The Social Network for Dog Lovers

Do Dogs Know?

I am currently reading a book by Dean Koontz, a big little life, which is a memoir of his dog Trixie, a golden retriever. I highly reccomend it!. So...in this book...in a chapter titled dogs and death, Koontz argues against the current theory that dogs are unaware they will die, that they have no sense of mortality. Koontz says, so eloquently, "When you have dogs, you witness their uncomplaining acceptance of suffering, their bright desire to make the most of life in spite of the limitations of age and disease, their calm awareness of the approaching end when their final hours come. They accept death with a grace that I hope I will one day be brave enough to muster."

I believe dogs do have a sense of mortality...their own and of those they love. Two examples from my personal experience are posted on my blog.

What do you think...do dogs know...are they aware of their own and others mortality???

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Susan on September 29, 2009 at 5:06pm: I think Willow knows she is dying and she is ok with it.
She doesn't have any regrets about how she has lived her life. She has no unfinished business. I believe she worries about me and if I will be ok. But she is not worried about herself.
I have to believe there is something more. For me she has always been an aware dog, not human, but not completely a dog either. She reads people so well. Intellectually I can explain it all away, but spiritually there is something else-something more; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Coralie Nellhard on October 23, 2009 at 2:07pm: I am sure your Willow knows. If you have the possibility to get in touch with a " dog communicator" that can communicate with Willow, you will get many answers. I have had amazing help to understand what my dogs were saying using this possibility. You can search on google and learn more.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Caryn Wilson on October 23, 2009 at 7:47am: I feel dogs know when it is their time to go. I read that dogs in the wild just go out somewhere alone and lay down in the grass and just peacefully go. My little Tillie after a horrific night of gasping to breathe got up in the morning went ouside and did her usual routine of bathroom duties, came back in and laid down in one of her favorite spots to die. She appeared to be very calm and radiantly beautiful. Her white fur coat just glistened. She was somewhat detached from her surroundings and her family. She was showing symptoms that death was inevitable. I had to take her to the vet as I couldn't stand to wait out the hours for her death. It was too difficult for me. I think dogs are so much more in tune and have an inate abiltiy to accept death. They don't exhibit fear but I do think they would like to stay just for our sake because they love us and are so loyal to us. I wish I would have waited out her death at home for her as I guess it is better for them to die at home if you can handle it. I do have regrets about not doing that.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Coralie Nellhard on October 23, 2009 at 1:54pm: Thank you so much for this post and your fantastic insight.

We lost our Leo in July this year. He knew it was time to go and was completely at ease with this. The day it was time, he stopped eating and refused anything, even things he loved like my home baked treats.
We meditated together throughout the day and we communicated about his cancer (which he had for 3 years, I cleaned his cancer sore every evening before bed time, which he loved, not once did he try to do it himself, his faith in me was fantastic and he knew that I would help him when the time came).

