A human desire often is to be surrounded by loved ones at the end, but dogs will go away to hide. He might find a hidden spot under the porch or somewhere in the woods. Knowing your dog is in pain and sick is upsetting and you want to be there for him through the end.
Dogs’ Spirits: The Scientific Explanation
Of course, for the firm non-believers, the science behind why these encounters happen also offers an interesting angle.
Psychologists John Bowlby and John Archer claim the “reunion theory” has something to do with why people see, hear and sense their deceased dogs.
While many think grief is just an emotional response to the death of a loved one, these psychologists claim it actually evolved from a way to motivate our ancestors to search for someone who was lost — literally.
Thus, based on the reunion theory, grief causes people to search for a lost loved one, even if subconsciously. Because of that, seeing a glimpse of your dog might not actually be that unusual.
Others have added to the reunion theory with their own studies, claiming the “signs” people see are actually “false recognitions.” In a subconscious attempt to find their dead loved ones, even the smallest resemblance of sight, sound or smell might trigger a false recognition.
These recognitions aren’t completely false, though — a sound similar to a dog’s sigh or the jingle of their collar might be entirely real — but because of that internal longing, they’re simply misinterpreted by those who experience them.
There’s no way to truly tell whether dogs’ spirits remain after they die. That, of course, begs the question: What do you believe?
Keep reading below. The next section of this article was written by a veterinarian, and I think you’ll appreciate hearing her personal perspective on the topic of pets’ spirits and the afterlife. Losing a pet can be one of the most difficult experiences when you’re an animal lover. Photo:
Is there an afterlife for dogs?
But according to a new study, owners of all kinds of domestic animals have become more likely to believe in a pet afterlife – and have used gravestones and memorials to express their faith that they will one day be reunited.
Should I let my dog see my dead dog?
But in case your dog has passed away while dealing with a contagious disease, then you shouldn’t allow your dogs to see the dead dog in any case. The contact with a disease deceased dog could be a potential source of the spread of infection.
FAQ
Can a dog’s spirit come back?
Do dogs say goodbye before they die?