1 in 3 Dog Owners Talk to Their Pets on the Phone

If you've ever called home just to let your dog hear your voice, you're in surprisingly good company. A survey by the American Animal Hospital Association found that one in three dog owners have talked to their pets on the phone or left messages on an answering machine for them.

Yes, really. Millions of people are out here leaving voicemails for animals who have zero idea how phones work.

We Know They Don't Understand. We Don't Care.

Here's the thing: dog owners aren't delusional. We know our pets can't pick up the phone, dial back, or comprehend that the tiny voice coming from the speaker is their human. But that doesn't stop us.

The behavior speaks to something deeper about the human-animal bond. For many owners, dogs aren't just pets—they're family members who happen to have four legs and an inexplicable obsession with squirrels.

The Science of Why We Do It

Talking to pets activates the same neural pathways as talking to human loved ones. Studies show that:

• Pet owners experience reduced stress hormones when interacting with their animals
• Dogs can recognize their owner's voice and show measurable excitement
• The act of "checking in" provides emotional comfort to the owner, even if the pet is oblivious

So while Fido might just hear weird sounds coming from a plastic rectangle, the person on the other end is getting genuine emotional benefits.

Modern Pet Parenting Gets Weirder

Phone calls are just the beginning. Today's pet owners have taken things to new levels:

• Pet cameras with two-way audio let you talk to (and watch) your dog in real-time
• Some devices dispense treats remotely, rewarding good behavior from miles away
• "Dog TV" channels play content specifically designed to entertain bored pets

The pet tech industry has exploded precisely because people will pay good money to stay connected with their animals.

And honestly? In a world where we video call our human relatives, is leaving a voicemail for your golden retriever really that strange?

The Real Question

The survey didn't ask the follow-up question everyone wants answered: do the dogs care?

Research suggests they might, actually. Dogs can distinguish their owner's voice from strangers, and hearing it may provide genuine comfort when they're alone. Whether they appreciate the effort or just wonder why the treat dispenser is making noise remains unclear.

But for the one-third of dog owners picking up the phone to say "Who's a good boy?" to an empty house, the answer probably doesn't matter.