How tuned in are these dogs?

[BG and Gavin]

Reading Jennifer's post about Jack's health rising and falling with hers inspired me to pose this question.  In reality, I have been thinking about this quite a bit.  A couple of situations arose recently where Gavin has shown an amazing amount of perception.  I will give you some examples, but would also like to hear your opinion and your examples of times when your doodle has shown their perceptive side.

1. We went to a outdoor party, on the water, with thirty or more people there.  Gavin was off leash as were two other dogs and if you know Gavin, he loves to play with other dogs more than anything.  There was a man at the party that has Parkinsons and was trembling terribly.  After a cursory walk about, Gavin went straight to this man and laid at his feet, ignoring the other guests and the dogs.  He stayed with him for 20 minutes as the elderly man stroked him and spoke to him and amazingly his trembling lessened.  After that time Gavin went on about his business, playing with the dogs, playing in the water and visiting with the other guests.

2. My mother's best friend lost her husband.  My parents and the window came to visit here a week after the funeral and the widow understandably was still quite shaken.  Gavin has met her a dozen times and only shows regular interest in her.  Not this time.  When they arrived, Gavin glued himself to her side and remained with her the entire half hour visit.

3. Recently when I cough or sneeze (ragweed season ugh!) Gavin has come right over and sat at me feet.

4. There is an elderly couple that we often stop and chat with on our walks (she even has treats she keeps in her house especially for "her boy Gavin.").  When Gavin sees them outside I let go of his leash and let him run up their driveway to greet.  My friend walking with me yesterday cringed as she thought Gavin was going to mow the lady down.  She could not believe it when he got half way up the drive he geared right down to a slow walk and sat down right at her side despite that fact that she was making high pitched noises and doing all the things that usually make him jump up.

So...over to you...

[BG and Gavin]

Great story Stella.  Gentle giant!

[Brandi]

I have a few stories to share....

 At this time I had just my lab mix Lucy and my first doodle Magnet.  Mags was about 8 months old then.  Lucy hates sirens of any kind.  Whenever fire trucks or police etc go by our house with sirens blaring she goes out of their mind, howling, barking and notably upset. And she HATES ppl in uniform, mailmen, police, ups, fed ex etc. And at this time Magnet was a WILD puppy and jumped on everybody.  She was a pain in the neck at 8 months old.  April 23 2010 was THE worst day of my life...My father passed away suddenly from a massive heart attack.  He just fell forward in the driveway and was basically gone before he hit the ground.  My mother found him a few moments later and instantly called 911 and started CPR.  While she was on the phone with 911 doing CPR she could hear the sirens coming.  She said that she didn't know what to do with the dogs because she couldn't quit CPR to put them in the house and she knew how they hated sirens and uniforms.  She kept on with the CPR while she waited and listened to the sirens getting closer and closer.  She said when emergency got there and ran up the driveway, she seen several policemen, firemen and paramedics coming.  When they put my father on the guerney  she looked over her shoulder and both dogs were just sitting there just staring.  Never barked, never howled, never got in the way just stayed.  Normally Mags would do the "i dont wanna go in the house yet game" again and my mom said that she said she opened the door and said come on and they both ran right in with no fuss.  My dad hadn't felt good for a few weeks before he died and my dogs were stuck on him like glue.  Lucy especially was on his heels everywhere he went.  During the grieving process after his death, I can honestly say, my dogs were my rock.  They were there everytime I shed a tear, in my face kissing me and cuddling.  

Last fall my mom had shoulder surgery.  Lucy didn't go outside for almost 48 hrs to potty.  She slept underneath my moms recliner and WOULD NOT go out.  We would try to force her and she would do a low moan in protest and sit right at the back door until you let her back in and she would head strait for my mom.  I am a firm believer they know when you don't feel good, and can def sense emergency.  It is truly amazing

[Bonnie and Kona]

The story about your dogs during your father's heart attack is astounding. What loving creatures these are.

