I've talked to dogs, cows, and horses. I think I've said a few words to deer. And, the two times I saw a black bear crossing the road ahead of me. Although, technically, I don't think I talked to them - it was more a "holy s**t, a black bear!!". As I'm thinking about it, I may have talked to a few wild turkeys and I've yelled at some Canadian Geese so, again, not really a conversation. But, I haven't talked to a cat while riding a bike ...

Yes. The conversation usually goes like this;
"Woof Woof"
"Looking to bite my leg off, are you?"
"Woof Woof"
"Yeah? Well if you can get past that fence you might have a shot at it"
"Woof Woof"
"So long. See you tomrorrow"
"Woof Woof"

I always talk to dogs like I would talk to a puppy. In a friendly non-threatning way.

I meow at cats. It generally elicits a “wtf” look from them.

When I was single I used to talk to dogs but now that I am married my wife won't let me

yep. or yell "go home" to the chasers. But have a few treats in my pocket too, for the regular good guys.

Just observe animal behavior: calm contented dogs don't talk to each other. Mama dogs don't talk to their puppies. When a cyclist rides by dogs, their prime interest is to defend their territory. Yes, some breeds are calmer & some individuals like to make friends but chances are if one talks to random dogs you're just annoying them & perhaps reinforcing their territorial behavior, making things worse for other cyclists.

Once on tour I stopped at a fence next to a horse farm. A younger horse wanted to come over to the fence to check me out but the dominant horse wouldn't allow it so I left. We can love animals without anthropomorphizing them.

You are correct about animals not talking, at least not like humans. But if you're suggesting dogs don't communicate with their pups or other dogs or even humans, you've never been around many. Horses are very vocal animals also.

Back on topic, I talk to all the animals I see. Dogs, cats, turkeys, deer, horses, cows, and of course humans. And on most occasions, I even talk to myself....

I try to ignore coarse humans.

I talk to the dogs, cats, cows and horses. And people too. All in passing of course.

Fixed..... I think.... 😏

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man.

Pudd'nhead Wilson

I used to talk to dogs, but my cat told me I was being silly!

Yes. It is really good to talk at them just to let them know you are a human and not some strange monster. Same goes for horses, I used to ride them and along with the suddenness and quietness of the bike can spook them pretty badly. But usually once they are used to them its not as bad. Unless they are into playing head games and spook is the favorite one. LOL
I have been known when riding alone to talk to everyone and everything. LOL Cats dogs, flowers, trees....LOL And with owners walking dogs I usually tell them they are so cute or pretty. And actually, I have yet to meet a dog that wasn't one or the other. And golden Oldie dogs are just extra special. It does tend to calm owner and dog. Plus giving bike riders a better name. I smile and wave at cars too, especially if they slow down. If they do something stupid and almost kill me its one fingered but that hasn't happened often. LOL

I do talk to dogs, usually to ask if they've been fed lately. They don't usually answer, but it's easy enough to tell which ones are hungry!

Always--on a bike, in a car, it doesn't matter. My favorite is "Walter" a beautiful, large Tri-color Collie that lives two blocks away. He needs to be on a farm--but is stuck on a fenced 1/3 acre, in town. He has mellowed over the past 3 years. The owners have said that he barks at everyone, ......but you and your kids. Go figure.

Dogs get lonely and need recognition, too.

I was riding down a little street in town with a bunch of old houses (basically shacks) trying to take a short cut two days ago. As I was coming up to the last house on the street, a medium sized tan dog started barking pretty aggressively from the front yard. So I start to think "Well, crap, here we go" when I saw an old man sitting on the porch, who said the famous words "Don't worry, he won't bother ya". Exactly 3 seconds later, the dog had my left heel in his mouth. I yelled at the dog and gave him a little kick in the snout, then I looked at the old man and said, "You know what? He effing bothered me!". Then I might have said something that rhymes with "bass pole", but the road was super sketchy with the worst railroad crossing I've ever seen, so I didn't want to say anything that would make this old man not call an ambulance if I decided to get off the bike and lay down for a minute.

The good news is that I've found another road that I never have to ride on again.

I SWEAR at snakes. They are all responsible for snakebite flats.

Never thought about it but yeah, I guess I do. The BARKBARKBARK dogs that greet me from behind a fence at the end of pretty much every ride. What I say varies. They don't change it up much.

There is one dog near the end of the road as I'm heading into town with a dog run along the fence.

I think he can see me about 1/4 mile away, and starts barking. Not loud barks, but more of greetings. So, as I pass by, I give him a good "woo-woo", and he responds back "woof-woof".

He used to chase me from one end of the property to the other, but I think he is getting older now, and limits it to about 30 yards.

Still, the dog is like a landmark. I'll miss him when he passes on, and hopefully they'll get a replacement.

The neighbors across the street had a dog that would create a much louder echo chamber, but I think they got rid of it pretty quickly.

I'm a dog person, so absolutely.

I usually say "Hi Puppy!" to every dog I pass in its yard. If they're being walked, I usually don't say anything, but I've been known to say "beautiful dog" to the person. Of course, I frequently pass my wife and one of our kids walking one or more of our dogs, so I definitely talk to them .