicator. He vocalizes all the time, especially when he wants me to pet him or let him into my office.

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    • I have absolutely no doubt, Marian. Those of us who have been married a long time know how to listen to and communicate with our spouses non-verbally, for sure. Most times that’s a good thing. Once in a while, maybe not…. 🙂

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    • All we need to do is listen within the silence. ❤

      On the other hand, when I’d come home after being away from the house (be it 30 minutes or three hours), my dog would tell me in no uncertain terms how happy he was to see me (with loud doggy high and low sounds). It made me shiver every time – to be so loved!

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  16. This story touched me deeply. It reminded me of Coco, my granddaughter’s dog, who now lives with me. He’s become my dear companion—so loving, so intuitive. I’m even planning to build him a little house with heat, because I can’t keep him inside, and that breaks my heart. He shows me affection every time I come near. Thank you for writing something so beautiful.

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    • Thank YOU for sharing with us your love of Coco. Good news is he lives with you now. And the other good news is you will keep him warm with the little house as well as with your love.

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  17. I think this is fiction, but so many of your stories always leave me wondering. I’m not sure I was always right, but I felt like my dogs were speaking to me in their own way. Perhaps it’s more in their eyes and body language, but they are communicating. Lulu used to bark every time we asked her a question. It was the most curious thing, but she could pick up our change in tone.

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    • Ahhh, Lulu. I know you still miss her. Yes, definitely dogs have expressions even though those who never had a dog don’t believe us. I used to see the funniest expressions on my dog Henry’s face. He knew very well how to communicate with me. Most times he knew exactly what I was saying to him. And yes this is fictionalized truth as I call it. It’s fiction but it’s based on the truth of all the times I have seen dogs and humans communicate silently. Or perhaps barking to a question. 🙃

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  18. I don’t have a pet. But I’ve seen a couple of videos lately of babies, about 4-6 mo. old, talking to their dogs. They sit looking at each other and trying to copy what the other one is saying. It’s so cute.

    The other thing I’ve noticed online is the easy relationship Ukrainian soldiers have with lost pets and wild animals. They get birds and squirrels and foxes to eat out of their hands. Some carry tamed animals under their shirts in their packs.

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    • That’s amazing! I remember as a little girl my favorite story was Sleeping Beauty and how when she was sequestered with the fairies she sang with all of the woodland animals. And there was the Disney version of Cinderella where Cinderella talked with the mice and birds, who helped sew her ballgown. I think since the beginning of time humans have made connections with animals and birds and other creatures. 💖

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  27. As others have said, heartwarming.

    Dogs and cats both observe and learn to read us–it’s then up to us to learn to read them, too. It is a sort of telepathy. I definitely had a bond with my cat Ricky, and when he was dying, he tried so hard to live for me.

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  28. Check out a Himalayan cat. My daughter had one because she was allergic to other cats. We always had poodle mix dogs too for her allergies. I’ve used telepathy often and I know animals do. All of them. They are proving it with whales and dolphins. The get so much more than we give them credit for knowing. They understand words, feelings and thoughts.

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  30. What a lovely story! Back when Kushie was alive it did feel as if he and I read each other’s minds. With Mogi though, I feel as if I really don’t speak ‘dog’ at all. Ah well. She’s a sweet little dog and I love her even so. 🙂

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  32. Love this, Pam. I read somewhere that, since dogs and humans have been companions for tens of thousands of years, we’ve evolved together and are exceptional at non-verbal communication and reading each other’s cues. I think that’s very cool. Great story.

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  34. Lovely story, Pam. Charlie sounds like a great person and Toto a great companion. I don’t have pets but I do have stuffed toys and animals…I like to think I can read their minds and they can read mine 😄 Wishing you well 💕

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  35. Pam, I just circled back here and realized I left my original comment right around the time I somehow landed in WordPress spam jail. It may be you may find me in your spam folder, but nonetheless let me say I totally believe people can communicate with their pets. My cat (not ironically named “Cat”) absolutely knew my moods, knew when to come in for getting ear and head rubs, knew when to stay around to see how I was doing, etc. As an only child, Cat was my lifeline on occasion when things got tough. I loved this story, and I loved thinking about that relationship once again.

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    • THANK YOU, Bruce. And I’m late in responding. Let’s just say “life” is getting in the way of blogging at times. I LOVED your story of “Cat.” I think many of us relate, because my dog Susie helped me get through middle school and high school. She just “KNEW” when I needed her to listen. And to cuddle. I have heard from so many people who communicate with their pet. If more of us had a pet in our life I think there would be less strife. ❤

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    • My dogs have been incredible best friends to me. My prayer is that we humans can be best friends to our pets as well with the same kind of unconditional love (even when they chew up the toilet paper). 🙂 🙂

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