What do dogs know that we don’t?

Have you ever wondered what dogs are thinking? Dogs make an incredible difference in our lives. Our two dogs, Andy, a 5-year-old labradoodle, and Katie, a 9-year-old Yorkshire terrier, make sure our lives are never dull. We often wonder what is going on inside those furry heads.

When we decided to add Andy to the family, we were especially curious about how Katie, the undisputed queen of the house, would react to a much bigger dog of a completely different breed. We had always had Yorkies, and always two at a time. Yorkies may be small, but they are terriers — fearless when it comes to protecting their people and their space. Why do they bark at every perceived threat? Especially the UPS driver? Because they believe they are keeping us safe.

We followed the advice of the kennel where we bought Andy. They suggested introducing the two dogs somewhere other than our home, which Katie considered her territory. So we introduced them at a local park and let them get acquainted. It worked beautifully. The puppy and Katie were curious about one another, and there were no difficult moments. Four years later, they are good buddies who happily share their humans.

Over the years, we have learned that dogs experience the world very differently than we do. Their sense of smell is tens of thousands of times more powerful than ours. There are remarkable stories of dogs detecting cancer, warning of impending seizures, and even sensing hormonal changes such as pregnancy. Their hearing is extraordinary, too. Long before a car pulls into our driveway, both of our dogs are already barking and racing to the door to welcome whoever is coming home.

Dogs also seem to understand how important affection is — for them and for us. Wherever we are sitting, reading, or working, one or both of them are nearby, often curled up in a lap or nestled close beside us. If we're eating a meal, they're stationed under the table, partly because they want to be with us and partly because they remain optimistic that something might accidentally fall their way.

Routine matters to dogs. They don't wear little watches or read clocks, yet somehow they know exactly when dinner should be served. As mealtime approaches, both dogs find Big Guy and give him "the look." When they want to go outside or head for a walk, they come looking for me. Somehow, they always know.

Perhaps there is much we can learn from our dogs. They live completely in the present. They don't worry about yesterday or tomorrow. They find joy in the simplest things — a favorite toy, a walk around the neighborhood, a treat, or simply lying beside someone they love.

Pets aren't for everyone, but for those of us fortunate enough to share our lives with a dog or a cat, they make the world a happier place. As Will Rogers famously said, "If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went."

Maybe our pets really do know something we don’t. They remind us to love freely, take joy in simple things and live in the moment.

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