. We talk to them and tell them what to do, and expect them to understand.
Yet, to really connect with the specific wants and needs of a member of another species, we need to stop imposing our human perspective so quickly.
To better appreciate her dogs’ point of view, Thomas followed the advice of canine cognition specialist Alexandra Horowitz and joined them on all fours for an olfactory investigation of her farm’s workshop.
“I sniffed around in the corners with the dogs, who genuinely seemed quite surprised that I wanted to join in.
“It gave me sort of a little window into their world. I would definitely recommend it if you have the opportunity – just go down and see things from your pet’s perspective.”
Amelia Thomas: How to talk to your animals Sunday Morning
People often doubt their own ability to comprehend what a pet is communicating, but we can all get better at it by studying species body language, having faith that you know their specific foibles and quirks” and also trusting your own instincts, Thomas says.
To tune in better to the animal kingdom at large, she says it’s important to keep in mind the “not always convenient” fact that all members of all species – even annoying insects – are individuals.
“In the basic emotions, like fear and joy, dare I say [insects] are closer to us than we would maybe want them to be.”
Viewing members of other species as individual entities with something like a distinct personality can help us not to fear them, Thomas says.
With her son, who disliked earwigs, she did some amateur – and “kind” – experiments, observing a group of the tiny nocturnal omnivores.
One sign of the presence of a “personality” is consistent behaviour over time in different contexts, Thomas says. Each individual earwig she and her son observed exhibited just that.
“Some were shyer, some were bolder, some didn’t seem particularly bothered about anything, one seemed a little bit more frightened.”
While insects aren’t the easiest creatures to commune with, Thomas says many of us have experienced a moment of deep silent connection with a dog, “where you just feel that you’re both existing in this moment together and you actually don’t need to say anything to each other”.
While researching What Sheep Think About the Weather, she was stunned to experience “exactly that same feeling” with an octopus.
“It was quite an incredible moment, quite a profound moment of connection. I even went to an octopus expert afterwards, just to question whether I was making it up.
“He said, no, this is something that he experiences quite frequently.
“It really makes sense, because octopuses are very thinking creatures, just like us. Despite us apparently having nothing in common, we do have a somewhat similar sophisticated understanding and intellect.”
Humans tend to be “very fast creatures” inclined to do everything a hurry, Thomas says.
On the farm, she’s noticed that the more she’s slowed down, the more nature has “revealed itself”.
“The chipmunks came closer, the pheasants came closer, the deer came closer. It’s almost like you slip into the fabric of nature and stop thinking of yourself as a human that’s been put onto a natural scene.
“You’re just part of the environment, rather than being apart from it.”
Amelia Thomas: How to talk to your animals Sunday Morning
