Dogs are incredibly intuitive and aware of their surroundings. They know when their person is sad and can pick up on stress when their household is in chaos. Some people believe that dogs can predict when someone is going to die or can see spirits. Below are some of the other amazing things dogs can sense, for one reason or another.
1. Earthquakes
Records as far back as ancient Greece tell of dogs fleeing the city of Helice before a tragic earthquake. China also has stories of dogs showing signs of distress before seismic activity. Although dogs are very much aware of their surroundings, some scientists argue that a dog’s hearing is so perceptive, they can hear rocks crumbling under the grounds surface. Some seismologists think that the dogs feel seismic activity through their paws. Either way, if a dog in an earthquake-prone area begins to act odd, the change in behavior shouldn’t be ignored.
2. Storms
Just like with earthquakes, dogs can sense something on the horizon. Storms create an electromagnetic force that dogs can sense before the storm hits. Dogs also use their amazing sense of hearing and can possibly hear the thunder rumble from several miles away. Their olfactory senses are about 100 times more sensitive than that of a human and most likely sense the electrical current in the air.
3. Illness (including cancer)
Humans give off faint odors with illnesses such as certain cancers and diabetes. It’s too subtle for another human to detect, but with the dog’s amazing sense of smell, he may sniff out something that may be off. If a dog is sniffing a particular area on the owner’s body obsessively, a trip to the doctor should be in order.
4. Seizures
Some dogs are specifically trained to be seizure alert dogs. These dogs are taught to alert their owners before an impending seizure. Sometimes they even lie on top of their owners during the seizure and summon help when they can. Not all dogs are actually trained to recognize the signs of an impending seizure. They instinctively know what is going to happen, but no one knows exactly how a dog senses this.
5. Labor
There have been documented reports of dogs predicting the onset of labor in pregnant women. Warning signals include dogs becoming virtual shadows of their pregnant owners the day before or the day of the onset of labor. Guesses as to how these dogs know to prepare for the new bundle of joy range from sensing the physical transition of the pregnancy or the woman giving off a “labor scent.”
