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Hi, everybody. My name is Shawna, and this is the American English Podcast. My goal here is to teach you the English spoken in the United States. Through common expressions, pronunciation tips, and interesting cultural snippets or stories, I hope to keep this fun, useful, and interesting. Let's do it.
Hi, everyone. Welcome back. Today is a five-minute English episode, and we're going to talk about the most common pets in the United States, cats and dogs. Did you know that more than 65 million households in the United States have a dog and nearly 46 million have a cat?
Pets are a huge part of American life, and I know from last week's chat on Instagram that a lot of you have pets also. Now today, we'll be talking about a lot of different vocabulary that will be useful when talking about these two very special animals. You'll learn descriptive adjectives to talk about their appearance,
common verbs to describe their behavior, as well as must-know phrasal verbs and collocations. As usual, I'll introduce these terms through a story. Hopefully, this will help you understand many of them from context, because to me, that's the easiest way to learn new vocab. And yeah, let's go ahead and begin with five basic terms you'll
probably need to know to understand this story better. So pet vocabulary. The first is pet. What is a pet? A pet is an animal that lives with people for companionship. My neighbor has three pets, a dog, a cat, and a bird. The second word we have is breed. A breed is a specific type of animal within a species.
For example, the golden retriever is a popular dog breed. Number three is a leash. A leash is a rope or strap used to walk a dog. So in most cities, dogs must be on a leash in public places. Number four is litter box, a container filled with special sand where cats go to the bathroom.
So if you have a cat, you need to clean the litter box regularly, otherwise it'll smell. And then last but not least, to shed. To shed means to naturally lose hair, fur, or skin as part of a biological process. So this is very common in animals and sometimes in humans.
My dogs shed so much that I have to vacuum every day. If you would like the full list of vocabulary, the PDF transcript, a pronunciation video, and English exercises to master the terms you hear today, be sure to sign up to Premium Content. You'll find the link in the episode notes.
I'd also like to point out before we begin that I talked about pets before, but specifically exotic ones. That was back in episode 58.
We talked about the expression a method to madness, and we got into specifics about laws pertaining to what animals a family can keep at home in different states. It was a crazy episode. We talked about some pet owners that insist on raising tigers, zebras, and other unconventional pets.
Check it out. Once again, that was episode 58. Now today we'll be talking about common everyday pets, cats, and dogs. So my family has been going back and forth about getting a pet. My daughters, of course, are obsessed with the idea. What started this whole conversation was our neighbor's dog, Lucia.
Lucia is a beautiful golden retriever who's so well-behaved, it's almost suspicious. She never barks, never jumps on people, and is never on a leash. She sits on command and comes when called. She's a good listener. Not to mention, she always looks freshly groomed. Her coat is shiny, clean, and brushed beautifully.
She looks freshly groomed. Now, every time we step outside, my daughters race across the street to pet her. And she just wags her tail calmly, like a dog who has never caused trouble a day in her life. My daughters and husband love playing fetch with her. They throw a ball, a frisbee, or one of her chew toys, and she fetches it.
In other words, she gets it and brings it back. She retrieves it, like a good golden retriever. One afternoon, while scratching Lucia behind the ears, my daughter said, we need a dog like this. I looked over at our neighbor, who was standing in his yard, and he explained to Julia that not all dogs are as easy as Lucia. She's trained.
Clara, my youngest, piped up at this point. We could train a dog? To which I had to laugh. My kids are good-hearted, but they have no idea what owning a dog entails, let alone training one.
If we got a dog or puppy, I know that I'd be the one to take it to the vet to get its vaccines. I'd be the one feeding it, grooming it, and taking it out on walks multiple times a day. And in terms of training a dog, well, maybe my girls could teach it some commands. The basics are sit, stay, come, roll over, and down.
