Do you enjoy your friends' pets?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (214031)
Walnut Creek, California
September 4, 2016 3:10pm CST
I admit it. I'm a sucker for cuddly animals. When I was young, my parents gave me lots of hugs, and I think I've been that way ever since. I can see why "animal therapy" is big right now. When I go to a friend's house, their pets seem to find me, and I can't resist. I can feel myself relaxing when I'm interacting with their pets. With dogs, it's the behind the ears scratch, followed by the inevitable butt scratch. With cats, it's the nose to tail pet, followed by the Big Purr. And with birds, it's a matter of getting them on your finger, talking to them in bird, and then putting them back on their perch. They'll find you if they want to. My biggest music fan is my friends' cockatiel. I got to visit with him last night, but didn't take him out. When I bring my guitar to their house, he likes to crawl down my arm and "help" me play.
Do you enjoy your friends' pets? Do you feel de-stressed when you do? I think that interacting with animals decreases cortisol levels, which is a good thing.
27 people like this
27 responses
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@celticeagle (164045)
• Boise, Idaho
5 Sep 16
That's cute! Can you teach them to say things?
4 people like this
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@celticeagle (164045)
• Boise, Idaho
5 Sep 16
@TheHorse .....I don't care for those birds. They can be vicious.
1 person likes this
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@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
5 Sep 16
depends'n the trainin' 'f the critters i reckon. i've been to some folks houses where manners seem to be lackin' - like a great dane who 'loved' me so much, i became his pillow...
i'm blessed to interact with critters daily here :)
3 people like this
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@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
5 Sep 16
@TheHorse ya aint jest a kiddin'! the danged pup nearly outweighed me, lol.
1 person likes this
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@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
4 Sep 16
In a previous life I went to people's homes to do small seminars on business. Their animals always found me and settled in nearby. Surprised the owners, but it's been this way since I was a child.
3 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
5 Sep 16
@TheHorse I think animals can see or sense our auras (energy fields) and cozy up to those they like.
1 person likes this
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@CinnamonGrl (7084)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
4 Sep 16
Annie likes to help me type. She's a little clumsy at it. Anyway yeh, I like everybody's pets, bar none.
2 people like this
@CinnamonGrl (7084)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
4 Sep 16
@TheHorse you need to file your horse a fingernail to type with.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
5 Sep 16
pretty sure they have proven animals can lower blood pressure and such. I know if I am sobbing my puppy is the one that comes and tries to calm me down. he lays on me and demands scratches until I calm down and we both often take a nap
2 people like this
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@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
5 Sep 16
@TheHorse it is one of things I know helps, and nice that someone comes when I need them, even if it is only a dog.
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@sallypup (59745)
• Centralia, Washington
4 Sep 16
I don't go to enough other houses to interact much with their fur persons. When I walk into the Vets to buy cat food and there is a dog there with its human the dog races up to me like he or she had just lost me. We have a little conversation before I head into the reason why I went there.
3 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
5 Sep 16
Since I'm a huge critter fan, the animals find 'me' @TheHorse . I must exude something from my skin that tells them, "Hi there, come talk to me."
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
5 Sep 16
@TheHorse Probably. I know here at my place I have: 16 cats (indoors), 18 raccoon's, 3 squirrels, 2 opossums, 3 donkeys, every bird known to man; and when I go outside, none of them take off running (flying). I can even talk to some of the raccoon's. Trippy!
@sakinasaifee18 (575)
• Mumbai, India
5 Sep 16
I used to be terribly scared of dogs. Like phobia level scared. My best friend got 2 dogs. I went over to her house a lot so I couldn't avoid them obviously. The first day I screamed a lot and asked her to keep the dogs away from me. Over time, I stopped getting paranoid and even started playing with the dogs. I am still scared of dogs but it's better than it used to be.
2 people like this
@sakinasaifee18 (575)
• Mumbai, India
5 Sep 16
@TheHorse They are so cuteee. My heart of stone might be melting.
@KatILUs (46)
• United States
5 Sep 16
I'm not a dog person, but I absolutely ADORE cats. And one of my good friends has a cat that is just awesome, to be honest he's even cooler than my cats. He just hangs out, will jump up on your lap and relax with you. In my experience though, cats really enjoy being petted on their heads, like right behind their ears. My cats don't chill like he does haha
2 people like this
@kaka135 (14927)
• Malaysia
4 Sep 16
I don't have many friends having pets, and if they do, mostly are dogs. It depends what kind of dogs, but usually I like playing with them if they are friendly. Yes, I agree that interacting with animals helps us to de-stress. Interacting with human helps too. ![](/Content/images/emotes/happy.gif)
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1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (49864)
• United States
4 Sep 16
I really enjoy the company of my fur babies.![](/Content/images/emotes/happy.gif)
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2 people like this
@CaseyRoss9966 (4056)
• United States
6 Sep 16
I have to admit that sometimes I like being around them, but I can't spend long time periods with them. My friend has 5 dogs inside, a hedgehog, and a sugar glider and they all get annoying after being there for to long.
@bsrikumar (151)
• Chennai, India
5 Sep 16
I sometimes play with my friends dog but still maintain not to be too close
2 people like this
@TheHorse (214031)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 Sep 16
Too close physically? Or emotionally? Some of my friends' pets become my "buddies" when I come visit their houses. They know I'm a sucker for a petting session or a little light tug-of-war over a stuffed kitty (I've read that too much tug-of-war stresses dogs out).
1 person likes this
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