Dogs and empathy

[Spidey66]

So Friday night I tripped over a step and broke my arm. This unfortunately is the second time since 2021, the last time was near the right shoulder and needed surgery. This time its further down the humerus on the left arm. Obviously its painful but not as bad, it's in a cast this time and hopefully I won't need surgery.

Both times though Maggie (4 years old border collie) seems to KNOW I'm in pain. She's normally a bit over enthusiastic with her cuddles but is being calmer. At times she's sat next to me and given her paw as if to say "you'll be fine Mum."

I know of dogs recognising illness through smells but surely a broken bone doesn't smell. Is she recognising from my facial expressions etc that I'm in pain?

They definitely know when you're in pain - I'm not sure whether it's because of body language or scent though.

They're very clever.

They definitely can tell.
I have suffered for years with bad period pain and abdominal cramping. My Labrador would often wake from a deep sleep and come and lie up against my back when I was in severe pain. Her body warmth massively helped but she definitely knew.
They are so clever and sensitive

I had covid for the last three weeks of my pregnancy. Because I couldn't sleep properly or take decent medicine I propped myself up on the sofa downstairs to try and sleep at night. My dog usually ignores me if I come down in the middle of the night when I have occasional insomnia but when I was ill he sat next to me with his head over my legs watching me the whole time.

❤ ahhhh. Good boy 😊

When 1 of my 4 ddogs had major surgery last year we put a single mattress of the floor so she didn't have to use the sofa.. Ddogs literally took turns lying with her with paws touching her... The concern they showed was truly amazing...

They understand so much more than we will ever know. My boy offered comfort to a distant relative whose partner had just died; other than perceiving the sadness he did not know the relative or the dead partner.

He reads my moods infallibly, wish my husband was as good 😉

Of course they know.

Fucking amazing creatures who deserve our eternal respect.

My dogs are PAT dogs and watching the way the interact with different people is awesome. They seem to know when to be gentle and when to encourage interaction with a gentle head nudge and lean in for a gentle cuddle.

One of my collies just knows how to be with people with severe dementia.

I’ve had cats do the same as well.

whenever the kids were ill he’d curl up next to them and stay there. When I was pregnant he never left my side.

I still miss that cat 😭

When I was pregnant with my DS, my gorgeous Weimaraner used to insist on lying next to me on the sofa with her head on my bump. She was my nanny dog.

Oh I had a horse as well who was an a pain in the arse. A part thoroughbred that always acted like he was being asked to walk on hot coals.

we used to pass a special needs school on our hacks and because he was pure black the kids would all get excited about “black beauty”- it was a while ago 😂

The bugger would stand rock still, put his head down, and let them pat, cuddle and fuss over him for as long as they wanted. Then immediately go back to his idiot self as soon as they’d gone.

Border Colllies know EVERYTHING. They are the Kings of Dogs.

Yes they can! Not just dogs either. My cat who usually smothers me of an evening didn't even attempt to sit on me after I had abdominal surgery, just sat next to me for a couple of weeks. They know

My girl knows when I’m having a bad migraine and come snuggles in close. Same when I had Covid and could hardly get out of bed apart from feeding and letting her out, she just snuggled up on the bed with me.

@Usernamenotavailab

My utter bitch of a tb mare would let my DD do anything with her until she hit puberty.

My dog knew my DD2 was pregnant before we did Literally from before she had even missed her period she suddenly became ultra cuddly and just wanted to be near her (usually she's MY dog) DD2 and her dh were living with us at the time and it was so noticible... when DD2 told us at about 8 weeks, I was just relieved as I thought something was wrong with the dog!!!

My gorgeous spaniel has been a sweetheart with DD9 tonight. She's got a cold and is feeling very sad and shivery and was crying earlier. He fet he'd his favourite toy, sat by her and put his head on her shoulder and licked her tears. He lookedost concerned by her being upset as she's usually very happy and chirpy.

God love good dogs. Mine is a real gem.

Yeah they know, I cared for a patient who was dying at home and the family dog didn't leave his side other than for 5 min toilet or food breaks for the last couple of weeks 🥲

DH is unwell and in chronic pain. Our Ddog is large, boisterous and bouncy. She heard him groaning in pain, doubled over in his chair. She climbed onto the next chair, bridged herself over and laid with her head on his shoulder.

Wiser words have never been spoken.

Border Collies are in a league of their own.

but all dogs are just brilliant. We don’t deserve them at all. They are so empathetic and as an autistic person, they don’t put any pressure on me; they accept me and make me feel less shit about myself.

I have a useless lab that has knocked me flat and pulled my back out. Fkn oblivious! I wish she picked up on pain 😫

My German shepherd could tell something was wrong when I was crying last week about the break down of my marriage. She is a very boisterous puppy but she just calmly sat next to me licking my tears and giving me her paw 🥺

I think if you’re moving slower, being more careful etc, that’s what they pick up on but also yes, I totally think they are empathetic, hence when you’re upset they’re totally there for you. Hope things get easier with your arm op

Dogs read our faces and our body language. Our old boy was the most empathetic dog. DD was once mourning being ditched by a (horrible) boyfriend and he just sat solemnly next to her for hours and looked terribly sad and concerned while she cuddled him and cried into his neck. He hated anyone being angry, always knew when anyone was unhappy.

Our current older dog takes the approach that it's her job to cheer you up, come on, snap out of it, let's have some fun!

Dogs, cats and yes horses too.