Our Pets' Instincts

I would be interested if any of you ladies sense that your pets somehow intuit - through smell, a sixth sense - what is going on.

I have two adorable dogs who want to lie even closer to my feet, and one, in particular, often looks at me with a concerned look; while I find the other often gazing at when when I look up.

I have even heard of some people that train dogs to help people with various physical ailments.

Now I know that they train dogs to see for the blind, hear for the deaf, but they also have dog that can tell if a person is getting ready to have a seizure.

Dogs have sensitive noses and they can tell a difference in different smells the chemicals that our bodies put off, and that is how they train the dogs for the people that have seizures.

Also, after my surgey and during my chemo and radiation, my dogs (when I would go outside) would come to me and like kinda say "are you alright???". Just the way that they would look at me, I could tell that they were concerned for me.

Currently I have only a small caged bird. Can't tell too much what he "knows".

I grew up with a beagle. He knew. I'm thinking of one incident in particular that I can't repeat. Too sad. Makes me cry. No doubt he knew what was happening.

Mary D.

Here are a couple of article about a dogs that can detect various cancers. Just thought that I would pop this in.


http://imaginis.com/breasthealth/news/news10.25.00.asp

http://www.sciscoop.com/story/2003/5/20/74240/1853

I've got two dogs, too. My girls. One is a Norwegian Elkhound and the other is a Lab mix. Unfortunately, the only thing they know is snack and dinner time! My one dog starts pestering me within a 10 minute range at the same time every day!

Seriously, I don't know whether they're smart enough to know something's up with me. They're just two goofy, lovable "puppies" who always make me laugh!

I have to chime in here for the cat people. My two Siamese, Isis and Osiris, would never forgive me if I didn't. After surgeries, Isis won't leave my side (or lap usually). After radiation, Osiris would be waiting at the door for me. I know, that they knew, what was going on.
Isis is normally very alof, as befits a queen of her stature, but couldn't be taken from me when I was really sick. Osiris, who is very loving, but wouldn't miss a meal for anything, wouldn't get up for anything after I came home from radiation, till I did.
My dogs, they couldn't figure out why I didn't have dinner fixed on time.

Those articles are fascinating. I am a dog lover, especailly German shepherds. My 110 lb 3yr old Shepherd Eli follows me everywhere and when I was in the hospital slept by the front door and barely ate. He defintely knows when something is wrong

ABSOLUTELY!!!!! Pets sense sadness and happiness in our families. After my surgery, my dog, somehow knew that she could not lie on my tummy, which she always loved doing. She would curl up next to me as close as possible. Sometimes I thought that if she could get under my skin she would.

I will tell you another quick story. Yesterday my mom moved. She had been living with us for a year and a half until her new condo, in a senior development was ready. My dog loved having her around all day while I was at work. The two were best of friends. Last night, I took my dog down to where my mom used to stay in our house. She a beautiful big room with full bath, bedroom/living room area, walk in closets and separate entrance. My dog sniffed all around looking for the furniture and then just sat in the middle of the room and sighed. My heart went out to her. When we went to be, she slept on my head... my husband loved that, and wimpered. I do think that my dog is going to need therapy!!! She is a 6 year old Bichon Frishe named Casey and she really is my baby.

Rosalie

And pets give you that unconditional love, too! What great stories.

When I got my wig!, which is usually too hot to wear here, my two dogs took quite a sniff, and were quite entertained when I pulled it off! I think that if I left it around, they might view it as some strange animal to deal with!

Known2B, I remember now hearing about George, the schnauzer, probably on "60 Minutes". And I also get that look that says, "Are you all right?"

Maureenie, one of my dogs is a black lab mix; the other, a Carolina Dog! They are my little heartstrings!

And Riverbend, I love cats, too.

And, Rosalie, what a touching story about Casey, really a member of your family!

And I agree with you, ShepherdPal, about dogs pining, and missing a member of their pack, so to speak. Mine were so happy to see me!