Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transgender talk => Topic started by: Cody Jensen on October 27, 2010, 04:06:04 PM

Title: Stupid thing to worry about, but I was just wondering?
Post by: Cody Jensen on October 27, 2010, 04:06:04 PM
Hi all, I was just wondering, for those who have a dog and have transitioned, how did your pets react? Did they still recognize you or see you as someone else? I know this is a stupid thing to worry about, but I was just curious.

PS- Not that this matters either, but just to let you know: I'm a girl who wants to be a boy.
Title: Re: Stupid thing to worry about, but I was just wondering?
Post by: Zack on October 27, 2010, 04:16:09 PM
There's been quite a few post regarding this, as far as I remember most, if not all, people said there was no difference.
Title: Re: Stupid thing to worry about, but I was just wondering?
Post by: bethanypahl on October 27, 2010, 06:59:47 PM
my dog didnt really care as long as he got his treats
Title: Re: Stupid thing to worry about, but I was just wondering?
Post by: Wolf Man on October 28, 2010, 03:37:10 AM
Not a personal experience, but one from a transguy on YouTube. He mentioned how as his voice changed his dog had to adust because it understand different tones mean different things. She apparently thought that he was angry with her because of how his voice was sounding with the changes that T brought, but otherwise they recognize you just fine.

Hope I helped some  ;)
Title: Re: Stupid thing to worry about, but I was just wondering?
Post by: xAndrewx on October 28, 2010, 06:11:18 AM
Wow, weird I was just thinking about this the other day. Glad to not see any negative responses.
Title: Re: Stupid thing to worry about, but I was just wondering?
Post by: spacial on October 28, 2010, 07:45:56 AM
My late cat would probably have been very grateful for the tights which he could use as a scratching post.

Title: Re: Stupid thing to worry about, but I was just wondering?
Post by: erocse on October 28, 2010, 09:07:04 AM
I don't know about how a pet may feel about all the other issues regarding transition. However I do know that animals are very aware  and sensitive of the emotions we express. E. g. Happiness ,Joy , excitement, peacefulness. With that in mind , I think transition will be nice for any pets who's partner transitions.

  Erocse
Title: Re: Stupid thing to worry about, but I was just wondering?
Post by: kyril on October 28, 2010, 09:39:40 AM
Quote from: Wolf Man on October 28, 2010, 03:37:10 AM
Not a personal experience, but one from a transguy on YouTube. He mentioned how as his voice changed his dog had to adust because it understand different tones mean different things. She apparently thought that he was angry with her because of how his voice was sounding with the changes that T brought, but otherwise they recognize you just fine.

Hope I helped some  ;)
Yeah, I imagine if dogs can adapt to teen boys' changes in scent and voice, they can adjust to trans guys.
Title: Re: Stupid thing to worry about, but I was just wondering?
Post by: Teknoir on October 29, 2010, 01:45:41 AM
Depends on the animal. Never met a dog that gave a damn.

Parents have a cat that likes men, standoffish to everyone else (ie, women and I when I was pre-T). Said cat liked me much more after T, but could have just been the cat growing up (it's been a while since I've visited).

I live with fish. They don't care... they just wiggle for people in general. People mean food! :laugh:
Title: Re: Stupid thing to worry about, but I was just wondering?
Post by: Silver on October 29, 2010, 01:50:13 AM
I have a rabbit and it has not reacted differently with me. If anything, it's friendlier and that's probably because I am much more internally calm now.
Title: Re: Stupid thing to worry about, but I was just wondering?
Post by: Leek on October 29, 2010, 06:21:26 AM
I doubt my cat noticed a damn thing. She's not very observant in general, though. Guess it was too gradual and she sees me every day.

Maybe if it's someone else's pet and you don't see it on a regular basis, there may be a noticeable difference in the way it will treat you.
Title: Re: Stupid thing to worry about, but I was just wondering?
Post by: Debra on October 29, 2010, 04:26:37 PM
Quote from: Josh T on October 27, 2010, 04:06:04 PM
Hi all, I was just wondering, for those who have a dog and have transitioned, how did your pets react? Did they still recognize you or see you as someone else? I know this is a stupid thing to worry about, but I was just curious.

PS- Not that this matters either, but just to let you know: I'm a girl who wants to be a boy.

My dogs didn't give a crap. They recognized me by scent I guess. They still loved me. =)
Title: Re: Stupid thing to worry about, but I was just wondering?
Post by: V M on October 29, 2010, 04:45:13 PM
My dog (when I still had him) just looked curious and entertained by what ever I was doing  :laugh:
Title: Re: Stupid thing to worry about, but I was just wondering?
Post by: Barbara on October 29, 2010, 05:17:03 PM
I'm a mechanic been all my life,read the trade magazines,read an article where a hot young woman came into this shop all dressed up smelling sweet with perfume.And the shop dog put his dick out for her.The head mechanic said" i would have been proud to be that hung like that".So, sure they know, like my sisters dog will go for you if you try to mess with the kids.They know you are a woman if thats what you mean.they can sense it.
Title: Re: Stupid thing to worry about, but I was just wondering?
Post by: Shang on October 29, 2010, 05:22:31 PM
I haven't started T, but my dog loves it when I dress as a guy.  She even comes into the bathroom to watch me, tail wagging happily.  (Though she's strange and likes to follow me into the bathroom anyway.)

