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The behaviour of cats and dogs...



 
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The behaviour of cats and dogs... Thu Jul 06, 2006 10:07 am  The behaviour of cats and dogs...
 

Hi, what is your opinion on this topic:

The behaviour of cats and dogs
http://www.english-test.net/stories/51/index.html

Let's talk...

Alan
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Cats and dogs, their lovers and haters :) Thu Jul 06, 2006 11:14 am  Cats and dogs, their lovers and haters :)
 

Hi Alan

Your brilliant stories always give me additional motivation to advance my English skills to enjoy the language, you use, in full Smile

There are two neighbour’s cats coming to my garden every day (night). All I can do is to use repellents.

(Off-topic) As I know, psychologists have interesting models for people who like cats & hate dogs and vice versa.
That’s the very interesting distinguish based on scientific observation of people' behaviour and personal characteristics.
By the way, I am a dog lover Smile

Tamara
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Cats vs. dogs :) Fri Jul 07, 2006 10:47 am  Cats vs. dogs :)
 

Quote:
The behaviour of cats and dogs...

Karel Chapek once said something like 'cats are full of mystery (secrets?) as wild animals, whereas dogs are simple and naive as humans' Smile

(sorry for my poor translation of his words, but I've failed to find out the exact quote)
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The behaviour of cats and dogs... Fri Jul 07, 2006 16:15 pm  The behaviour of cats and dogs...
 

Hi Alan

Your story certainly captures the essence of "cat-dom". Having two cats myself, I know only too well how cats "think".

By the way, my two cats were of course born in Germany. One of my favorite ways of striking up a conversation in the vet's waiting room is to explain to a young child that my cats were both born in Germany but that they only understand English. Kids' reactions to that idea are always lots of fun and this pretty much guarantees lots of animated discussion (also with the kids' parents). Laughing

Hi Tamara

For me, the quintessential example illustrating the difference between cats and dogs:

Dogs do things.
Cats have things done.
Laughing Laughing Laughing

Amy
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The behaviour of cats and dogs... Sat Jul 08, 2006 8:42 am  The behaviour of cats and dogs...
 

Smile

‘Dogs jump on your lap because they love you, cats - as there it's warmer and more comfortable for them.’

Quote:
Dogs do things.
Cats have things done.

Very Happy
But not every dog Smile My 10 year-old Great Dane definitely prefers to have things done and do nothing. Smile
Even when she happens to harm her leg she comes to me with a sorry sight and it’s entirely my problem ‘to lick’. Smile

She understands English quite well, as she had been in true British prison (at quarantine station, for six (!!!) months established by the UK’s law for any pet-immigrant Sad Sad )

Just understands. (Thanks, God! Smile (‘If dogs can speak, we would lost last friends Very Happy ))
(sorry again for my translation).
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The behaviour of cats and dogs... Sat Jul 08, 2006 9:30 am  The behaviour of cats and dogs...
 

Hi Tamara

I've also had dogs, but at the moment I only have cats. It's definitely true that dogs like to have things done for them, too. But dogs go about achieving this differently, don't they? Dogs are gigantic babies when they want something. They look at you with pleading, pathetic eyes, suggesting lengthy and massive suffering. I've never been able to decide whether dogs actually believe they're suffering as much as they want their owners to believe, or whether they've simply learned this is the best way to break their owners' hearts and resistance. Laughing

But, on the other hand, here's a little story about "doing something" versus "having something done":

We once had a female dog and a female cat. The cat had a litter of kittens, but then became ill and couldn't nurse her babies. She completely abandoned the kittens. We then had to feed the kittens using eyedroppers. So, the kittens got fed but were still without the warmth of their mother's body. Then the most amazing thing happened. The dog somehow understood this need and simply took over the job. It was really amazing and heart-warming to see how painstakingly and lovingly our big, clumsy dog cared for, protected and warmed her "adopted" babies all day long. Very Happy

Amy
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The behaviour of cats and dogs... Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:00 am  The behaviour of cats and dogs...
 

Hi Amy!

Quote:
They look at you with pleading, pathetic eyes, suggesting lengthy and massive suffering. I've never been able to decide whether dogs actually believe they're suffering as much as they want their owners to believe, or whether they've simply learned this is the best way to break their owners' hearts and resistance.

That’s true Smile
One of my friends had a basset hound - with large and moist eyes. It was completely impossible to resist his (dog's, I mean Smile ) pleadings, and he had all things done quickly Smile - whatever he wanted to have having been done (oh, no… what’s the right form here?)

Quote:
I only have…

This is a great question with cats: who is an actual owner of whom - whether you have them or quite the contrary. Smile

A brilliant description of cat’s behaviour when they choose (appoint Smile ) a person who will be granted to care for them was given by Jerome K. Jerome.
Smile

By the way, many cats and dogs of pure bread (and tooooo socialised by people) often lose natural instinctive skiils and do not know at all what to do with babies and how to care for them properly. Like many people Smile

Tamara
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