# Do your pets react to the TV? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 22, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-pets-react-to-the-tv/291266 "2005-02-22T00:18:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-pets-react-to-the-tv/291266/21 "2005-02-22T07:23:23Z")
Two of our cats have no reaction to the TV. But our youngest, Phoebe, will come to full alert if there is the sound of a crying baby on TV. We got her when she was only a couple of months old, from a family who had just had a new baby, so the cat has heard that sound before. I’m sure she doesn’t pay any attention to the picture, but the sound of the crying sets her off, looking all over the room for the baby. ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-pets-react-to-the-tv/291266/22 "2005-02-22T11:24:58Z")
I’ve posted this in other threads, but yes, my dog _watches TV_. He loves shows on Animal Planet; he watches intently whenever there is a dog onscreen, and runs to the TV for a closer look whenever puppies are shown. He’s very social with other dogs in real life, and that may be why he’s so intrigued with dogs on the tube. He likes westerns, but only the parts with horses. The sound of pounding hooves will bring him running from anywhere in the house. Occasionally, a horse will run across the screen. When that happens, the dog runs to the window by the TV and looks out, hoping to see the horse go down the street, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-pets-react-to-the-tv/291266/23 "2005-02-22T11:34:41Z")
The most my cats normally react to on the TV is the sound of another cat meowing or a dog barking. But on one weird occasion, I was flipping through channels and came across the film _Grease_, which was just beginning; the opening credits have cartoons. Lucia sat up and took an interest. I stayed on the channel, wondering if she was going to want to watch the whole movie, but her attention waned after the credits ended and the film went to live action. I’ve never seen her take an interest in any other cartoons though, so there must have just been something special in the huge-headed, characatured 'toon features of Olivia Newton John and/or John Travolta that grabbed her attention. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-pets-react-to-the-tv/291266/24 "2005-02-22T12:05:33Z")
My dog (border collie) ignores the TV, except for occasionally perking his ears at doorbells and barking. However, more than once I’ve found him in the computer desk chair, intently following the screen saver logo around the screen. I have no idea why this is the only televised image that interests him. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-pets-react-to-the-tv/291266/25 "2005-02-22T12:09:31Z")
One of the two dogs I know personally loved to watch TV (he’s since passed on). He would sit in the couch, paw on armrest, and watch whatever was on. If there were dogs or horses, he’d bark angrily. He reacted that way when people in dog costumes where on the TV too. The other dog doesn’t care at all. You’d think he couldn’t see it. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-pets-react-to-the-tv/291266/26 "2005-02-22T13:14:57Z")
I had a small spaniel that reacted badly to monkeys on TV (saw them as faux humans, apparently, and something to be barked at). One commercial that greatly upset her featured an orangutan wearing a Sony Walkman. ---
**Author:** ![MaddyStrut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@MaddyStrut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaddyStrut)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-pets-react-to-the-tv/291266/27 "2005-02-22T13:32:11Z")
My dogs will bark back to TV dogs. They also run to my door whenever a TV doorbell rings. That one really confuses me because they’ve never lived in a place with a doorbell. The younger dog will howl at the “beep beep beep” sounds preceding an emergency broadcast. (He does the same howling when trucks outside back up–it’s something about the beeping.) ---
**Author:** ![Q.N.Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3da27b/32.png) [@Q.N.Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.N.Jones)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-pets-react-to-the-tv/291266/28 "2005-02-22T14:42:25Z")
Any documentary showing big cats hunting. I swear, you can almost see them taking notes. They will also sometimes watch “The Pet Psychic.” (I watch that for amusement value only.) ---
**Author:** ![Elysian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c77e96/32.png) [@Elysian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elysian)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-pets-react-to-the-tv/291266/29 "2005-02-22T15:11:10Z")
Mine will pay attention to babies crying, dogs barking, cats meowing, and birds chirping. They also will sometimes attack. ---
**Author:** ![Jet\_Jaguar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jet_jaguar/32/3562_2.png) [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-pets-react-to-the-tv/291266/30 "2005-02-22T16:08:59Z")
I’ve had many pets over the years, and I’ve only had two that reacted to the TV in any regular sort of fashion. first, I had an iguana that would watch cartoons. I think the bright colors is what got his attention. My parents also have a dalmatian that goes nuts when he hears the General Lee’s Dixie horns from the _Dukes of Hazzard_. I used to have a car with the same air horns as the ones used on the show and would honk them when I came home, so he’s associated them with my arrival. ---