It's nice to hear that pets generally don't care--it's my biggest worry that she won't like me anymore and I would stop all transitioning if she started to not like me anymore (she almost, quite literally, my life at the moment).
Title: Re: Stupid thing to worry about, but I was just wondering?
Post by: Elijah3291 on October 29, 2010, 06:26:51 PM
I have had my pet cat sence august 20th 2010, and he follows me around the house and its obvious he likes me, I started T september 20th 2010 and he acts absolutely the same around me.

and its not stupid, I worried about the same thing.
Title: Re: Stupid thing to worry about, but I was just wondering?
Post by: Arch on October 29, 2010, 06:37:47 PM
I was worried about my cat, but he didn't have any problems with my transition.

Sometimes I yell at my cat when he is in the middle of doing something I don't like, such as climbing or scratching where he shouldn't. With my old voice, he would just give me a look and keep on going, or he would pause sort of disdainfully, as cats are wont to do. Now I have a pretty powerful baritone, and I can scare him if I'm not careful. He's run away from me a couple of times and sort of hunkered down fearfully.

I have never hit him. It's just the voice, plus physical movement.
Title: Re: Stupid thing to worry about, but I was just wondering?
Post by: Cody Jensen on November 02, 2010, 12:53:11 PM
thanks for sharing your experience guys, I guess I have nothing to worry about with my dog if I ever do decide to transition  :)
Title: Re: Stupid thing to worry about, but I was just wondering?
Post by: jamied on November 03, 2010, 11:10:33 AM
My Phoebe loves me as much as ever!

Jamie

Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Title: Re: Stupid thing to worry about, but I was just wondering?
Post by: Arch on November 04, 2010, 06:46:44 PM
You know, this isn't a stupid thing to fret over. People bond with their animals. With all of the rejection that we get from people, the last thing we want is the same thing from a fuzzy critter who used to give us unconditional love...or, in the case of a cat, unconditional studied indifference.

Unless an animal has a particular phobia or issue with men, you should be fine.
Title: Re: Stupid thing to worry about, but I was just wondering?
Post by: Lacey Lynne on November 04, 2010, 11:10:43 PM
Quote from: LukasGabriel on October 29, 2010, 05:22:31 PM
I haven't started T, but my dog loves it when I dress as a guy.  She even comes into the bathroom to watch me, tail wagging happily.  (Though she's strange and likes to follow me into the bathroom anyway.)

It's nice to hear that pets generally don't care--it's my biggest worry that she won't like me anymore and I would stop all transitioning if she started to not like me anymore (she almost, quite literally, my life at the moment).

Lukas, she'll keep lovin' you, man.  Just keep lovin' her, and I don't think there's a darned thing to worry about.  Animals can be pretty amazing.  Good luck, man.    ;)
Title: Re: Stupid thing to worry about, but I was just wondering?
Post by: Michael Joseph on November 05, 2010, 01:02:01 AM
My bird (african grey parrot) is extremely smart. She knows the difference between males and females and shows it by the way she talks to you. She talks in a really deep voice to males and and girly voice to females. She tends to like men better, its the deep voice or something. she must have like a 6th sense or something but she always talks to me as a male in her deep voice, she knows im male and im pre t. Im not too worried about how shell react because of how much she loves men, and apparently she already sees me as one!
Title: Re: Stupid thing to worry about, but I was just wondering?
Post by: Elijah3291 on November 05, 2010, 01:21:00 AM
Quote from: michaeljay on November 05, 2010, 01:02:01 AM
My bird (african grey parrot) is extremely smart. She knows the difference between males and females and shows it by the way she talks to you. She talks in a really deep voice to males and and girly voice to females. She tends to like men better, its the deep voice or something. she must have like a 6th sense or something but she always talks to me as a male in her deep voice, she knows im male and im pre t. Im not too worried about how shell react because of how much she loves men, and apparently she already sees me as one!

thats so cool!
Title: Re: Stupid thing to worry about, but I was just wondering?
Post by: Michael Joseph on November 08, 2010, 11:05:38 PM
Haha I know!
Title: Re: Stupid thing to worry about, but I was just wondering?
Post by: mymaleshadow on November 09, 2010, 08:04:32 AM
Wow.  Thank you for bringing this up I had totally overlooked this with so much else going on.  I have a dog I absolutely adore, it never occurred to me that a change would mean a change for her too.  I'm glad there's so many insightful answers to your post and again, thank you for posting it.  I shall have to remember to be extra reassuring to her if we decide to go the route of hormones.