Do dogs understand what death is?

Fontanafox

New member
Jan 25, 2011
3,649
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Fontana, CA
Bulldog(s) Names
Wilson & BabyGirl
I took Mr. Wilson out to do his business when he stopped in his tracks and started to tremble. I went over to see what was the matter. There was a dead bird. It had a long tail with white stripes on it. Well the sight of it made Wilson tremble and he was visibly upset. I ran into the house to get some gloves and a bag to dispose of it. I could tell he was distraught and I was surprised at his reaction. I spend so much time with my dogs that I feel like we understand each other better.

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Don't laugh............I was told that dogs can see spirits. ??? Can't prove it, but I believe it. After my 19 year old daughter was killed on Dec. 13, 2009 the dogs would stare down the hall way and sometimes bark at nothing that I could see. Maybe????
 
Don't laugh............I was told that dogs can see spirits. ??? Can't prove it, but I believe it. After my 19 year old daughter was killed on Dec. 13, 2009 the dogs would stare down the hall way and sometimes bark at nothing that I could see. Maybe????

Oh Sherry..I am so very sorry to hear about the loss of your daughter. as a mother of two daughters..this breaks my heart. :hug:

I do also believe dogs understand and feel loss.
 
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I do believe dogs understand death and they do see spirits.
 
Thanks for the big hugs Becky..... If the pups can see her, I'm jealous. :detective: we miss her soo very much. Her name was Summer Daye. :hug:
 
Thanks for the big hugs Becky..... If the pups can see her, I'm jealous. :detective: we miss her soo very much. Her name was Summer Daye. :hug:

Beautiful name ((hugs)) and dogs I believe see spirts ;)

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I believe dogs understand death.

If you've ever seen a dog lose another animal that lived in the house..you can tell they're upset. I think they understand.
 
[MENTION=1714]Sherry[/MENTION] I am so sorry to hear of your daughter passing on. I have 2 daughters, 42 and 43, and losing one of them is my worst fear. My 43 year old had open heart surgery last month.
 
I too am very sorry Sherry to hear of the passing of your daughter.

Do dog's understand death? When our old guy Nitro passed 8 years ago (we had him put down at home in my arms). They told us that it was important for Ace and Orion to see Nitro after he passed and said that they'd come up to him, sniff him and walk away. They were right and did exactly that, except Ace went one step further and gave him a kiss on the face. I sight that I'll never forget. Then they carried on like it was ok from that point on. When Orion passed in January it was so sudden and chaotic that us wisking him out of the house in the middle of the night to try to hopefully get him to the vet in time, we forgot about one thing, Ace. It all happened in front of him and then we came home without Orion. It nearly killed me to watch him night after night, week after week look for his litter mate of nearly 13 years. So having experienced two different sides of of death in dogs and seeing how calm Ace and Orion (the one that passed in Jan.) were, my answer is yes, Dogs understand death. In other animals or humans.
 
Phatty had a "brother" for his first year here - a 12 yr old shar-pei named Bubba. Bubba passed the beginning of this year and we have his ashes on our mantle. Phatty barks at the mantle every single day for no reason. He'll bark at it until we physically move him away. After reading this thread i'm now wondering if this why???? My husband and I never even considered this....

Here's a pic of Bubba & Phats
 

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Phatty had a "brother" for his first year here - a 12 yr old shar-pei named Bubba. Bubba passed the beginning of this year and we have his ashes on our mantle. Phatty barks at the mantle every single day for no reason. He'll bark at it until we physically move him away. After reading this thread i'm now wondering if this why???? My husband and I never even considered this....

Here's a pic of Bubba & Phats
That's funny that you should mention ashes, not in a ha ha he he sorta of way. When we brought Orion's ashes home, Ace did not see me bring them in nor saw me place them on my bedroom dresser but that night he started sniffing there. I even asked my husband "do you think he can smell him." He said no and I said, why not, they have cadavor dogs that can find bodies and dogs that find sniff out illnesses or when someone about to have a medical issue, so why can't he smell him in his ashes.
 
God Bless you all for your kind words and hugs. :pray: This was a excellent discussion. I am very intrigued by the behavior of our furry loved ones. Thanks again, to everyone.
 
I believe they can sense things when I'm down or sick lex and Bo will both love ad cuddle w me. When Bo is at a friends house lex is so lost and BORED! When I tell him bubbas coming home He'll get all excited and pace
 
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