At this point, my neighbor looked at me seriously and told me that Lucia could sleep at our house whenever we want company, which I thought was pretty nice. In return, I told him that we'd gladly pet sit for them whenever they go on vacation. Pet sitters in the U.S. can be expensive, $20 to $30 per visit. Dog hotels are even more expensive.
we'd gladly take care of Lucia for free. In English, we often say there are dog people and cat people. Lucas is very much a dog person. He grew up with dogs at home. Most of them were rescues or stray dogs that followed him home after school. He'd beg his parents to keep them, and they'd take the stray in as if it were part of the family.
Where he was raised in Brazil, many stray dogs wandered the streets. They were all mutts. In other words, they were a mix of different breeds. They were mutts. Some were scruffy. Others were shaggy, striped, spotted. It didn't matter. Lucas liked them all.
There aren't any stray dogs where we live, so we aren't bringing any in off the streets. But it is possible to go to a local animal shelter to see which animals need a foster home and which ones are up for adoption. Although fostering is a shorter commitment than adopting a pet, Lucas is afraid he'll get attached and then have to say goodbye. After all, fostering is temporary.
While Lucas is a dog person, I am more of a cat person. I grew up with cats, both indoor and outdoor cats. Like Lucas with dogs, I have a track record of seeing cute kittens and keeping them. It started with Pebbles and Bam Bam when I was a little girl, and then came Elvis, my sweet orange kitty, then Coco and Eddie. Let's tell their story.
Eighteen years ago, on a whim, I asked my parents to go to Adoption Day at Petco in Fairfield, California. Petco is a chain. They sell all kinds of pet food and animal toys, even pets, from reptiles to rabbits and birds, and even cats and dogs. On Adoption Day, there were two gray kitties cuddling sweetly in a cage, and they were
and I asked to pet them. As I gently petted their heads and backs, they didn't hiss, they didn't bite, they just purred sweetly. It didn't take much to convince my parents. We brought them home and named them Coco and Eddie.
At home, they were curious, energetic, and unpredictable. On occasion, they'd sprint across the house, 100 miles per hour, chasing who knows what, a bug, a ghost. Sometimes they'd even creep up on their shadow and pounce as if they were catching a mouse. They were really goofy.
At times, they'd stick their paws out and swat at objects just to watch them fall over. Sometimes they fell over too, but they always landed on their feet. Like all pets, cats require some work. My mom regularly put on their flea medication, she trained them to use a litter box, and even got them a scratching post so they wouldn't claw at the couch.
Eddie is no longer with us, but my mom is still crazy about Coco. They're best buddies. She's not a crazy cat lady, but she does buy expensive canned cat food for her and gives her water and fancy dishes. You could say that Coco is spoiled. My mom says she's a little old lady now. She no longer hunts like she used to. She no longer cleans herself either.
But can you blame her? Imagine if you were a cat and had to clean your fur with your tongue and then swallowed so much hair that you had to cough up a hairball. Yikes.
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If you were to ask my mom what's the best thing about having a cat, she'd probably say companionship. She loves having Coco snuggle up on her lap while she drinks her coffee in the morning. The worst thing? Well, probably that Coco is somewhat nocturnal and that she meows loudly at times and wakes her up in the night.
It's hard to generalize about cats or dogs. Some cats and dogs are loyal, affectionate, playful, and obedient. Others are not. Some cats and dogs are vocal. They meow or bark a lot. Others are completely silent. Some are independent. Others are clingy. Some are graceful. Others are clumsy.
Some cats and dogs are territorial. They like to protect their environment, while others wouldn't blink an eye if someone broke into your house and stole all your stuff. ♪
Both are an investment, from collars with name tags to medical expenses and food. The cost can range anywhere from $60 to $440 per month, according to Rover.com. If you have an outdoor cat or outdoor dog and don't want lots of kittens and puppies, you might also need to consider the cost of fixing them.
I think you understand what that means based on context. So if someone came to you right now with a kitten or a puppy, which would you choose? That's the end of our story. Before you hear the recording one last time, I want to talk a little bit more about cats and dogs and share some of your responses. So when I was a kid, my neighbor Samantha had 24 cats.
maybe 25, maybe 26. It was definitely over 20. And it was absurd. We used to walk to the grocery store with kittens in a wagon and try to give them to people walking in the store. And what's funny is a lot of times it was successful. Let's face it, little kittens are irresistible.
