So I've been on the couch all day with a terrible cold. My 13 week old Ella is usually a crazy bouncy girl but has spent most of the day curled up and cuddling with me. She's been so sweet and gentle all day that I was beginning to worry something was wrong! However, she was back to her usual self playing with my husband when he came home before returning to me for more cuddles. Is it possible that she knows I'm unwell or am I just reading into it and seeing what I want to see? Has anyone else experienced behaviour like this? Emily and Ella x
Dogs can certainly tell when we're unwell - that's what some service dogs are trained to sense - but whether they empathise, I'm not sure. I think it's more likely that you're being quieter than normal, so she's not being stimulated as much into her normal batty behaviour. Either way, doggy cuddles are lovely when we're feeling poorly, so enjoy them. I hope you feel better soon.
I`m rarely poorly but Sam seems to sense my moods , if I am unhappy he puts his big head on my knee, I like to think its his way of offering comfort, but maybe he is just ingratiating himself, for a treat
Well my old boy BJ, who was far from well himself, being epileptic, was a very sensitive old thing. If I was unwell or worried, he would snuggle up and lean against me and stay there for ages. Some may say that's daft, but I don't think so. I think these animals are far more sensitive to all sorts of things than us clod-hopping humans will ever realise.
Chepi usually tries to gallop off in front of me, like a filly, when on the lead but when I could barely walk and could only inch along with my broken ankle she just tip-toed along next to me very sensitively. She's back to normal now that I am. I think you can have such a close bond and be so in tune with each other that dogs can observe the slightest changes. They might learn from your tone of voice as well as movements when something is up. Then again, what would I know other than what I have experienced?
