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Do Dogs Have A Sixth Sense?
Sit. Stay. Shake. Many of us enjoy bragging about the things our dogs have learned to do. But some of the most remarkable behavior seems to come naturally, not through training, but through pure instinct or intuition.
Makai, a young German shepherd dog, had no children in his own family but enjoyed playing with the two-year-old boy who lived next door. Their relationship reached a new level one morning when the toddler suddenly bolted
from his yard, scampering toward the street. Before any of the adults could react, Makai raced ahead of the child, gently bumped him to the ground and stood over him, thwarting the attempted escape.
Rusty, best friend and self-appointed protector of a first-grader, perceived danger in a more subtle form. The poodle/setter mix had seemed wary of Steve's playmate from the beginning, watching him steadily and always positioning himself between the two boys when they were together. The parents kept an eye on the situation but saw no reason for concern. That changed dramatically one
Sunday during an afternoon of play in Steve's back yard. The visiting child picked up Rusty's favorite toy and dropped it into a kiddie pool. When the dog looked over the edge in search of his treasure, the boy placed both his hands on Rusty's head, pushed it underwater and held it there with all his strength. The boys never played together again. And Steve's parents learned never to question their canine family member's instincts.
This sixth sense can be equally important in the business world. One corporate executive tells of an Australian shepherd with a gift for sniffing out trouble. Bea is an active, gregarious pup who goes to work with her mom and gets along with almost everyone. But she was less than friendly to one employee, and no amount of gentle reassurance could win her over. When not barking aggressively, she kept close watch on his every move. After several months, the human staff members began to recognize what Bea had sensed immediately. Not exactly a team player, their co-worker was continually stirring up discontent. Worse yet, he was dishonest. The executive discovered that he had been stealing from the business. He's no longer with the company, but the resident character-detecting watchdog is still on the job.
Why do animals so often sense things that we don't? Is it because we rationalize and "intellectualize," while they simply go with the flow of their natural instincts? Whatever the explanation, we'd all be wise to respect their
special gift.
-- Source Unknown
The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too.
~Samuel Butler, Notebooks, 1912
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Be aware that your pets may be drawn to the greenery you decorate with during the holidays. Holly leaves and the bright red berries are extremely toxic to your dog. Consider using artificial holly or other non-toxic greenery.
