How do dogs know intruders? Here’s What to Expect

Signs Your Dog is Sensing an Intruder

When a dog detects someone they are not expecting entering their domain, they can exhibit a number of different body language signs depending on the animal’s degree of aggression. The most common signs to look for, even in the most docile of pups, are barking and a general sense of alertness.

While it is difficult to deduce from barking alone whether a dog can sense an intruder or not, it is often an indicator that they are trying to tell you something. If your dog is a little more feisty, they may growl, along with other subtle signs of a discomfort and ire. In contrast, if your dog is on the submissive side, he or she might start whining because an intruder is scaring them or causing them anxiety. Either way, it is likely that an intruder will cause a degree of vocalization from the animal.

Reading body language and knowing your dog’s different sort of barks can be a life-saving skill, especially in instances of home invasion by an intruder. Being able to distinguish a dog’s poor manners from a reaction to protective instinct is challenging to even the most proficient of dog trainers. Often, it just takes time for owners to become attuned to the differences in body language demonstrated for intruders as opposed to familiar faces.

Some signs your pooch may exhibit when an intruder is entering include:

Other signs to look out for when your dog is sensing an intruder are:

  • Running To The Door
  • Raising Their Hackles
  • Waking From Sleep To Bark
  • Jumping Up To Their Feet
  • How do dogs know intruders?

    Dogs were domesticated for several practical purposes – hunting, service, and guardianship. Dogs have been used as guardians of people and places since before history was written.

    Surely, the signs stating “Beware of Dog” are not always for show. Several breeds have been specifically identified as particularly skilled in identifying intruders like the Doberman or the Cane Corso. Even still, it is suggested that all dogs have a sense of territoriality that translates into their ability to sense incoming intruders. This sense of ‘familiar versus other’ has been used advantageously in dogs that monitor border perimeters or police dogs used to seek out suspects in places they ought not to be.

    New articles have covered stories of heroic dogs protecting their families from home invasions and burglaries using their keen senses. For example, the story of Murin, a German Shepherd in Richmond, Virginia, was plastered all over Facebook for weeks. The morbid aftermath of Murin’s brave defense of his people’s home went viral, further reinforcing the idea that dogs can sense an intruder.

    And while the question of whether dogs can sense intruders or not seems all but answered, we might be better served to ask ourselves how, as we think critically about training dogs to indicate the presence of an intruder.

    The Science of Dogs Sensing and Intruder

    How do dogs know intruders?

    There are several scientific observations to be made in the explanation of how dogs can sense intruders. The first is a dog’s ability to conceive of what makes the sounds of their people coming home unique, whether that be keys, footsteps, or their voice. By utilizing their ability to hear so clearly, a dog is typically able to establish firm parameters about what the home environment is expected to be like on a day to day basis.

    Second, a dog is constantly employing their insanely sharp sense of smell. Dogs are able to identify, with ease, the scent of someone they recognize over the someone they have yet to meet. Even before an individual walks through the door, dogs have been alerted to who it is using their senses of smell and hearing.

    Because dogs are historically pack-animals, they perceive their humans as a part of their pack. When the signals they are sensing do not reflect the entry of a pack member, many dogs go on the offensive in order to feign any intrusion.

    #3: Dogs can make medical diagnoses

    Okay, no. Your dog can’t make an official diagnosis. However, there is evidence to show that dogs can detect certain illnesses in humans.

    In our article, 5 Medical Conditions that Dogs Can Detect, we covered some examples that have been most widely researched, including dogs sniffing out cancer, malaria, and Parkinson’s Disease. Since then, recent research has found that dogs may even be able to smell Covid-19, although it will take a while for the peer-reviewed studies to catch up.

    And, it’s not just professionally trained dogs who can detect human diseases. While extensive training is certainly necessary for assistance dogs, scientists theorise that most puppers are able to smell medical conditions.

    One such case was recently reported in the UK, when Barna, an untrained dog, proved that she could predict when her Owner, Emily, was about to faint. Emily has a neurological disorder that causes her to lose consciousness unexpectedly. However, Barna can give her a five minute warning so that she can reach a safe place. Barna, a usually quiet dog, only barks when she senses Emily is in danger, and Emily is sure that her furry friend has saved her life.

    Dogs Tested to See Whether They’d Defend Owner During Home Invasion

    Dogs are creatures with heightened perceptions. They may sense things that we humans may not even see. Our dogs are our best friends, and usually, we get them to have a loyal companion or someone to protect us and our homes when we get in trouble. After all, dogs can be friendly but also very protective at the same time.