A thread that GF's can't stir shit on, unless they hate dogs.

[Bubbaleo]

AIBU to be think dogs (and cats) are uncannily perceptive to the point of spookiness. One dog I had used to press himself against my legs whenever I had a few stairs to climb. I used to get ratty and tell him off, until I realised he thought he was helping (I have walking difficulties). Another dog would sit squarely in front of any family member who was ill at the time, whenever someone knocked on the door. Just uncanny and brilliant, love 'em!

When DH and I first got together we both had dogs - I had a big hound and DH had a small terrier. Hound and terrier had quite a wary relationship, despite a lot of effort on our part, and would sleep in different parts of the house. After about two years, hound was diagnosed with cancer, to our utter heartbreak. The vet told us there was nothing we could do other than make his last few months as happy as possible, and assured us hound wouldn't have a clue what was going on. We went on holiday the following week with them, hound seemed fine, both dogs played together on the beach, argued over balls as usual, etc, but the next morning, DH found the pair of them sleeping curled up together, terrier's head laid on hound's massive paws, something we'd never, ever seen them do before.

Later that day, hound took a sudden turn for the worse, and had to be put to sleep during the night. We're pretty sure hound and terrier knew what was happening, and comforted each other. I still miss my lovely boy.

Thanks for the lovely (and sometimes sad) stories everyone. Sorry I abandoned the thread, I realised the title was a bad choice of words (after I'd posted) and didn't want to be the cause of a nasty thread, panicked and left! (cowardy custard) Have enjoyed your dog and cat tales

I hate this thread, it's made me cry... (even though they're lovely stories)

My dog dislikes people I dislike. I don't know if she picks up subtle signals from my voice or body language, but it's very apparent to us. She adores the whole family of DPs nice sibling, but totally ignores his other sibling, their spouse and kids (actually, she doesn't ignore those kids, she goes out of her way to avoid them, now that I think about it).

She also had no time for my ex, although the other dog we had then adored him. She loves DP though, and appears quite torn if I go to bed early or he has a lie in, as she can't seem to decide which of us to be with.

I've also known 2 people who suffered from epilepsy and had dogs that would warn them if they were about to have a seizure. That's spooky. Both dogs were terriers, too (a Cairn and a wire-haired fox terrier). I don't know if that's significant.

news.sky.com/story/dog-gets-award-for-saving-sex-attack-victim-10491776

The dog we had in my childhood (who was technically "mine" though truly a family dog) was a wonderful creature, very much in tune with people and their emotions. After a good long life he became ill and my parents were certain the end was near. My sibling and I were away at university, and my mother warned me that our dog might not survive until our next visit. But he hung on until then, we got to see him and made much of him though it was clear he was nearing the end.

On the morning we left to return to university, we both said goodbye to him. At the door I turned to look at him again and he had lifted his head to watch us go. He died that night. I know with every fibre of my being that he waited until he could see us one last time.

I'm sure they are perceptive and intuitive. I still dislike them.

My family dog KNOWS when Mum or Dad is about to come home. He'll be lying asleep on the sofa but will suddenly become restless and start whining at the door. 10mins later, without fail, one or the other of them will walk in the door.

At 10mins they'd be too far away for him to hear the car and it could be 12:30 or 22:30 and he'd still do it so it's not a clock-watching thing. He just senses that they're almost home. It's kinda spooky but my grandma said her dog used to do the same...:

Is there any chance of getting the title changed or the topic moved to The Doghouse? Otherwise it's just going to attract lots of people saying, 'yeah, well, your dog can detect cancer and drive a car, but I still think they stink and should be banned from society.'

Whenever I'm upset/worried about something or ill my dog comes and lays his big lovely head on my lap.

My cat never stays all night on my bed, he usually only stays on for about 10 mins when I go to bed.

On Sunday night he stayed on all day and I work up on Monday with D&V and was ill all day! Like he knew before I did.

A medical detection dog went to my dds school on Monday. She can detect cancer.
And only when told to. How cool is that!
Animals are amazing, so perceptive.

My dog defintely knows when someone is upset.

She's normally glued to me whenever she can, but the moment someone is showing signs of being sad or ill...I can't get her attention for toffee.

I think it's sweet

My ddog was a rescue and was afraid of all kinds of confrontation, raised voices. But she protected me, we slept curled up with each other every night and if we were out late at night and there was a stranger or group acting oddly or paying attention to us she'd puff herself right up and go into an 'on guard' stance (SBT). I don't know what the fuck she'd have done if anything ever came of it but it never did, we lived in a dodgy part of London where people generally didn't fuck with a staff on a big chain who looked like they were up for it! She died earlier this year and to my shame I haven't even shed a tear for her yet but I did the same when my mum died, stiff upper lip, refusing to even think about it. This thread has put threatening tears in my eyes though.

