While the existence of ghosts is a subject that splits the nation right down the middle, it is certainly a classic trope of many horror films to see dogs barking at supernatural forces. So, does this mean that dogs can see ghosts? First of all, there is no doubt that dogs have other heightened senses, but is a sixth sense one of them? Well, this certainly all comes down to what you believe and what you don’t, but in this blog post, we are going to look at some spooky bits of information surrounding this subject.
A Short History of Dogs and Ghosts
If you have ever thought that dogs have a closer connection to the supernatural than humans, you certainly aren’t alone. Look at a few history books and you will find cultures that have drawn the same links. For example, the Tarascan and Aztec tribes of Mexico both believed that dogs could protect them against ghosts. There are also examples of dogs being close to spirits in mythology. Just think of the three-headed hound Cerberus in Greek mythology. We can also see dogs connected with ghosts and spirits in more modern literature like the Sherlock Holmes novel The Hound of the Baskervilles and Stephen King’s Cujo. Not to mention all the stories about werewolves that have existed through the ages. But are these all stories or is there something more to it? Let’s continue by looking at some of the bizarre behaviors that dogs have been known to engage in.
What Strange Behaviors Do Dogs Engage in?
Now, let’s look at some of the strange behaviors that dogs engage in. Sometimes, your pet will be sitting completely still, before suddenly getting up and following something that you cannot. They may start making noises towards it like barking or growling. Or your dog may adopt a more protective stance, standing in front as if to protect you or another member of your household. There is no doubt that all of these things can seem weird – particularly if they happen on a regular basis. But are there some other explanations?
Do Dogs Have a Sixth Sense?
It certainly seems that dogs are more willing to follow their instincts than us humans. For example, have you ever walked into a place that doesn’t seem quite right? While you may not react, telling yourself that you are just being silly, your dog may respond in aggression or fear. It certainly seems spooky to us when a dog responds in this way, but we simply don’t know what they are responding to. There are other behaviors that seem like a dog’s sixth sense too. For example, if your dog runs to the door a minute before someone arrives, this certainly seems spooky. But it may be a learned action that has become imprinted in their body clock. One of the most amazing facts about dogs is their ability to detect natural disasters before they happen. A possible explanation for this one is the fact that natural phenomena all have odors associated with them, which are beyond the capabilities of our own noses, but dogs have a super heightened sense of smell. They can also detect other things like high-pitched sounds, vague smells, and movements that occur beyond our limited field of vision.
Can Dogs See Spirits?
The question of can dogs see ghosts is not one that we can give a conclusive answer to. The first problem is that we do not have definitive proof of the existence of ghosts! While some people would explain strange dog behavior through their closer links to the spirit world, others would just say that dogs have heightened senses which they are more willing to follow than us humans. We tend to be more analytical and will follow our gut less often. So, the question of whether dogs can see spirits largely comes down to what you believe, but we cannot give a definitive answer either way.
Can Dogs See Things We Cannot?
Dogs have a field of vision that is much wider than our own, meaning that they can see objects at a greater distance and in light conditions that we cannot see well in. So, there is every chance that we are picking up movements that we are not seeing. It is even more spooky when your dog starts engaging in strange behaviors during the nighttime hours, but their enhanced field of vision is a possible explanation for why this is happening. But can dogs sense the supernatural? Ultimately, we cannot be certain.
Other Possible Explanations
One thing that dogs do that make people think that they have some sort of supernatural detection abilities is staring at the wall, but a possible explanation is that there may be some sort of infestation in the walls that your dog can hear and/or smell. It may be time to call in pest control. However, if this has been ruled out, there are some possible disorders that could be affecting your pooch such as canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome. Certainly, if your dog is displaying behaviors that are out of the ordinary, it is certainly worth having them checked over. If there is nothing wrong, this at least puts your mind at ease.
Final Thoughts
The question of can dogs sense ghosts is ultimately one that we cannot answer conclusively here. It all depends on what you believe, and you will probably be influenced by what you have seen and experienced in the past. Dogs are certainly interesting creatures who perceive the world in a very different way to us. It can be interesting to keep a log of your dog’s activities to see if there is a particular area or time of day when they start behaving strangely. As time goes on and more research is conducted, we are going to discover more and more about man’s best friend.
