Who else here feels they connect with their animal in a 'mind reading' type of way? What are your expierences? Don't make me feel stupid!

well every time my dog stares at me i kno he wants me to feed him

HAH! But even something that simple is intriguing to me. The fact they can convey what they want by just staring. For me personally it goes farther than that..

I've always had a strong bond with all of my animals. I take time and effort in training them. I have a 6 year old Chow/lab mix that I don't even have to tell him what to do. He does it. And it doesn't come down to us following a routine, since my schedule changes weekly (up during the day one week, up during the night the next)

He can also stare at me and I'll know what he wants. And I swear he tries to hypnotize others people that comes over to do what he wants. He'll stare at them, and he won't blink and they'll stare back and 9 times out of 10 they'll go out of their way and give him a treat or something. I've had several people tell me when he is staring at them they can feel him in their minds. I normally look at whomever says this and say "Well, if you're weak willed enough to give into my dog there's not much I can say."

-Akaebeel

Is your dog an alpha by any chance, Akaebeel?

Dont laugh but i have a big connection with my 2, 15 year old semi-aquatic turtles!!
I sleep next to them,sometimes watch movies with them.I simply love them!!
Sometimes,i just know that they love me back.When i am sad,they want to be with me etc.
I just love em!!

Nope, I'm the alpha. He is not very submissive, but he is very much family oriented. He plays alpha with strangers and anyone he doesn't consider family. But I never let him become aggressive or territorial as a pup to me or anyone that is a friend or family. Naturally all of this flies out the window when it comes to strangers. He becomes territorial and aggressive until he accepts them into the fold. But I don't mind that. Prefer it, actually.

-Akaebeel

So, do you feed him before you sit down to dinner, or afterwards?

Before. He has a schedule when he eats. He eats dinner before we do, but not too much ahead of us.'

-Akaebeel

Well, that explains a lot. Dogs are very reasonable. As long as the alpha eats first, everything else is negotiable . Say hi to him for me.

I love how he'll sit and stare at company, without blinking, just stare at them, through them almost and they'll wind up getting up and doing whatever he wants. Without him giving them any signs. I saw him do that to a friend that came over. She got up and walked over to the basket full of his toys and picked up a ball and threw it, while continuing the conversation we were having as she did. It was exactly what he wanted. He just takes after his master, who is equally as manipulative.


-Akaebeel

I always want to find treats to give a particular dog

Generally speaking dogs can 'read' us (our body language) far better than we can read dogs. However, some people (at times even unknowingly) do learn canine body language quite well. If anyone watches the "Dog Whisperer" show you'll see this kind of thing.

I feel the same way about my dog, doodle. He's very lovely, but we always wrestle to get closest to the fire in winter! If he's lying there, i'll curl up nex to him and he growls. So everyone is like don't mither him blablabla, but if i look at him he suddenly will go quiet and come up and snuggle up to my face. And i'll tell him random things and stuff and he'd just sit there and, i hope he does, listens to me. I love my dog long time!

Fun topic... agreed to most all of the above. Dogs? Our best friend and probably genetically bred to interact w/ us that way. However personally for most of my life a cat person. My cats were interactive and not at all aloof. Then 3 years ago I became a dog person.

Now... cats and dogs always I have been able to charm the most vicious beast into my lap in an hour. Horses... I am mild mannered so they know I'm not the boss.

Birds... freak out and try to commit hary-cary the second I walk in the room. One bird who had peeped in 2 weeks screeched the instant I walked in and didn't stop until I left.

Snakes... take 'em or leave 'em. The poisonous ones don't mess w/ me but plagued by king snakes. Won't budge a scale even if I step on 'em. They are quite handy and nice as they eat the rodents and poisonous snakes.

Take it however you want... maybe to find your answer look beyond your dog and see/notice the big interactive picture around you?