Pets get confused by video games

57 Comments by Alexander Sliwinski Dec 31st 2006 1:00AM
Filed under: Culture, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo Wii

Over the holiday there is a cute little dachshund staying at my place. He's pretty old now, but dog-sitting when he was younger caused me to change gaming habits to accommodate. For example, any games with dogs or cats in them (or similar animal sounds e.g. Final Fantasy) would cause him to flip out. The same holds true for a cairn terrier I dog-sit. While playing Zelda: Twilight Princess the dachshund didn't go all out like the dog in the video above, but he did perk his head up and looked around feverishly to see what was going on. Any humorous animal stories out there? Have a cat that flips out with the Wii pointer on the screen? Do you also have a dog who howls along like he's wolf Link? After the break see how not to treat your pets -- nobody likes to get yelled at, not even Nintendogs.

Tags: dog, gamecube, howling, mimic, twilight princess, wii, zelda

(Page 1) Reader Comments

pilcher: Dec 31st 2006; 1:18AM

well my dog got mad at the dog in the video.
she also watches tv and hates people with beards on tv.
last night i was playing the godfather, she really didn't like the mob. she can smell evil through the tv.

flyguy: Dec 31st 2006; 1:18AM

The dog isn't confused, he's howling because the artificial "bark" is hurting his ears. Like when my dog Hobo (also a cairn terrier) howls at the TV when "World's Wildest Police Chases" is on. I'm no expert, but when a high pitch is sustained at a high volume (for dogs), that at least annoys them and may hurt them (not seriously, of course).

TheDoomer: Dec 31st 2006; 1:19AM

Hahaha. That first video of the dog made me laugh so much. Maybe I'll try that tomorrow when my dog is awake. Don't wanna be mean just to get a small laugh.

Joe: Dec 31st 2006; 1:24AM

I have a cat that's obsessed with laser pointers. Well, while my wife was operating during Trauma Center for the Wii just a little while ago, the cat sits in front of the TV transfixed. After awhile I realize he's following the pointer (looks like a bright spot of light). He even attacked the TV at one point trying to catch the pointer. I was amused. How he saw that amongst the other bright things on the screen I don't know.

Anon: Dec 31st 2006; 1:41AM

The dog in the first video needs to shave.

RUSKULL: Dec 31st 2006; 2:09AM

Poor dog :(

Nathaniel: Dec 31st 2006; 2:33AM

the first dog is a miniature schnauzer. i used to have one. wish i tried these noises with it, he passed away in november :( he was pretty old though, almost 12 years. that video made me laugh though

Scipyo: Dec 31st 2006; 2:42AM

yeah, the first dog is a mini schnauzer, Rufus(my mini Schnauzer) does that too, when any sort of howl-like noises happen, including the ocarina from Ocarina of Time. Zelda: Adventure game, or Animal Simulation?

oh, and sorry about your dog Nathaniel. :(

Crazylink: Dec 31st 2006; 3:03AM

One of my dachshunds used to bark at cats on television.

Alice: Dec 31st 2006; 3:38AM

My cat gets freaked out whenever I howl in Zelda. Her fur stands on end and she starts looking around the ceiling and walls expecting a wolf to jump out at any moment, then runs to the window searching for the source. It's almost sad to torture her like that so I try to get through those parts as fast as possible.

wildweasel: Dec 31st 2006; 3:55AM

I remember reading in the letters section of an old Nintendo Power, about somebody who owned a cat that would always run toward the TV when Epona's Song was played on the ocarina.

"Yes, but does your cat enjoy carrots and Lon Lon Milk?"

ExTester: Dec 31st 2006; 3:58AM

The dog is howling cause its part of their nature to howl with a pack, like in wolfs. He is not howling cause it hurts his ears. Thats actually a common misconception. As I am a dog owner as well and my dog starts to howl when the sirens are on when the fire department responds to an emergency.

Dogs howl for very similar reasons that wolves do. In some cases they howl with the pack or in other cases its just to say "here I am". I looked it up a long time ago but seem to recall there being numerous reasons for dogs howling.

Dane: Dec 31st 2006; 4:19AM

Clean your room

Pikachelsea: Dec 31st 2006; 5:28AM

I think all cats attack the Wii pointer on the screen... and the wrist strap. At least mine sure does.

RamenJunkie: Dec 31st 2006; 6:51AM

I was playing Contra on my NES and the cat jumped up next to the TV and started swatting at my player.

I took a photo.

RamenJunkie: Dec 31st 2006; 6:53AM

And apparently I can't make link to said photo properly.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lameazoid/267020011/

Mike: Dec 31st 2006; 7:10AM

both of my dogs freaked out when the dog in the video started howling... I had the sound as low as it can go without being off, and they both heard it and started running through the house barking... i had to stop the video as soon as it started and they still kept barking for at least a minute after that... I wish they would understand when you say "It's ok, it's just on the TV/computer."

