Doggy empathy and grief....

kamicowzi · 09-02-2010, 08:01 AM

I read an interesting interview that was posted on Dogster yesterday about "doggy grief". The vet that they interviewed strongly believes that dogs feel grief and empathy and I whole heartedly agree.

While I have yet to see a dog grieve (thank goodness), I do know that I have some pretty bad days (even just recently), and both of my dogs have always been there right with me. If it's a bad day and I lay in bed all day, the beag will be right the bed next to me like a furry little stuffed animal keeping me company, and my big old mutt, Elvis, will always lay on the floor next to the bed guarding me, and they both stay like that until they know that I am back to being myself.

I really believe that dogs are a lot smarter than they are given credit for. I know that I have seen my dogs use basic problem solving skills (which led to Elvis learning to unlock dead bolt doors and the door itself to let himself out) and emotionally dogs are almost always spot on with how their "owner" (I don't like using that word as I consider my dogs family members but that is the best word I could come up with) is feeling.

What do you guys think or have seen in regards to this?

Oh and as a funny aside, I am 6', just got out of the army, and covered with tattoos. Why do I say this? To give a humorus frame of reference for the fact that I am freaked the h**l out by cicadas (little ugly, loud bugs). Yeah they don't bite or sting, but man they are some ugly SOBs and I just hate them.

So I was outside smoking the other night, and one decided to come to close for comfort, so I attempted to kill it with a broom....it gave me the reach to maintain a good distance so the bug couldn't get me. Well I got it knocked out of the air, and even though it was still twitching, I was convinced that its reign of terror was over.

I was wrong. When I got up the next morning to let the dogs out, it started to make that accursed "buzz" and freaked me out. Luckily, my beagle Priscilla came to my aid. She eyeballed the cicada and one fell swoop....she ate it. I have seen her eat them before, but I'd like ot think that this time she was doing it to protect me....but I have my thoughts that she just likes them because they are crunchy.

baker'smom · 09-02-2010, 09:29 AM

I absolutely think that dogs show and feel empathy and concern. I had hit my had badly on a doorknob and Baker tried so hard to make it all right again. He ended up getting me to laugh and all was good again.

And love the idea of Priscilla protecting you against the evil cicada! Ha!! Brilliant!

kathiam · 09-02-2010, 10:25 AM

All in a days work for the furry super heros. They fight crime wherever it exits whether it's an evil bug giving you the willies, a strange noise that needs to be investigated and howled at, a toilet paper roll that is wound up too tightly and needs to be loosened to protect you from exploding tp, or a smelly sock that needs to be destroyed they are always there to protect.

I have been having a tough time off and on the last few months as my father has kidney cancer and was in ICU for 28 days. This all happened right after I got Lily so he has not had a chance to meet her yet. I have been taking like a million pictures though and sending them to my mom to show dad and the pictures alone seem to put a smile on his face. Hopefully he will be coming home on the 18th of this month assuming he continues to do well in PT and I look forward to bringing Lily for him to finally meet. She never fails to put a smile on my face when I am having a bad day and I know she will do the same for him.

I have to crate her during the day to try and get her used to being alone to try and ease her separation anxiety. When I go to let her out her ears go flat against her head and she whines and wiggles and gets so excited and practically licks my face off. It's almost overwhelming to see the love she has to give. I can't imagine life without her.

ljas · 09-02-2010, 12:33 PM

I have seen animals grieve for each other. When my shepherd, Xena, died, one of the cats stopped eating for a week. Years ago, when our lab mix, Genny, died, our Newfie mix, Murray, nearly grieved himself to death. He stopped eating, and I ending up spoon feeding him for a months just to keep him alive.

Dogs are sensitive to our feelings and illnesses. The kids say that Beagle ears are meant for wiping tears - and I have seen Sophie listening patiently to confidences - and responding with snuggles and licks. Lately, if I have a bad asthma attack, she brings me the nebulizer mouthpiece!

I feel that dogs have intelligent hearts.

Tucker · 09-02-2010, 01:12 PM

Several years ago when our first beagle Cleo passed, Tucker just mopped around the house for a week. Last year my wife had her gall bladder out. Tucker laid by her side for a week keeping her company while she recovered.

kamicowzi · 09-03-2010, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kathiam

All in a days work for the furry super heros. They fight crime wherever it exits whether it's an evil bug giving you the willies, a strange noise that needs to be investigated and howled at, a toilet paper roll that is wound up too tightly and needs to be loosened to protect you from exploding tp, or a smelly sock that needs to be destroyed they are always there to protect.

I have been having a tough time off and on the last few months as my father has kidney cancer and was in ICU for 28 days. This all happened right after I got Lily so he has not had a chance to meet her yet. I have been taking like a million pictures though and sending them to my mom to show dad and the pictures alone seem to put a smile on his face. Hopefully he will be coming home on the 18th of this month assuming he continues to do well in PT and I look forward to bringing Lily for him to finally meet. She never fails to put a smile on my face when I am having a bad day and I know she will do the same for him.

I have to crate her during the day to try and get her used to being alone to try and ease her separation anxiety. When I go to let her out her ears go flat against her head and she whines and wiggles and gets so excited and practically licks my face off. It's almost overwhelming to see the love she has to give. I can't imagine life without her.

