Do dogs know about death? It's a query that has intrigued pet owners, scientists, and spiritual thinkers for decades. And although science in itself has not been able to decipher the code, true-life encounters and emotional tales suggest that dogs might know more than we understand.
In the last ten years, I've had well over a hundred messages from dog owners inquiring:
- "Do dogs know when they're dying?"
- "Can they feel the passing of another pet or even a human?"
The reality is, we don't yet know for certain. But when we combine science, spirituality, and anecdotes, a more complete image starts to form.
Dogs Grieve But Do They Understand Death?
Research and anecdotal evidence alike agree on one thing: dogs do grieve. Like us, they also mourn the loss of friends whether that's an animal, such as another dog or cat, or a human, which they love. They might get quiet, fidgety, or even lose their appetite and interest in play.
Consider Richie, for instance. When his dog-pal Ozzie died and another friend, Tonia, needed to be rehomed, Richie just pouted. He appeared to grieve both losses similarly. Did he recognize one friend had perished and the other had merely relocated? That's not certain. But he certainly noticed the lack.
A Touching Story: Sadie and Oscar
One of the most moving stories I’ve heard came from a man named Joseph. His senior dog, Oscar, seemed fine one evening. He went to bed as usual, with his loyal companion Sadie by his side.
But something changed in the night.
Oscar stood up and attempted to walk up the stairs—unusual for him. He fell at the bottom and could not move. Sadie sensed something was amiss and ran to his side. She sniffed him, whined, and then ran upstairs to wake Joseph's dad.
Help arrived too late, and Oscar had died.
Sadie wouldn't leave his side. She sensed something had occurred. Perhaps she didn't comprehend death in the way we do, but she certainly felt the loss.
What the Science Says (and Doesn't Say)
Science is limited. We can quantify behavior and track the activity of a brain, but we can't really know what a dog thinks or feels in times of loss. That's why tales like Richie's and Sadie's are important. They are emotional data real insight into the rich lives of our canine friends.
Some scientists believe that spirituality and stories have no place in research. But as philosopher Dale Jamieson once said, "The plural of anecdote is data." In other words, the more we hear them, the better we know.
Dogs, just like humans, are individuals. One dog may be very upset by loss. Another dog may bounce back quickly. That doesn't indicate that one loves the other more, just that there's a variation in personalities among dogs.
Do Dogs Sense Death
Some pet owners think that dogs have an intuition about when someone is near death. Perhaps it's a shift in smell. Perhaps it's energy or body language. Some anecdotes propose that dogs even become caretakers in the last few hours of an individual or other animal's life.
Are these coincidences, or are dogs picking up something that we can't quantify?
We don't know for certain. But remain open-minded and hearted.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Rather than asking solely "What do dogs know?", let's ask as well:
- "How can we care for them during times of bereavement?"
Realizing that dogs grieve helps us to comfort them more effectively. Whether it's giving them extra affection, maintaining routines constant, or just sitting quietly with them, our presence is important.
Over time, through the combination of research, moving anecdotes, and spiritual observations, we'll come to understand more about what it's actually like for dogs when faced with death.
Final Thoughts
We'll never really know just how dogs experience dying and death. What we do know is this:
- Dogs bond strongly.
- They sense loss.
- And they know when something is amiss.
Their actions tell a thousand words, even if we can't decipher each one. So let's keep on listening, watching, and respecting their experience not only with science, but with empathy.