Hejira: Dec 31st 2006; 8:37AM

My cat doesn't get confused by video games at all. Whatever's on the TV, she just sits in front of it to grab my attention. Also, she sits on the computer mouse when I use it. No sounds, no claws. Just sits there.

What she knows is, "This bright thing causes my servant to give it attention, but let's remember who's in charge here, hmm?"

Zeromaru: Dec 31st 2006; 9:04AM

My buddy brang his Wii over to my place the other day, and we had a number of rounds of Wii Sports (my first time playing the game). One of my dogs saw us jumping around in front of the TV so he decided to join in.

Zeromaru: Dec 31st 2006; 9:09AM

(Sorry for double post) Not really my story, but another friend of mine has a kitten who likes to paw at the enemies on his monitor while he's playing World of Warcraft. It's the frakking cutest thing you'll ever see.

Soxfan13: Dec 31st 2006; 9:09AM

My cat also enjoys the hand cursor on the Wii menu. My dog doesn't mind the howling, but she hates when my wife and I play Wii Sports. I think that she thinks I'm hurting my wife with all the movement. She will bark and jump all over me. It's almost as entertaining as the game itself!

Jose Miguel: Dec 31st 2006; 9:48AM

I had a cat that used to scratch the TV screen whenever I was playing sports talked baseball in my Sega Genesis.

That made for some pretty amusing and funny momments.

Kwipper: Dec 31st 2006; 9:55AM

AROOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooo!

Cleo: Dec 31st 2006; 10:09AM

I can't use any of the voice functions on my DS at home due to the dogs - In Nintendogs they come running and expect treats when I tell the virtual dog to do anything. When I talk to Brain Age they start barking and it can't hear me for the color/word exercises. And the introduction to Katamari Damacy where the katamari squeaks as you roll it to select your saved game drives my dog Anna crazy; I think she thinks squirrels have invaded the TV!

Ironhide Delta: Dec 31st 2006; 10:42AM

One of my cats listens for the start up of the 360 and charges up and starts jumping for the Xbox logo that appears on screen. She ends up jumping for it several times. often from across the room!

Anne Packrat: Dec 31st 2006; 10:43AM

My cat gets jealous whenever I start to play Nintendogs. As soon as she hears the barking she settles next to me and demands attention.

Pete C: Dec 31st 2006; 10:46AM

Don't listen to #2. That howling sound in Zelda is absolutely NOT hurting the dogs ears! That pitch is not nearly high enough. The sounds that hurt dogs ears are the ones that we as human can't even hear. No sound that you can imitate can actually hurt a dogs ears. The howling sound is just causing the dog to respond to it...like #12 said it is in their pack nature. You can get many dogs to do this by howling yourself! Have no fear of hurting your dog's ears by cranking up Zelda. The dog is just following his instincts.

Michael Kingston: Dec 31st 2006; 11:00AM

dog is a mini schnauzer not a dachshund

yubastard: Dec 31st 2006; 11:06AM

my cat, Mephisto, always ties to grab the ball in Marble Blast, lol. even tho' it doesn't move in any direccion, and only spins, he tries to grab it

rbk: Dec 31st 2006; 11:21AM

Heh, a similar thing happens when I play Twilight Princess. I have a pet bird, and every time I enter Hena's house in the fishing area he goes crazy because he hears Hena's bird chirping. It happens every single time, even when my bird appears to be sleeping.

dick: Dec 31st 2006; 11:21AM

DAMN FUNNY!

posters: Dec 31st 2006; 11:37AM

my cat, zelda, loves the horse running around in shadow of the colossus and will paw the tv at it, but epona does nothing for her. she also has a penchant for the wii pointer, the nunchucks when they're just sitting there doing nowt and general wildlife programs featuring small furry things scurrying around, fishy things swimming and er, south park.
my cat rocks!
incidentally i started a similiar themed post a few months ago on the edge forums, and some bright spark suggested a wii game for dogs which involves throwing the wiimote and getting the mutt to fetch it, ha ha.

Limey: Dec 31st 2006; 11:45AM

My cat doesnt react to videogames any more, but I remember when he constantly tried to get the ducks in duck hunt XD

Also, NEVER use a laser pointer on a cat for like 30 minutes... At least with my cats, they'll be really paranoid and skittish for the rest of the day lol

Ace of Sevens: Dec 31st 2006; 11:51AM

My kitty used to come sit on my hand when I tried to play Dreamcast. I guess because I was doing something other than paying attention to her.

Dennis: Dec 31st 2006; 12:27PM

Actually yes, My dog always wanted to grab mario whene ever i played Mario 1 on my nes. it went mad trying to grab it, every tiem mario jumped, the dog jumped, great to see untill he jumped on my cord and the nes came crashing down...
it survived...

