Image by Dominika Roseclay on Pexels
For new dog owners, or specifically owners who have Pomsky’s as pets. There are strict instructions that come with caring for your dog. However, many animal lovers believe their pets have an extra sense- a sixth sense. This sense is closely linked to the ability to see things and sense things that humans cannot detect with our senses.
In this article, we will discuss the sixth sense dogs seem to have and uncover how much it affects their everyday lives.
What is a Sixth Sense?
This sense is usually defined as a gut feeling or intuition. This means that alongside your other five senses, i.e. taste, touch, smell, sight, and hearing, this sense is heightened compared to the other senses, giving the animal a clearer perception of the unknown based on what they feel and see.
Dog Senses Vs Human Senses
Although dogs and humans have the same five senses, their work can differ slightly. Let’s discuss this difference in depth.
Dogs can see better than humans in the dark and have larger pupils, which means they can let more light in. Their sense of smell is also so much better than humans. A dog’s nose does function at least 10,000 times better than a human’s, but our taste has the upper hand. Humans have at least 9000 taste buds, whereas dogs only have 1700.
Hearing and touch senses are similar, although dogs can listen to higher frequencies from longer distances than we can.
However, it is essential to note that your dog will feed off your senses and energy levels. These are some of the examples that they can feed off using their sixth sense.
- Understanding human moods: Dogs can feed off our emotions and then exhibit them as well. If you are feeling happy and excited, your dog will give off the same energy. If you are feeling a little low? You might find your dog trying to give you extra comfort and affection by nestling close to you or trying to make you feel better.
- Human illnesses: With their incredible sense of smell, it has been established that dogs can smell when we are sick. This means that dogs can smell any volatile organic compounds (VOC) that the human body might give off when ill or having an illness.
- Hearing and smelling: They can also detect differences in the environment around them through the use of their senses of smell and hearing. This means that they can warn you when a storm is brewing or if harmful gasses are in the air.
- Daily routines and activities: Dogs learn their owner’s schedules and are always on time when sticking to them. This means that your dog will know exactly what time you wake up and what time you get home, and if there are any differences in the schedule, they will notice the difference and alert you to activities outside your usual norm.
Behaviours Linked to Sixth Sense Or No?
You might find some behaviours odd for your dog to make, but there is always some reason behind them.
Let’s unpack the different odd behaviours you might notice.
Butt Sniffing
This is done as a greeting, and their nose is the strongest sense on them. This is a much better way of getting to know the other dog by sniffing their butt.
Humping on another dog
Although this is an image you would like to avoid and the embarrassment it brings from having to pull your dog off another one. This is common among spayed dogs, who generally do this to get the other dogs’ attention.
Walking in a circle before laying down
This can be regarded as a tick/habit or even a peace of mind activity. Dogs tend to want to find the most comfortable space to curl up in, and by walking around in circles before settling, they feel that they have made the space more comfy.
An odd stare or glare
Staring at you can mean that they would like to have your attention or that they want a treat. This action can seem odd when they suddenly stop to stare at you.
Chasing their own tail
This behaviour comes from dogs thinking their tails are chasing them, so they run to get away. However, it can go much deeper than this and be a concern for an anal gland problem. Worst case scenario, your dog has an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Eating their own poop
There are a few reasons why your dog does this odd and disgusting behaviour. One, they like the smell and taste of it. Two, they eat it when they are hungry, and there is no food around, and three, the most common reason is that your dog might have parasites (worms).
Conclusion
The burning question is can dogs see ghosts, or is that a myth? this could be both. Some behaviours can be linked to a supernatural presence, whereas others can simply mean that they are doing it for another logical reason.
An important factor is that their senses are much stronger than humans, and because of this, they are able to detect more frequencies and see things that are invisible to the human eye.
Sources
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/do-pets-have-a-sixth-sense
https://www.canadavetexpress.com/blog/unpacking-6-strange-and-weird-dog-behaviors/
