I talk to my dogs all the time, I think they enjoy it! I talk to them at work and some of the dogs, one in particular "talks" back lol and I find that the cats I see at work "talk" to you when you talk to them, but cats are very vocal anyway, My mum is the craziest for talking to them especially when me or my brothers or sister annoys her! her normal lines are " Why cant they be as good as you!", Oh and she sings to the dogs too, the black lab loves it she wags her tail and rolls over for a tummy rub