Back then, I remember thinking, why doesn't Samantha and her family get their cats fixed so that their house isn't filled with animals? Fixed, I mentioned in the story, and it's a general term that means to get an animal sterilized, preventing reproduction. Her house reminded me a lot of 101 Dalmatians. Do you remember that movie?
There were 101 dogs. Now, Samantha didn't have that many cats, but they were everywhere. And her house had a very interesting smell to it that I'll never forget. What I do know is that the average cat litter size is between four to six kittens. And because of this lesson, I learned that the bigger the dog, the more puppies in the litter.
or the bigger the dog is, the more puppies there'll be in the litter. I also learned that the largest recorded litter ever was 24 puppies born to a Neapolitan mastiff in 2004. So 101 Dalmatians was completely inaccurate. No dog has ever had that many puppies in a litter. Not even close.
I don't know why I never considered that before. But anyway, so real quick before I change the subject, Lucia across the street from us has had three litters of puppies. My neighbor sold them and said that Lucia has contributed $25,000 to their family. So with three litters of puppies came $25,000.
Now, my neighbor is really in the know. He's very knowledgeable about cats and dogs. And I'm so happy he's been able to guide us in our search efforts. He told us about the ASPCA, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which helps put rescued pets into families.
And the AKC, the American Kennel Club, which is one of the most well-known and respected dog organizations in the United States. They not only host some of the big dog shows, but they also keep official lineage records, so pedigrees. Interesting, right? Yeah.
Before you hear the story one last time, I'd like to share a bit about the conversation I had with you guys over Instagram. First, I asked you a question. Which would you prefer as a pet? A cat or a dog? I received 255 responses and 67% of you said dog. 33% said cat.
In other words, two-thirds of you would choose a dog and one-third of you would choose a cat. Then for fun, I asked two questions. What do you like most about your pet? And what do you dislike? Let's start with what you liked.
Mateus said, I have a dog and she is so sweet. She loves cuddling with us, never ever barks, and is such a sweetie pie. Felipe said he has a dog and it is very nice because it's always in a happy mood. Claudia said she has a Maltese and it's the purest love that exists.
Isabella described it as unconditional love. Marilia said her dog is her partner in crime. Now, many of you said your pets are cute, funny, and fluffy. The cat owners additionally used the terms unpredictable and independent.
João said, my dog is super loyal, an amazing companion, and always willing to play. The latter is really important because I'm really active. Fantastic. Lillian said that she rescued three dogs and that she finds it absolutely amazing that they see her as their mom.
All in all, these answers were so sweet. It's so nice to see how much love you all have for your pets. I bet you're all fantastic pet owners. I then asked, what's one thing you dislike about your pet? And be honest, no human or animal is perfect. I'm not judging. The first responses started rolling in, and I have to admit, you guys made me laugh.
Arturo said, sometimes I ask questions and she never replies. Vant Amir said, what I dislike about my dog is that she always steals my socks, even if I try to hide them from her. Nadia, he's clingy, bites hard, and sometimes poops a lot.
The next one, Mai said, my dog Rally tries to eat my lunch. Oh, that's a bummer. Angel, the only thing I dislike is that my pet likes to make a mess in my yard, biting my tree and stuff. Good answer. And another wrote, I can't have both pets and plants at the same time.
Some described their dislikes in a few words. It's spoiled. It's very destructive. Messy. Needs a lot of my time. It stinks. It doesn't obey. It has tantrums. So many of you have issues with your dog or cat eating too much and then pooping and peeing too much, sometimes in the wrong spot. One of you said she doesn't pee when it rains.
which was very peculiar. I never heard of that one before, and it made me wonder, do dogs and cats get bladder infections? If so, how do you treat those? Is it like cranberry juice, like with humans? Anyway, it sounds like Chris and Camila have the same problem. Chris said, although getting a dog was my idea, he loves my husband more.
