Real English Conversations: Don’t step on the dog doo (2 of 4)
Posted on October 19, 2008
Filed under Intermediate, Pets, Real English conversations | 23 Comments
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Hi! Lori here, welcoming you to another episode of Real English Conversations from betteratenglish.com. I’m traveling abroad this week so I have had to edit this show on my laptop. There is no theme music today because I forgot to bring my music files with me. But I figured that having no music is better than making you all wait until I get home before I post this episode.
In today’s conversation, which is part 2 of 4, my British friend Michael and I continue discussing dogs and cats, and which we prefer. As always, you can find the full transcript and vocabulary notes on our website, www.betteratenglish.com. OK, here we go!
Conversation Transcript
Note: Words in bold are explained in the vocabulary list.
Lori: Well anyway, we’re digressing. Enough about dog poo. What do you think the best thing about doggies is?
Michael: Well, it’s difficult to say any one thing. But I like the kind of nature and the relationship that dogs have with their owners. And they are generally interested. And they are genuinely affectionate — or they can be — genuinely affectionate to their owners, which is something that I really don’t see in cats.
L: Yeah, cats are interesting. They’re interesting. It’s hard to know where you have a cat.
M: Uh huh.
L: I mean, if a cat is coming up and rubbing against your legs and being what looks like affectionate, it’s like, are they really…?
M: Right. [laughter] That’s called cupboard love.
L: Cupboard love. Yeah, are they really just in it for the food? Or are they really…? You know, ‘cause dogs — I agree with you — dogs really can seem to be genuinely affectionate towards their owners. I mean, the best thing in the world has to be coming home, when you left your dog at home for a few hours, and you come home and your dog is so happy to see you. And you’re the best person in the world and it’s just the most exciting thing ever that you’ve come walking through the door.
M: Right.
L: One of my favorite sayings is “I wish were the person my dog thinks I am.”
M: Aww. Yeah. I know what you mean.
L: Because they just think that you’re just the best thing ever, and every time.
M: Well some people can be like that too.
[laughter]
L: Yeah, but not every time.
M: No. Maybe not.
L: I mean, seriously, with dogs it’s, like, every time. You only have to leave them for 20 minutes and then come back and they’re just all over you ‘cause they’re so…just…overwhelmed with happiness.
M: That’s true. Yeah. Without fail. Without fail.
L: Yeah it’s fantastic.
M: You know I like that. The interaction you can have with a dog. They really want to play. And yeah, that’s just… I’m a dog person.
L: Yeah…I think…I like cats too. I know we differ about that, but I do like cats. But I would have to say I feel more affinity towards dogs.
M: Well, I like kittens. You know?
L: Oh kittens! Don’t even get me started on little kittens.
M: Kittens… well yeah they like to play and they’re full of mischief. They can be fun. That’s before they turn into cats and that’s when it all goes horribly wrong for me.
L: Oh, yeah. Kittens are just the cutest thing. And…but cats like to play too. You remember Janne and Ozzie’s cat, with the laser pointer. What fun we had.
M: Yeah, that was a lot of fun, yeah.
L: Yeah. Cats go absolutely crazy if you have one of those laser pointers and taunt them with it.
M: Yeah, but…the thing is though, they’re trying to kill it.
L: [laughing] Yeah, that’s true again!
M: That’s the problem. While we’re going, “Aww, that’s so cute.” But the cat is thinking, “What is that little creature? I’m going to kill it and eat it.”
L: Exactly. [laughing] And, no, “I’m going to catch it and toy with it first and then I’m going to kill it.”
M: Right, yeah. “I’m going to toy with it until it dies of a heart attack and then I’m going to eat it.”
[laughter]
M: You know, “Tear it apart and bring its entrails to my master.”
L: Exactly. Yeah, that’s a funny thing that cats do. I don’t know if that is just anthropomorphizing, you know, when you want to, kind of, impinge human qualities onto animals. People tend to say that, if their cat has been out in the garden and killed a bird and left it inside the house, that the cat has left them a “present.” And I don’t know if the cat is just saving it for later…or something…you know, why does it have to be a present?
M: It’s bringing it to you saying, “Hey, can you stick this in the fridge for me?”
[laughter]
L: Exactly. “I want to save it for my dinner.”
M: That’s the reason. It is because the cat can’t open the fridge, that’s why.
L: When I used to have cats, I used to find dead birds and things in my room that the cat had…you know…killed and left under the bed…and…that’s kind of unsettling.
M: Yeah, that’s not so much fun.
L: Yeah, that’s horrible. Well, you don’t have a dog now, though, right? You personally.