My daughter's Golden Retriever loved her through her divorce. She said he kept her alive through the grieving process. He was a true gift from God. He died at 10 from cancer. Our daughter has lived with us since her divorce. A week after her Golden died we got Kona. He is so much like the Golden that it is uncanny. When our second Golden died Kona grieved more than any of us. We ended up getting Owen to try to help Kona recover.

[BG and Gavin]

Incredible story Brandi.  So sorry for the loss of your father.

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

Bailey is 5 months old.  I have (had) 2 cats until Thursday.  My poor kitty was 16.5 and we had to put him to sleep on Thursday.  My other "kitty" yes that is his name, seems a little down.  He knows that his brother is no longer here.

 

Bailey usually chases them both.  I think she senses that "something is not quite right" with Kittty and has been really gentle with him.  She comes over to him and just sniffs and gently greets him with her nose.

 

When you think about it, animals lead with their noses so I think they can smell what is going on even when we can't.   

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Elizabeth I am so sorry to hear that you lost one of your kitties. It can be very difficult for the other animals to adjust and it is so sweet that Bailey senses it!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I am sorry to hear about your kitty.

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

Thanks Ricki and F Parker

[BG and Gavin]

Elizabeth, so sorry that you lost your dear kitty.  Bailey seems very tuned in to Kitty.

[Susan and Sasha]

I just Love All of the stories that  Everyone has shared about their Doodles and pets...

Thank you so much for sharing!

 

Wow...Gavin is So special...and he really will be Great as a therapy dog...No Doubt!

Thank you also for sharing that link with us that was on Utube.

I found it really interesting...and am going to find a copy of the book that you were talking about too. 

 I just find anything about dogs facinating!

 

About Sasha...I do find that she is very in tune with me...people and other dogs...

It's interesting...but I really didn't think too much about this before...

Thankfully none  of us are ill often..but....I do get migraine headaches...and whenever I do...Sasha is always right by my side...with her face laying on me...seeming to be there to comfort me...

She will stay with me and not leave...and make sure that she is touching me the entire time she is there!

Being 80 lbs of Total Love...I must say that I do feel very loved...protected...and just love that my girl is there for me!

 

When I look at her face...it's interesting...but has Always reminded me of a Human more than a Dog.

She will look at me through those amazingly long lashes...with those Big expressive eyes...and I really do feel that she understands what I say...what is going on...and cares and loves!    Not sure that I would say that outside of the DK group...if you know what I mean...Lol...

She has Always been a very loving...want to be touching you all the time type Doodle...and she still is at two years.

 

When I watched the video that you recommened...about how to decode the launguage of dogs...I found the part about what goes on when you pet a dog Very interesting.

The chemical that is released in your brain,,,may be also  released in your dogs brain...and they are finding that it produces  a very real bonding/connection between the two of you...much like a mother and baby.

Wow...how interesting!!

I really do see that when I spend that bonding time with Sasha...

Not a day has gone by that we don't have our "bonding times".  Times where I give her  massages...and there is No Doubt that she is not only "enjoying every minute of it" (smile)...but there is a connection going on with me that is Very Special!

It's Special for her and It's Special for me.

They went on to say that this is directly related to being good for the humans heart...and statistically raises the chance of surviving a heart attact....not having a heart attack...and lowering your blood pressure.

Wow...That Is Amazing!

 

 

 

[Cindy M, Zachary & the Frenchies]

I shared that Zach wakes me up when I cough during the night. The other night he woke me up and I was fine. Gracie, one of the Frencies, was having a nightmare, after Zack woke me up he laid next to Gracie until I got her to stop fussing, and then he went back to the bottom of the bed where he sleeps. So I guess Zach takes care of all of us while we sleep.  I should mention that he is not nearly so gentle with her when they are awake!!!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

How sweet! And so nice to know that someone's watching over all of you!! :)