Camila said, honestly, I liked everything about him, but I wasn't his favorite person. Then a lot of you mentioned shedding. Once again, shedding means losing hair or fur. Meng, when the weather gets warmer, my cat sheds a ton of hair. It's everywhere.
Dennis said, I don't know how it's possible that so much fur falls on the ground and he's still not naked. Elaine said her clothes are always full of fur, but it's worth it. So I guess the question is, I mean, would you prefer your pet with no hair at all?
Because in the first section, a lot of you said you loved that they were fluffy and furry. And so I guess that's what comes with it sometimes. Now, I could go on with this list. Some of you mentioned some really realistic concerns, like you don't know where to leave the pet when you travel, or maybe that the dog or cat is reactive with other animals.
And some of you made me want to cry by saying their lives are too short or you dislike the idea of staying without them one day. Oh my gosh, there were probably over a hundred responses, which was really exciting to go through. Obviously, I could not respond to all of you guys. I'm so sorry. But just know that I really appreciated your responses. You made me laugh and almost cry.
This also made me realize what a great conversation starter it is to talk about pets. Don't you think? This is why this vocabulary is so useful. You can definitely share your experiences with your cats or dogs with people in the United States. We're going to play the audio one last time. Ready? Let's do it. ♪
So my family has been going back and forth about getting a pet. My daughters, of course, are obsessed with the idea. What started this whole conversation was our neighbor's dog, Lucia. Lucia is a beautiful golden retriever who's so well-behaved, it's almost suspicious. She never barks, never jumps on people, and is never on a leash.
She sits on command and comes when called. She's a good listener. Not to mention, she always looks freshly groomed. Her coat is shiny, clean, and brushed. She looks freshly groomed. Now, every time we step outside, my daughters race across the street to pet her.
And she just wags her tail calmly, like a dog who has never caused trouble a day in her life. My daughters and husband love playing fetch with her. They throw a ball, a frisbee, or one of her chew toys, and she fetches it. In other words, she gets it and brings it back. She retrieves it, like a good golden retriever.
One afternoon, while scratching Lucia behind the ears, my daughter said, We need a dog like this. I looked over at our neighbor, who was standing in his yard, and he explained to Julia that not all dogs are as easy as Lucia. She's trained. Clara, my youngest, piped up at this point. We could train a dog.
To which I had to laugh. My kids are good-hearted, but they have no idea what owning a dog entails, let alone training one. If we got a dog or puppy, I know that I'd be the one to take it to the vet to get its vaccines. I'd be the one feeding it, grooming it, and taking it out on walks multiple times a day. And in terms of training a dog,
Well, maybe my girls could teach it some commands. The basics are sit, stay, come, roll over, and down. At this point, my neighbor looked at me seriously and told me that Lucia could sleep at our house whenever we want company.
which I thought was pretty nice. In return, I told him that we'd gladly pet sit for them whenever they go on vacation. Pet sitters in the U.S. can be expensive. $20 to $30 per visit. Dog hotels are even more expensive. We'd gladly take care of Lucia for free. This is what your year will sound like in the new Lululemon glow-up type. How to do that move.
That's the energy of the all-new Lululemon Glow Up Type. Snug above the hips with plenty of stretch through the legs for a fit that feels secure and spring-loaded. You'll feel like saying, let's do this, do just about anything. Grab your glow ups in store or online at lululemon.com now. Why wait until the count of three? In English, we often say there are dog people and cat people. Lucas is very much a dog person. He grew up with dogs at home.
Most of them were rescues or stray dogs that followed him home after school. He'd beg his parents to keep them, and they'd take the stray in as if it were part of the family. Where he was raised in Brazil, many stray dogs wandered the streets. They were all mutts. In other words, they were a mix of different breeds.
They were mutts. Some were scruffy. Others were shaggy, striped, spotted. It didn't matter. Lucas liked them all. There aren't any stray dogs where we live, so we aren't bringing any in off the streets. But it is possible to go to a local animal shelter to see which animals need a foster home and which ones are up for adoption.