My dogs are very perceptive. They understand more than I think we give them credit for. Dog1 sneaks down the stairs at night if you tell her people are asleep. Any other time she's like a herd of buffalo. She also doesn't jump or pull children or elderly people. Your average middle aged person, steady on their feet gets leapt on as if she hasn't seen them in years but if they are unsteady or elderly or very young she won't jump at them and if I hand her lead to a child she settles down immediately. She doesn't really pull anyway but never so much as tugs at the lead when a child is holding it. It's as if she knows they are frail and she has to be extra gentle. Dog2 is very picky about the type of people walking behind us at night. Some are ok, others get a snarl and hackles up until they walk in front instead. I'm sure he senses something I don't.

My friend who was 24 weeks pregnant at the time popped round before her midwife appointment. All 4 dogs swarmed around her and lay their heads on her stomach and legs. We had never seen them do that before as usually it's a huge welcome from them and they lie down in various places in the living room. Friend went to midwife appointment and they couldn't find baby's heartbeat. I truly believe the dogs knew.

Now when my friend comes round, they all lie at her feet. Every single time.

One of my dogs was crying to get out into the garden at 11pm one night so I opened the door and let her out. She went berserk barking and growling, the others flew out the door and I hear a terrified voice shouting call your dogs off. I have no idea if they were trying to break into the house or the shed or something but they climbed a 7ft fence to get in. I heard them running away.

We had a friend living with us for a while, since she had an ever changing schedule and social life, she could arrive at any time or day or night and many times she didn’t arrive at all. But, half an hour before she arrived, the dog was always sitting by the door.

The dog also used to get into a defensive mode every time I was startled, anxious or had received worrying news, the dog started patrolling the perimeter looking up and down for whatever it may be causing the feeling (he was also very good at catching flies and spiders for me).

Our old spaniel loved my uncle. He lived 1( minutes away from us and joined us for tea every night (bachelor).
You knew exactly when he left his house, even if he went to the shops first, as the spaniel went outside and lay at the gate. (Never a constant time).

My lab knows when I am headed out to work (shifts so again not consistent time) as instead of following me everywhere she takes herself off to bed and refuses to talk to me.

My beloved ddog during childhood was a staffy. Typical terrier would give chase to small rodents, squirrels and cats. But she immediately accepted any pet we brought home as part of the family. This included a big white cat who we once spotted sitting in front of ddog in the garden ‘stroking’ her face with his paws. And ddog was loving it!

Once my pet rat went missing from his cage and I thought I would never see him again. After a long search we finally found him. He was curled up with dstaffy in a blanket in her doggy bed. It was one of the most amazing things I’ve seen.

Dstaffy also once scooped up our pet budgie in her mouth leaving it completely unscathed, just a bit wet! God I miss that dog.

I had a friend's 14yo DS staying with us. His mum was very seriously ill with cancer. We were watching TV and a cancer charity advert came on about cancer survivors and how we can beat the disease. We both knew his mum would not beat cancer and I was speechless and frozen - I just didn't know what to do. Then my huge German Shepherd dog came running into the room, jumped on the sofa and gave the boy the biggest cuddle ever. He just sat on him until things got better.

I'm having a really tough just now.
Certain dogs will come up to me and lean on me comfortingly for a few seconds at present or put their heads on my legs. They can definitely tell although I'm a complete stranger to them.

This is such a sad yet lovely and uplifting thread- I'm really enjoying it and will again. Nominate into Classics?

Dogs are the best judges of people ever. I would never trust someone my dog hated.

@Eryri1981 I’m crying reading that. One of my dad’s dogs went really weird, started sleeping under a bush in the garden and we thought it had a stroke. Then he suddenly got very ill and had a terminal brain tumour. After he died the dog recovered and went on to guard my mum.

Growing up both the dogs would go and lie by the gate whining 10 mins before my dad got home - even though the time varied. It’s like they could hear the car a few miles away?

I’ve got 3 dogs and 4 cats and one of my sons is autistic. None of them care about this except one cat (half Maine coone). Every time he’s in a state, melting down etc she just appears! She goes straight to him, curls up under his duvet. We had an old cat who used to do this who tragically died young of kidney failure and I thought we’d never find another random therapy cat. But we did! He finds her so soothing. She’s my extra pair of hands.

Then I have a cat who was run over and basically a mangled wreck. She was very much ‘fuck off people’ cat. BUT since this happened and I sat up through the night giving her heavy painkillers she still roams the neighbourhood hating people but EVERY night when I clean my teeth she appears, laps up the tap water and then sleeps on me all night. When she dies I will be heartbroken beyond any other pet ever. Even though I think she’s probably just a junkie .

One of my cats disliked my ex. Didn't realise until i broke up with him. She pissed all over the place for the few months I was seeing him. I brought her to the vet to check it wasn't a uti..all fine no uti. I got rid of ex and cat stopped pissing. Quite sure he was the reason. She has good taste :)