Way back when I first started writing for the Families.com Pets Blog, I wrote about how my father and I don’t always see eye to eye. If there’s only one thing we agree on, it’s our love for our four-legged family members.
On the rare occasions that we chat on the phone, the main topic of conversation is the pups. How are my dogs, Moose and Lally? How are the dogs back in New Jersey? Who’s been to the vet, who’s got a new bad habit, what was the last three-dog walk like? (My parents have one dog and my brother has two… and I thought walking two dogs was tricky!)
Pets are a great icebreaker. I met some new people today, and it wasn’t long at all before we were trading pet stories and laughing at the silly things our pets do. Thank goodness Moose always gives me plenty of comedy material!
So why do you think pets are such a great unifier?
I’ve got a couple of ideas. For one thing, pets are relatively common… so there’s a good chance that someone you’re talking to currently has a pet or has had a pet in the past. It’s a topic choice that’s got a good chance of success.
For another thing, pets are a relatively “safe” topic. Bringing up politics or religion can bring up some heated arguments. Talking about pets is something that can make the participants all feel good. The love we get from our pets is a positive thing.
But maybe that love is the most important part. When you talk about something or someone you love, that emotion shines right through. You’re happy, you’re animated, you’re smiling… and the other person or people in the conversation can feel it. I’d much rather talk to someone about something they LOVE than something they don’t. It’s a better experience for the speaker and the listener.
I’m thankful every day for my dogs. Today, I’m thankful that they inspired a fun, funny conversation with some new friends.