My parents got a Pound Puppy for the family many years ago, a mutt that loved everyone in the house and everyone who visited. A truly great dog.

My mother was prone to migraines, sometimes so bad that she would lie in bed with a wet towel on her forehead. The dog would lie next to her, pressing up against her to share body heat, knowing it helped. A beautiful thing to see!

Dogs know.
I don’t know how they know but a little gimp in your walk, a little limp from a sore knee or just stiffness from a sore back and they are right there.

Best buddies I’ve ever had were canines…best buddies my wife ever had were canines.
Dogs know.

Between what RichardC and egregore stated. They are wired for this, and if you’re in the pack, they use it to your benefit.
I had a dog that had a stroke last year and the first two weeks after he became immobile one of my other dogs was constantly grooming his back, specifically along his spine.

On another note, for example, a horse can sense your heart rate 2-3 feet away from you.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:

quote:

They train dogs for all sorts of things like letting a person know when they're about to have an epileptic attack.

They literally smell it, like with diabetics and their blood sugar (either high or low).

One of my teenage son's friends just learned he has type 1 diabetes. For years his dog has been waking him up in the middle of the night. He would get up and eat something, then go back to bed. I think that dog probably saved him from a significant medical issue.

I tell my wife that I like having a dog because it means that when I come home, there's guaranteed one person who will be happy to see me. Wife and/or kids might not like me that day, but the golden retriever always will.

quote:

Originally posted by shikemd:

I tell my wife that I like having a dog because it means that when I come home, there's guaranteed one person who will be happy to see me. Wife and/or kids might not like me that day, but the golden retriever always will.

Reminds me of the joke:

Your wife is at the front door, yelling and knocking for you to open it, at the same time your dog is scratching and barking at the back door, which one do you let in....

The dog, it will stop barking once you open the door......

I have had dogs that will come up and start sniffing where I've had a bruise or cut on my leg or arm, the cut I get, the bruise is interesting they found it...

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:

quote:

Originally posted by shikemd:

I tell my wife that I like having a dog because it means that when I come home, there's guaranteed one person who will be happy to see me. Wife and/or kids might not like me that day, but the golden retriever always will.

Reminds me of the joke:

If you lock your wife and dog in the trunk of your car for an hour, one will be truly happy to see you when you open it.

While they surely know what’s wrong with us, they are also very child like. My wife doesn’t allow dogs on the furniture. She left on a plane to Boston a while ago and here is Jelly right now.

Dogs have an attachment to their people that I never experienced from any other animal. We drove 13 hours to FL yesterday, and when Moose wasn't curled up on my wife's lap sleeping he was doing this:

Obviously your driving terrifies him.

Cee_Kamp, I showed my wife a pic of your dog and she squealed "OMG cutest dog ever!!!!!!!!"

I have loved dogs my entire life, and have had many. Currently have three miniature poodles.

My daughter and her husband just had our first grandchild - she is a month old now. She also has three dogs, one of which is a miniature poodle related to ours. Yesterday, the baby was on her back, under one of those things with items hanging down for the baby to reach for. The poodle, wagging her tail, brought her a ball and dropped it at her feet, wanting to play with her. It was one of the cutest things I have ever seen!

^^^ AllenInAR,

May into June 2025 I did a 2500+ mile solo motorcycle trip and was away for 7 or 8 days.
I got a phone call from the better half on the second day I was gone.
It seems that Hagar knew I was gone and stepped up his "Sheriff Dog" routine and the better half wasn't getting any sleep.
Every time a vehicle drove by the house during the night, or the automatic icemaker in the refrigerator dropped ice cubes into the bin, he was off the bed and barking.
Due to thunderstorms activity, I almost had to extend the trip duration for an additional day but ended up arriving home as planned.
Within several days, Hagar had calmed down with his "Sheriff Dog" activities and returned to shared house patrol duty.
The better half said she couldn't have endured another sleepless night.