Sit! Stay! Shake! Heal!!!!!
If you’ve ever tried to train a dog, you’ve probably used these commands before. And if you’ve tried to train your cat…well, that was a huge mistake because cats don’t listen to anyone, but they do learn a lot of things along the way from being conditioned. Like when to eat, where the litter box is, etc.
But sometimes, our pets condition us to do things as well, whether we realize it or not. Don’t believe me? I think you will very soon…
Here are the ways AskReddit users say they’ve been conditioned to do things by their pets.
1. Husky talk.
“My husky does this sneezing thing when she’s anxious and I imitate her every time she does it. Usually causes follow up sneezes.
I also know right when she’s about to groan when she’s anxious/annoyed and if I make the noise before she does she won’t do it.”
2. From the tap, please.
“My parents cat prefers to drink water directly from the tap before.
Every night before bed he’ll hop onto their sink and meow until someone turns on the tap for him, then when he’s done he’ll meow again until someone turns off the tap and carries him to bed.”
3. It’s okay, I’m in here.
“Leave the bathroom door cracked just a little so she can open it, see that I’m in there, and be on her way, instead of waiting outside whining and whining.
No, I don’t do this for pooping nor when there are people over, as I’m not a neanderthal, but she really needs to know it’s me peeing in there or she will freak out about my location.”
4. All about that cat.
“Last summer my cat had serious health problems, he had to spend some days in the animal hospital. My place was so empty without him and that was the time i realized basically i adjusted every aspect of my life to please/don’t scare/don’t hurt him.
I only open the windows to let fresh air in, if the cat is closed in a different room. I always watch where i step. I hurry home from work, so he won’t vomit on the carpet from stress and loneliness because he thinks i left him alone to starve to death.
I always check the washing machine, the dishwasher, the oven before turning on. And so on, i’m checking literally everything and i do everything carefully.
I really can’t imagine what will i do if he leaves me forever. I’m so used to his sweet fluffy presence : ( “
5. They’re in charge.
“I have three cats so I am as trained as a seal at SeaWorld. Here are just three:
In the evenings, Icy will sleep on the living room furniture. If I get up to get a drink she will stretch and roll over demanding belly rubs. And she wants me to tell her she is a pretty girl. If I don’t pet her and tell her that she will meow at me when I come back.
Luna likes to know where I am at all times. So she will call out to me and expect me to answer. I know the meow that means “Lisasimpsonfan where the hell are you?”. She wont stop until I answer her.
Mr. Saucy Pants is a big baby so he needs lots of reassurance and I have to leave the bathroom door cracked so he knows he can get to me if he is scared. If it don’t this little paw slides under the door and he cries. The only time I shut the door is if other people are here.
The cats run the house.”
6. Snuggle time.
“My dog likes to sleep under the bed covers.
If she wants to get under she will come and nudge me gently and no matter how asleep I am I lift the covers with my legs so she can get in.”
7. You are my pillow.
“My dog Yuri has conditioned me into being his pillow at night. At first I would immediately push him off when he tried but eventually he learned how to rest his head on my chest little by little so I didn’t notice.
Now I basically just let him do it.”
8. Better give it to him.
“In the mornings my GSD will not, at all, go outside to do his business until I give him his joint vitamin.
He’s gone through the doggy door and turned right back inside a few times.”
9. Oh, Kevin.
“My cat Kevin loves to drink water out of the sink, so every morning when I get up I fill up the bathroom sink with an inch or two of water.
He also loves to ‘bat’ things into the sink, so I grab a couple of Q-Tips and set them next to the edge so he has something to skooch in there.”
10. Gone, but not forgotten.
“I’ve shared this before, but I got my dog Snoopy when I was 10 years and ever since he was a puppy he had this weird love for lettuce. He would go absolutely nuts for it, so whenever I had a sandwich or a burger I would give him some of my lettuce.
Over the years it became a ritual that whenever I prepared any food for myself that involved lettuce, I would grab some extra lettuce for him, so I could toss it to him as I ate.
He passed away 5 years ago after nearly 17 years together, but I still find myself grabbing that bit of extra lettuce for him. It’s kind of funny that his little quirk has still stuck with me for all these years and I honestly never want it to go it away, because it’s a little way for me to remember him.”
11. Very nice.
“I talk in a very feminine voice to my dog, she was a abused rescue and was scared of men
So, being a man, I just change my voice when I would talk to her.”
12. The hunt is on.
“My cat Bo runs into another room when I get his treats out (he knows looking is cheating) so that he can come back in & “hunt” for where I placed them around the living room.
He won’t eat them if I place it on the ground at his feet.”
13. Feed me!
“When I’m having dinner, my cat would jump on the table and look at me with squinting eyes until I feed him. I try to resist but his eyes squint so hard it’s as though he’s about to fall asleep.
Too cute not to give him a little bit of my food.”
14. Turtle time!
“I seem to have inherited a turtle, a red eared slider.
It was originally the daughters and she bought it at age 13 with the help of her mum ???? It came with a tiny tank (I know).
Once it arrived home I thought “Well how unfortunate that your new owner is incapable of looking after herself never mind a pet”, she did try but as expected got bored by this new friend.
So I looked for information and found out he may live for 25-30 years, at this point it seemed to become my responsibility .
11 years later, (Daughter has moved out) several tanks later (don’t worry the one now is fine in size), two fluval filters, heaters, bulbs for heating and UVB, custom basking ramps and the general upkeep and well being of our not so small turtle it seems that he now 100% mine. I don’t mind to be honest.
Anyway, when we are out of sight he will continually swim near the water surface and splash like crazy, all four legs breaking the surface and creating a lot of noise. For some time I would hear this noise and run into the room, upon seeing me he would stop, I walk out, splash time again.
I look forward to the next 20 years of doing this 🙂
Sometimes we take him out the tank, he seems fine, not terrified or skittish but quite happy to explore, I never know if this splashing is him asking “Hey come on, get me out of here I need a change of scenery”.”
Now it’s your turn!
In the comments, tell us about the ways YOUR pets have YOU conditioned to do different things.
We can’t wait to hear from you!