M: No, not anymore…
Final Words
That’s all for today. We’ll be back soon with part three. If you found today’s topic interesting, we’d love to hear your comments. You can leave a comment at our web site, www.betteratenglish.com, or e-mail us at info AT betteratenglish DOT com. Bye for now!
Download transcript and vocabulary list.
Comments
23 Responses to “Real English Conversations: Don’t step on the dog doo (2 of 4)”
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Hi Lori,
I regularly checked this site from 13th Oct to 19th to get this 2nd podcast. Finally I got it. Thanks!
The theme of podcast ” Don’t step on the dog doo” is very different and rare one. It’s so real I can’t express it my words.
Great unusual vocabulary atleast for me.
It looks very odd to tell some like, “are you a dog people or a cat people”. The listener may take it other way too. I’m in fix.
Lori, I’m not very good at English so please clear me before I use such sentences in public.
bye
Hi Prinkle,
Sorry for the wait for part 2; part 3 should be on schedule for Monday next week. I’m glad you’re enjoying the, ummmm, unusual theme!
As for your question, to find out if someone prefers dogs or cats you could ask A or B below:
A) Are you a dog person or a cat person?
B) Which do you prefer, dogs or cats?
A is more idiomatic, and non-native speakers of English might find it confusing. B is more straightforward and less likely to confuse non-native speakers. Note that these are only 2 of the many possible ways to ask the question; there are many alternatives to both A and B! Maybe you can think of some of your own
Dear sir/madem
please send for me address sites that I can download learning english link.
thank you
Omid, just do a google search English podcasts and you will find loads. Alternatively, download and install iTunes on your computer. Then in iTunes, click
>Store
>Podcasts
>Education
>Language courses
There are loads.
Good luck!
hi!
i am januka. i want to speak english properle.
so, please help me.
with regards
Hi,
I don’t have words to thank you for this lessons, they’re really helping me to improve my english.
I’ve tried many kind of english courses and nothing like this learning.
Thanks again.
Orlando
I love this homepage, that´s great, and I love ur voice too hehehe bye and thanks so much
Michel from Brazil, I´m lerrning english alone
“It’s hard to know where you have a cat.” — where you have soemeone… I did understand what you said in your note, but I really fail to uanderstand whethter it’s a common idiom or just something that is understood from context. If it’s a sommon expressoin, could you plseae give come examples of its usage apart from pets^))
Thank you for your great work — you really help learners to find out something that is not on the surface but is useded daily. Best wishes and Happy New Year! You are the best!))
oh, don’t know how many mistakes I made, but I can see all the typos. Sorry, didn’t find the option to edit my post.
Felina, “to know where you have someone” is a fairly common idiom. I Googled the phrase “where you have him” and found examples such as He seems to be a bit mysterious and I get a feeling that you don’t really know where you have him.
Hi
I’am Rafał from Poland
I am really glad that I came across your website. It is very helpful to improve pronunciation and get to know some informal ( slang ) words. I am eager to download another podcast. Thanks a lot for You I really appreciate
Thank you so much for these lovely lessons/podcasts. It is really very helpful for many people who are not able to practice English in their own countries. Thank you for your generous desire to help us.
awesome lesson. Your website is exceptionally phenomenal. Keep it up. Thank you!
hi Lori,first of all i would like to thank you and your pal.You’r both very wonderfull persons.I’m from Azerbaijan(Baku),this’s my first visit to your web site but it seems i’ll come soon again and very often.By the way i’ve already downloaded some of your materials.I wish succes all of you!!!
Hi Lori
jajajajaa you are so much fun talking, your conversations are really funny, I would like to hear more of those conversations. I’m from Chile, I study English pedagogy, this is my first year, I really would like that you can teach me, please, is very hard tu learn english.
well that’s all, thank’s
bye
Hi lori first of all I would like to thank you and Michail and I want to listen your news episode becouse every day I listen you conversation. I am from Tajikistan. do you know Tajikistan? I am looking forward to answer in my mail good bye
best wishes
Hey Lori … I think it sounds better without music … Your BDEEP or BLEEP sounds wonderful & you make it better than computer))) mmm …
Hi Lori, Its just great, I am English learner, this is exactly what I was looking for..thank you
Hi,
This is the first time I check this out. I think it is really very helpful to English learners.
I think you guys have done a great service to the people who wants to learn native English.
Thank you all and god bless you
Hemantha,
Hi,
I’m from Germany and I just love this podcast
Listening to Michael an you is soo much fun!
Thank you!!
Rabe
Greetings from the Philippines
Nice website Lori. I am learning English on my own too and the podcast and materials I have found here is just perfect for me. Anyway, keep up the good work. More power and God Bless.
Never been on this site before, and I find this approach of learning english very valuable. Keep up the good work!