How does a dog know its dying?

Question

I have had a dog dye and a puppy. How do they know there dying. I think they know because you always find them in weird spots they never lay. It seems they want to be alone. my little bit wanted up with my husband and I could tell something was wrong with her that day. so i put her up there with him and come the morning the dog was in between the stove and the wall. she never ever laid there before.

Answer 1

I can't say exactly HOW they know, but they do seem to know, as do many people who are dying. I had an 18-year-old Shepherd/retriever who used to walk with me past the chicken coop (never chased them) to a trail on our property. One day he got as far as the coop and just laid down and looked at me as if to say, "I can't do this anymore." Next day he was dead. I also had a cat who crawled under the fridge to die. I think maybe they can feel their energy going and they go to a private place instinctively, because, in the wild, a sick or dying animal would be eaten by predators.

Answer 2

Dogs are really weird when it comes to sensing death- their own or others. My sister had a sharpei for a LONG time. Near her death, she would lay under the front porch. My sister just couldnt take it anymore, so she enlisted the help of my father to put her down. ( I realize this isnt a cool thing to do, I didnt do it, they did.) My father laid her in the woods behind my sisters house and dug a hole. Mae (the dog) died right beside the hole. It was sad....but she went on her own terms.

Answer 3

I don't know but that's an interesting question.

I had a rabbit once who seemed to know he was going to die but I didn't realize it until afterwards. He was getting old and he hadn't been himself lately, and one night as I went to bed he laid down right in the middle of the room next to my chair, which he'd never done before. He usually slept elsewhere. I didn't pay much attention, but in the morning I found him stiff and dead.

Wow I've never talked about that before. Poor Doug. )-,: If only I had paid attention to the signs he wasn't well.

Answer 4

It's just another instinct. They are hiding their own body against prey. Kinda like judging their own guilt. They would prey on dead animals, in the wild. I have had dogs all my life, and also have found them in the most awkward places. I had a 10y/o boxer, that came up missing - it was about two years when we found her remains.We were remodeling the house. She had dug a hole deep under the house and crawled inside. No wonder there wasn't any smells. Kinda creepy if you ask me. She was with us the whole time, even in the end.

Answer 5

My childhood dog Emma Peel was amiss until we looked under the van there she was laying there all I can say every animal when not feeling well want to die alone

Answer 6

My mini pinscher did the same thing I am a breeder of lab dogs and yes dogs do know when they are going to die they even have sense to know when spirits are around ..

Answer 7

I kinda think they do.

Answer 8

THEY DON'T!!! THEY ***CAN'T***!!!!