Heh except if the sound is a police siren at 2am they both decide to howl at...like last night...grrrrr.

Ahhhh...how I miss the days when my dogs used to welcome me home like a rockstar...Priscilla will still sometimes act all excited....but Elvis just looks at me from his perch on the couch and just grunt...and that's if he's not lying on his bed. If he's on his bed, I might as well have not even come home at all. :P

ArthurDudley · 09-03-2010, 12:00 PM

oh totally ^^ my last dog always got when i was sad/mad/happy... & these 2 have had me over twice & were so very sorry for doing it lol!!

09-02-2010, 08:01 AM	#1 (permalink)
kamicowzi Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 34	Doggy empathy and grief.... I read an interesting interview that was posted on Dogster yesterday about "doggy grief". The vet that they interviewed strongly believes that dogs feel grief and empathy and I whole heartedly agree. While I have yet to see a dog grieve (thank goodness), I do know that I have some pretty bad days (even just recently), and both of my dogs have always been there right with me. If it's a bad day and I lay in bed all day, the beag will be right the bed next to me like a furry little stuffed animal keeping me company, and my big old mutt, Elvis, will always lay on the floor next to the bed guarding me, and they both stay like that until they know that I am back to being myself. I really believe that dogs are a lot smarter than they are given credit for. I know that I have seen my dogs use basic problem solving skills (which led to Elvis learning to unlock dead bolt doors and the door itself to let himself out) and emotionally dogs are almost always spot on with how their "owner" (I don't like using that word as I consider my dogs family members but that is the best word I could come up with) is feeling. What do you guys think or have seen in regards to this? Oh and as a funny aside, I am 6', just got out of the army, and covered with tattoos. Why do I say this? To give a humorus frame of reference for the fact that I am freaked the h**l out by cicadas (little ugly, loud bugs). Yeah they don't bite or sting, but man they are some ugly SOBs and I just hate them. So I was outside smoking the other night, and one decided to come to close for comfort, so I attempted to kill it with a broom....it gave me the reach to maintain a good distance so the bug couldn't get me. Well I got it knocked out of the air, and even though it was still twitching, I was convinced that its reign of terror was over. I was wrong. When I got up the next morning to let the dogs out, it started to make that accursed "buzz" and freaked me out. Luckily, my beagle Priscilla came to my aid. She eyeballed the cicada and one fell swoop....she ate it. I have seen her eat them before, but I'd like ot think that this time she was doing it to protect me....but I have my thoughts that she just likes them because they are crunchy.

09-02-2010, 10:25 AM	#3 (permalink)
kathiam Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 450	All in a days work for the furry super heros. They fight crime wherever it exits whether it's an evil bug giving you the willies, a strange noise that needs to be investigated and howled at, a toilet paper roll that is wound up too tightly and needs to be loosened to protect you from exploding tp, or a smelly sock that needs to be destroyed they are always there to protect. I have been having a tough time off and on the last few months as my father has kidney cancer and was in ICU for 28 days. This all happened right after I got Lily so he has not had a chance to meet her yet. I have been taking like a million pictures though and sending them to my mom to show dad and the pictures alone seem to put a smile on his face. Hopefully he will be coming home on the 18th of this month assuming he continues to do well in PT and I look forward to bringing Lily for him to finally meet. She never fails to put a smile on my face when I am having a bad day and I know she will do the same for him. I have to crate her during the day to try and get her used to being alone to try and ease her separation anxiety. When I go to let her out her ears go flat against her head and she whines and wiggles and gets so excited and practically licks my face off. It's almost overwhelming to see the love she has to give. I can't imagine life without her. __________________

09-02-2010, 01:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
Tucker Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Riverton, UT Posts: 890	Several years ago when our first beagle Cleo passed, Tucker just mopped around the house for a week. Last year my wife had her gall bladder out. Tucker laid by her side for a week keeping her company while she recovered. __________________ Steven, Tucker, Yuki & Niko

09-02-2010, 09:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
baker'smom Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Philadelphia, Pa Posts: 532	I absolutely think that dogs show and feel empathy and concern. I had hit my had badly on a doorknob and Baker tried so hard to make it all right again. He ended up getting me to laugh and all was good again. And love the idea of Priscilla protecting you against the evil cicada! Ha!! Brilliant!

09-02-2010, 12:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
ljas Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 710	I have seen animals grieve for each other. When my shepherd, Xena, died, one of the cats stopped eating for a week. Years ago, when our lab mix, Genny, died, our Newfie mix, Murray, nearly grieved himself to death. He stopped eating, and I ending up spoon feeding him for a months just to keep him alive. Dogs are sensitive to our feelings and illnesses. The kids say that Beagle ears are meant for wiping tears - and I have seen Sophie listening patiently to confidences - and responding with snuggles and licks. Lately, if I have a bad asthma attack, she brings me the nebulizer mouthpiece! I feel that dogs have intelligent hearts.

09-03-2010, 12:00 PM	#7 (permalink)
ArthurDudley Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 144	oh totally ^^ my last dog always got when i was sad/mad/happy... & these 2 have had me over twice & were so very sorry for doing it lol!!

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