Z(+)DIAC: Dec 31st 2006; 12:42PM

Hahaha

I use to have a dog like that who crooned to Deftones.

ChaosEmerl: Dec 31st 2006; 1:03PM

Yeah, one of my cats is like that with the Wii pointer. She's tried to attack it on my plasma screen TV a couple times. Also, on the shop channel download screen, her eyes are fixed on mario running across the screen.

cam: Dec 31st 2006; 1:09PM

my cat goes on my keyboard while i play and when i play 2142 he attacks the pepole

Paul Gale: Dec 31st 2006; 1:19PM

Haha, so awesome. I saw this last week on gonintendo.com and it's still very entertaining. Everyone...man, woman, child, pet...they all love The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. I should try this with my cats or dog.
Paul Gale
1up.com

Charlie: Dec 31st 2006; 1:47PM

I think #2 is right. When the fire alarm and burgler alarms go off in my house, it's not too loud but its pretty high pitched (Of course us humans can hear it) but my dog goes crazy. HE howls and whimpers like whats happening in the video. I tihnk the video is a little funny but I feeel bad for the dog :p

Captain Joel: Dec 31st 2006; 2:12PM

My wife and I have two Dogs. A wiener dog (Dakota) and a poodle/chihuahua (lola) mix.

Dakota is the "gard dog" and must bark at all the little noises. Lola follows and perpetuates the barking. Somethig I really should've taken into consideration when I bought Viva Pinata.

The audio is great, but perhaps a bit TOO realistic for the dogs' tastes.

(btw, when not playing VP, Lola likes to watch my mouse zoom around the screen and tilt her head to listen to my jack Johnson CDs.)

Papa: Dec 31st 2006; 3:04PM

My dog seems to get scared everytime Link blows on the horse grass or Epona's whistle.

Mike G.: Dec 31st 2006; 4:17PM

Wolfenstein 3D, when the Nazi dogs barked or whimpered (or your character barked after eating dog food), my uncle's 100 lb. black lab/pit mix would get VERY excited and curious. He didn't really bark back, he just kept trying to find the dog barking, which involved shoving his head between the stereo computer speakers. Don't think he could see them onscreen, he was too short for the desk the monitor was on.

Mike: Dec 31st 2006; 5:52PM

None of my animals have ever reacted to an animal or image or sound from a television or monitor. They seem to have absolutely no interest whatsoever. However if you make a knocking sound on the cabinets in the kitchen or a desk or anything wooden my dog will start barking and run to the front door. She barks at the tiniest noise coming from outside including people who are just walking towards the house. She obviously detects them through sound though as our windows usually have the blinds closed.

Jay: Dec 31st 2006; 7:15PM

When I first got the Wii, my dog seemed to think the nunchuk was a tug toy. I sat down to play Zelda and she'd stick her nose in my lap and whimper while staring intently at the remote.

beesnipe: Dec 31st 2006; 7:57PM

My cat is lazy

he'll just sit there in my lap. Maybe a yawn, or a little ear movement..... thats it.

What annoys me is when the cat tries to play with the moving nunchuck cord.

ExTester: Dec 31st 2006; 8:44PM

@ #42 (Charlie)

No, #2 is wrong. I live directly under the SanDiego airport flight lane. And the planes are a 400 - 500 hundred feet above ground when they fly by. And my dog never howls when it flys over and its F***ing loud. No other dog howls when it flys over either. But strangely my dog will howl all the time when EMT sirens go off. Think of how the sound signature plays out and you will understand why a dog howls. Its a very consistant hi-lo sound that carries a great distance. And the sirens don't hurt his ears cause the windows are closed and they are double pane windows, which muffles the sound alot.

Now if you want to say that it muffles the sound of the airplane, try again cause I take her on walks .. outside..

Momus: Dec 31st 2006; 11:45PM

Shadow of the Colossus made my kitten want to climb me. Then she stabbed my weakpointz! :-O

~C

Kelly: Jan 1st 2007; 12:10AM

My kitten Loaf loves the Wii pointer. I have wasted way too much time playing with it for his sake.

He also really likes 2d games. the bright point against a dark background can be more easily distinguished I guess. His favorites include Jaws(NES) and Super Metroid(SNES).

Of course, nothing is quite as awesome as when Loaf is watching the mouse pointer on the laptop screen. When it goes off the edge he runs around back looking for it.

Oh, yeah. And he loves the Wiimote wriststrap.

Ramtech: Jan 1st 2007; 3:56AM

Its normal for the dog to bark like that, he's doing it because the sound on the tv is annoying for him. My dog does the same when he's close to me and my cell phone rings, or when the tv is too loud, etc.

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