Words we use to speak to animals (an etymology)

Much as I dislike Westerns, when I heard one cowboy tell his horse to 'Whoa', the etymologist wondered where on earth this word came from. It also saw me searching for other commands used by humans to non-humans.

Whoa is first recorded in 1843, seen as a variant on the earlier 'ho', itself merely reinforcing the physical pull back on the reins and calling the horse's attention to the rider. (Apparently just saying 'whoa' is highly unlikely to stop the horse - or so a horsey friend told me.) Note 'whoa' is also listed as a variant of 'who', and also a word recently replacing 'wow'.

Giddy-up is used to get the horse moving or go faster, itself from giddap, gee-up and, predictably, from 'get up'. Amazing to find it in Western films, for 'giddy-up' is unrecorded until 1909, long after the Wild West went..... well, west. Note, the word won't work alone, there is the physical command, too.

Mush is that word used to make sled dogs get going. First recorded as late as 1897 and recorded as mouche in 1862, it is thought to come from the French marchons 'advance'. Clearly related to the French marcher 'to march'.

Most commands to animals are those used to keep the pet pooch in order. However, the dog doesn't understand a word - as evidenced when the little mutt belonging to the old dear decided to shed half its body weight directly in front of me while I was reading on a park bench. She apologised and, after clearing up, made a fuss of it and told me the dog understood every word she said. When I suggested telling it to shit in the bag next time, she responded with "He's only a dog!"

For a laugh try issuing commands to your dog in German: platz 'down'; bleib 'stay'; fuss 'heel'; and, my personal favourite, brummen 'growl' will eventually be just as understood as the English versions, but only by you and the dog, of course. Does this suggest dogs only sprechen ze Deutsch?