Do dogs understand human death? A Comprehensive Guide

The Story of Boby, the “Inconsolable Dog”

My uncle “Ciccio,” who lived in a small town in Italy, used to own a white dog named “Boby” who grew very attached to him.

This dog was very smart. Indeed, he was even used as a “courier.” My uncle used to tell him to accompany my mom home and he would accompany her home and then spend the night with her.

One day, my uncle Ciccio decided to travel to the United States. It was the time when The Big Apple attracted hundreds of Italians who would flock across the pond in hopes of a job and living the “American Dream.” The promise of working for the big Ronzoni pasta factory was very appealing to him indeed.

The day of his departure arrived and my grandma and mom were to take over Bobys care. As my uncle entered the car heading for the harbor, the unexpected happened: Boby chased his car through town until his little heart and little legs could no longer resist.

This was unusual as Boby saw my uncle leave by car many times before, but wasnt chasing. Its as if Boby by intuition knew there was something different this time.

Only a bit later, as he watched the car leave, he made an about-turn and headed for my grandmas house. This dogs days filled with joy came abruptly to an end, replaced by days filled with sorrow, always longing for uncle Ciccio.

He missed my uncle deeply. So much so, he became sad and withdrawn and decided to stop eating despite my grandma trying to feed him tasty morsels of food. He eventually got weak and died. His 14-year-old heart just couldnt cope with this change and gave out.

Did this little dog know that uncle Ciccio was still alive and doing well across the pond? Very likely no, but his reaction was similar to many dogs who lost their owners from an accident or disease, so I guess a dog can “mourn” regardless, of whether the owner is alive or not.

And then we have Hachiko as the ultimate proof of dog loyalty and mourning. This dog just like Boby didnt really know what happened to his owner, only that he never came back so he reacted accordingly, waiting for him at the Shibuya train station for 9 years. Unlike Boby, he didnt starve himself and die, but his heart must still have been broken regardless.

One year anniversary of Hachikos death.

Do Dogs Know When They’re Going to Die?

We might think we know whats going on in a dogs mind simply because of the way they return our affection—or slather us with theirs! Scientists continue to be fascinated by the possibilities to enhance our relationship with our canine companions, and theres interesting research on the subject.

For example, in a detailed article for the Dana Foundation, neuroscientist Gregory Berns, author of What Its Like to Be a Dog, pointed out that while some dogs are more eager to play fetch, others are not. Does that mean they dont understand the cue—or understand but just dont want to play? Berns writes, “Its all too tempting to project a human explanation onto the dog, to anthropomorphize. We must be careful in generalizing about dog findings, as there is no such thing as a generic dog. Just like there isnt a generic human.” Since dogs cant speak, Berns says, their behavior tells us a lot about what theyre feeling.

Haylee Bergeland, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA, RBT, is the founder and executive director of the Iowa Human-Animal Bond Society and Daily Paws health and behavior expert. She says its tough to know how much a dog understands or is feeling near the end of their life, but some behaviors might be more apparent. “Many dogs appear to be more clingy or attached, following you around consistently and remaining close,” Bergeland says. “Other dogs seem to distance themselves and want to be alone more than they normally would.”

Shes also noticed some dogs whining and barking more, along with moments of almost hyperactivity, “then suddenly becoming quiet and still—as if they have a desire to expend some energy, have a bit more fun, but just cant quite do it.”

Other researchers and veterinarians rely on “citizen science”, which is a collaborative effort between the general public and professional scientists to study the natural world, to determine how dogs know theyre dying. Naturally, as in-tuned as we are to our pups needs, this leads us to believe they comprehend whats happening to them.

Do dogs understand human death?

Credit: Bigandt_Photography / Getty

Do dogs know when their owners are sad?

Many people report incidents where their dogs have comforted them when they have been upset or crying. Many breeds of dogs are perceptive to body language and will give their owners extra attention if they are hunched over, hanging their head, or teary. Moreover, dogs can also recognise human sweat caused by anxiousness or fear. If you are visibly distressed, a combination of body language and smell may prompt your furry friend to lay by your side, providing you with comfort.

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