As he had great difficulty in standing up that evening it was obvious that he would´nt get better and we both knew that it was time to start the journey to the rainbow bridge. His calm was majestic, it was an hours drive to the animal clinic, but he just lay still in the car and when it was time to go into the clinic he made a final effort to walk as well as possible himself. It was so obvious that he wanted us to understand that this was a decision he had made. He showed us that we were to help him travel on as quickly as possible and lay down on the rug provided with Lennart my husband and me on each side. The candles flickerd in the quiet room, Leo took one final look deep into my eyes, then he closed his eyes and put his paws in my hand while I gently "tapped" along his spine with the other and ("tapping" = EFT, Emotional Freedom Techniques) Leo kept this position until his heart stopped beating. Utterly peaceful.
Leo had a wonderful life and lived until he was 17 years old.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Caryn Wilson on October 25, 2009 at 6:48pm: HI Coralie! I'm so sorry you lost your beloved Leo. Wow! 17 years is a good long life for a dog. You were so blessed to have him that long. Yes it is so difficult to have to see them go. But to see them suffer just seems so unfair. I just have to keep reminding myself of the gift they are to us and the wonderful times, the cute things they did and how they just adored us. I just feel so bad about the cancer. I never thought it would happen to one of my doggies. I caught the stuff to late and nothing could be done for my precious Tillie. Sounds like Leo had a great life and a wonderful homegoing. They are so trusting of us and it sounds like Leo trusted you so and was at peace with everything. So if are dogs can be an example to us then I guess we should find that peace also.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by bill cronin on January 26, 2010 at 3:40am: HI,MY NAME IS BILL AND I AM FROM MAINE,MY LITTLE DOG ANGEL HAS NASAL CANCER,FOUND OUT IN APRIL 09.I WENT TP PIECES.ANGEL IS ALL I HAVE IN THIS WORLD.I TOOK ANGEL FOR RAD.TREATMENTS. FIVE TIMES ,THE TUMOR DID SHRIEK TO 80%IN OCT 09
WENT BACK IN NOV.09 FOR CHECK UP AND FOUND OUT THE TUMOR HAD CAME BACK.VET SAID THAT NO MORE TREATMENTS WOULD DO ANY GOOD.I TOOK ANGEL HOME WHERE SHE BELONGS.ANGEL HAS BEEN ON A DIET OF COOKED HAMBURG,CARROTS,STRING BEANS,COOKED EGGS AND RICE.SHE LOVES IT.SOME TIMES I WILL USE CHICKEN.
ANGEL IS ONE TOUGH LITTLE GIRL.WITH A BIG HEART,SHE DRIPS SOME BLOOD AT TIMES FROM HER NOSE,AND IT DRIES UP ON THE END.VET GAVE ME SOME OIKMENT TO PUT ON THE END OF HER NOSE TO HELP THE BLOOD FROM DRYING UP.SHE STILL EATS GOOD AND DOES HER DUTY OUTSIDE.HER BEHAVIOR HAS CHANGED SOME WHAT.WILL NOT SLEEP WITH ME ANY MORE ,WHERE SHE DID FOR 12 YEARS.SLEEPS ALOT MORE,JUST LIKE US HUMANS WHEN WE DONT FEEL GOOD.ANGEL IS IN NO PAIN NOW,WHEN ITS TIME TO GIVE HER BACK TO GOD WHERE HE CAME FROM,I CANT SEE MYSELF LOSING HER.I LOST MY WIFE 3 YRS .AGO,AND ANGEL IS ALL I HAVE .ANGEL IS ALMOST HUMAN.GOD GAVE ME A GIFT,OF HER LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING AND DEVOTION FOR SO MANY YEARS.SHE HAS MADE ME A BETTER MAN FOR IT.I WILL MISS HER TERRIBLE WHEN ITS HER TIME.I HAVE ASKED THE VET TO COME TO MY HOME WHEN THE TIME COMES.I WANT ANGEL TO FEEL COMFORABLE IN HER HOME.I WILL BURY HER IN THE BACK YARD WHERE SHE ROAMED AND PLAYED.FOR YEARS.I DISLIKE THE WORD CANCER,WEATHER IT BE IN HUMANS OR ANIMALS.THEY HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO FIGHT CANCER,NOT IN MY LIFE TIME,I HAD TO WRITE THIS AND GET IT OFF MY CHEST.I AM SORRY IF I OFFEREND ANY ONE BY WHAT I SAID.I WILL BE WITH ANGEL TILL THE TIME COMES,I HOPE GOD MAKES IT EASY ON US BOTH
THE RAINBOW BRIDGE IS GETTING CLOSER AND I KNOW THAT ANGEL WILL BE WAITING FOR ME WHEN ITS TIME FOR ME TO MEET HER AGAIN FOREVER,JUST ONE WISH,THATSHE KNOWS HOW MUCH I LOVED HER AND I DID EVERY THING I COULD TO SAVE HER LITTLE LIFE.GOD BLESS ALL THE PEOPLE WITH DOGS,CATS ,OUR LITTLE FUR BABIES WITH FUR COATES.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kelly Meyer on January 26, 2010 at 11:37am: Bill, your post brought tears to my eyes, not only because I love animals, but my Phoebe has been recently diagnosed with cancer (Plasmacytoma) as well! I too HATE cancer and hope they find a cure for this ugly disease!

You hang in there with Angel, she will let you know when it is her time to cross the Bridge!
While I know it does not ease the pain you are feeling, I pray you can find comfort in the fact that you did everything you could for your little girl, and I'm sure she knows that and loves you for it!

Sincerely,
Kelly; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by connie on February 1, 2010 at 5:38pm: Bill,
I wish you and Angel much peace during this difficult time. They are our furry babies and it is so hard to see them sick. You are doing everything you can for her and she is lucky to have you.

Connie; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jill Stout on February 3, 2010 at 6:24pm: I believe that my Bailey knew it was his time to cross the rainbow bridge. He was peaceful and calm and extremely careful of me. He knew I would fall apart. We helped him cross the bridge when it became too much for his body to handle without suffering. He licked my hand until the end. I will miss him for a long time, and be joyful when we meet again.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by bill cronin on February 10, 2010 at 10:07am: YES ,THEY DO KNOW THE END IS NEAR,THEY HAVE INNER SOUL THAT TELLS THEM ITS TIME,BELIEVE ME
I SEE IT IN MY DOG ANGEL,WHO IS DYING OF CANCER.HER EYES ARE ALWAYS ON ME,DOES NOT
LEAVE MY SIDE.TO SPEND HER FINAL DAYS AND TO GIVE ME THE LOVE THAT SHE HAS GIVEN ME FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.BELIEVE ME OR NOT,LOOK INTO THEIR EYES,THEY WILL TELL YOU ITS TIME TO TAKE THE JOURNEY TO THE RAINBOW BRIDGE,THEY SENCE IT .; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Angela on February 21, 2010 at 4:50pm: I too, believe they know. Right before Ti'ana was diagnosed last year, and all of a sudden had trouble standing and climbing stairs, it was almost as if she tried so very hard so I wouldn't be upset. She was a trooper and a strong dog.. and I miss her very much still.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kathi on February 28, 2010 at 1:22pm: I am convinced that dogs know and are almost spiritual, maybe more so than we can comprehend. Earlier this month I lost a 5-year-old Cocker Spaniel, Cruise, to cancer who had just developed a neck lump a few weeks before, and at that time he would stare at me. I realize now he was probably trying to tell me something. . After scheduling exploratory surgery for another potential abdominal tumor, I had a week to spend with him. The few days before the surgery he kept getting on my lap for "doggie" back- and ear-rubs, and the night before he wouldn't get on the bottom of the bed, but chose to sleep right beside me. I still thought he was going to be okay (denial, I guess.).; ▶ Reply to This