**Author:** ![bafaa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@bafaa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bafaa)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-pets-react-to-the-tv/291266/31 "2005-02-22T16:22:28Z")
Atlas always sits and watches us play [Ms Pacman](http://www.geocities.com/rfg/atlaslovesmspacman.jpg). Sometimes he’ll jump up and paw at the moving characters. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-pets-react-to-the-tv/291266/32 "2005-02-22T16:45:24Z")
Yep, doorbells and loud knocks set our dog off, and she can’t be calmed. She’s quite certain that any doorbell-like noise means that there’s someone horrible outside who deserves a right good barking-at. Just last night, I watched **The Grudge** on DVD, which contained a doorbell noise, and off she went. Made me jump. I told my wife that they should start labeling movies with “WARNING: contains doorbell noises that may cause pugs to bark.” But it’s more about the noises than the sights. Lately, though, I’ve noticed that she does watch some high-definition programs intently, particularly the dog shows (that AKC show that recently aired) and documentaries about fish and the like. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-pets-react-to-the-tv/291266/33 "2005-02-22T17:47:23Z")
Ollie-kitty will paw at the TV sometimes like he is sharpening his claws on the glass. I can’t see anything theme that connects when he does this, like cartoons or other animals. Stan-kitty could car less about anything on the screen. Sounds on the other hand; any sirens will send both of them at warp speed from the room. Sometimes when I’m watching a movie with the surround sound system turned on, Ollie will clamb on the TV and drape himself over the center channel looking down wondering what’s this? Stan goes after the mouse cursor on the computer screen, Ollie get shooed off the desk because he gets into mischief with eveything up there, so I don’t know what he things of the computer screen. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-pets-react-to-the-tv/291266/34 "2005-02-22T17:59:36Z")
Our [Billy](http://www.sirblah.com/photo/view.php?album=Pets&start=90&pic=petsB114.jpg&picindex=113) does the standards – runs to the door and starts barking whenever a TV doorbell rings\*, and growls at the TV whenever another dog shows up and invades “his home”. The rather disturbing thing is this: He is one racist puppy. When we adopted him, it was explained that he had been abused and that it was going to taken some time for him to warm up to us. It’s become apparent that the pervious owners must have been dark-skinned. Anytime anyone Black, Mexican, Latino, etc., shows up on screen, the dog goes ballistic. Sadly, the dog _hates_ minorities. Not sure of the circumstances, but the dog also recognizes the sound of handgun being cocked, or a shotgun shell being chambered. When he hears anything like that on TV, \, he’s cowering behind the couch. Interestingly enough, he only gets any of these visual reactions when we’re watching a show in High-Def…guess the picture quality crosses the line into the “fool the dog” area. \*damn fool “Get the door…it’s Domino’s” ad campaign \… ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-pets-react-to-the-tv/291266/35 "2005-02-22T19:36:21Z")
My cat Gouda likes NASCAR. She’ll sit there and whip her head back and forth trying to follow the cars. Sleestak had a Surround Sound moment during The Matrix. In The Matrix there is a scene where overhead sprinklers go off. Slee was sitting on the couch when this came on. She got up bolted a couple steps to the left, then to the right, then back to the left. She couldn’t figure out which way to run to get away from the falling water. She truely freaked. It was pretty amusing. Slee ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-pets-react-to-the-tv/291266/36 "2005-02-22T20:07:05Z")
A friend of mine has a dog who will leave the room or not enter the room if the TV is turned on. I suspect she may be hyper-sensitive to some of the high-pitched frequencies generated which we humans can’t hear. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-pets-react-to-the-tv/291266/37 "2005-02-22T20:58:01Z")
> [@sleestak](#): > > Sleestak had a Surround Sound moment during The Matrix. My cat Kipper does this during _Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon_. The zinging swords in Surround Sound just freak her out. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-pets-react-to-the-tv/291266/38 "2005-02-22T22:11:04Z")
Sasha will [chase the mouse pointer](http://www.evilblog.net/gallery/sasha/Sasha_Jump), and will occasionally watch cartoons for a few minutes if something catches her eye. Her normal hanging out place is on the receiver right behind the couch, so I can feel her perk up when something goes by on the screen. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-pets-react-to-the-tv/291266/39 "2005-02-22T22:37:44Z")
My cat loves the history channel (Lots of B&W footage), Mythbusters and National Geographic. The other cat is terrified of Dominos commercials. That doorbell sounds and he’s under the bed. I think this may mean that we order too much pizza. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2005, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-pets-react-to-the-tv/291266/40 "2005-02-22T22:52:39Z")
Our mutt, Hockey, is obsessed with the TV. Animal Planet, any kind of dog noises. She looks up at the tv and growls down low in her throat. She also absolutely goes crazy for the movie **Milo and Otis**. Ardred and I watched it with her between us on the couch and she was fascinated the whole time, even when it was on mute. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-pets-react-to-the-tv/291266.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-pets-react-to-the-tv/291266.md?page=3)