Although fostering is a shorter commitment than adopting a pet, Lucas is afraid he'll get attached and then have to say goodbye. After all, fostering is temporary.
While Lucas is a dog person, I am more of a cat person. I grew up with cats, both indoor and outdoor cats. Like Lucas with dogs, I have a track record of seeing cute kittens and keeping them. It started with Pebbles and Bam Bam when I was a little girl, and then came Elvis, my sweet orange kitty, then Coco and Eddie. Let's tell their story.
Eighteen years ago, on a whim, I asked my parents to go to Adoption Day at Petco in Fairfield, California. Petco is a chain. They sell all kinds of pet food and animal toys, even pets, from reptiles to rabbits and birds, and even cats and dogs. On Adoption Day, there were two gray kitties cuddling sweetly in a cage and
and I asked to pet them. As I gently petted their heads and backs, they didn't hiss, they didn't bite, they just purred sweetly. It didn't take much to convince my parents. We brought them home and named them Coco and Eddie.
At home, they were curious, energetic, and unpredictable. On occasion, they'd sprint across the house, 100 miles per hour, chasing who knows what, a bug, a ghost. Sometimes they'd even creep up on their shadow and pounce as if they were catching a mouse. They were really goofy.
At times, they'd stick their paws out and swat at objects just to watch them fall over. Sometimes they fell over too, but they always landed on their feet. Like all pets, cats require some work. My mom regularly put on their flea medication, she trained them to use a litter box, and even got them a scratching post so they wouldn't claw at the couch.
Eddie is no longer with us, but my mom is still crazy about Coco. They're best buddies. She's not a crazy cat lady, but she does buy expensive canned cat food for her and gives her water and fancy dishes. You could say that Coco is spoiled. My mom says she's a little old lady now. She no longer hunts like she used to. She no longer cleans herself either.
But can you blame her? Imagine if you were a cat and had to clean your fur with your tongue and then swallowed so much hair that you had to cough up a hairball. Yikes. If you were to ask my mom what's the best thing about having a cat, she'd probably say companionship. She loves having Coco snuggle up on her lap while she drinks her coffee in the morning.
The worst thing? Well, probably that Coco is somewhat nocturnal and that she meows loudly at times and wakes her up in the night. It's hard to generalize about cats or dogs. Some cats and dogs are loyal, affectionate, playful, and obedient. Others are not. Some cats and dogs are vocal. They meow or bark a lot.
Others are completely silent. Some are independent. Others are clingy. Some are graceful. Others are clumsy. Some cats and dogs are territorial. They like to protect their environment, while others wouldn't blink an eye if someone broke into your house and stole all your stuff. ♪
Both are an investment, from collars with name tags to medical expenses and food. The cost can range anywhere from $60 to $440 per month, according to Rover.com. If you have an outdoor cat or outdoor dog and don't want lots of kittens and puppies, you might also need to consider the cost of fixing them.
I think you understand what that means based on context. So if someone came to you right now with a kitten or a puppy, which would you choose? So where are we now? Well, let's just say we're still debating. We're still on the fence. The girls, of course, still dream about getting a dog like Lucia. And honestly, if we did get one, I hope it'd be just like her.
calm, friendly, and magically never barking. Unless, of course, we have a bear or a burglar in the yard. Otherwise, I'd love to adopt a soft, cuddly cat or kitten that could sit on my lap while working. Until we make up our minds, we'll be pet-sitting for our neighbor whenever they need a hand and, yeah, get a feel for it.
So what about you? If you had to pick a pet today, what would you go for? That's it for today's lesson.
Once again, five-minute English episodes are more challenging than any other episode type. Don't be discouraged. That's the nature of going deep into a topic. If you would like the supplementary material for this lesson, be sure to sign up to season four at AmericanEnglishPodcast.com. Until next time, bye.
Thanks and hope to see you soon.
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