Maybe My Dogs do Know

[Gillian]

Every so often, we have a day when my two Pomeranians are irritable and it seems that nothing is sending them into a barking frenzy. On these days, I usually end up putting one of them on umbilical (leashed to my body).

Yesterday was such a day. I wonder if they were sensing the NZ earthquake? I live close to three plates and we often get little earthquakes that I don't notice so I forget that maybe, the dogs are sensitive to geological activity that I am unaware of. Recently, my sister told me that we had had a large (1000) number of small tremors and these coincided with my dogs being particularly jumpy. Is the term hair trigger applicable here?

Maybe I should go easy on them and stop accusing them of being annoying and start appreciating that they are sounding an alarm that I am too lacking in sensitivity to understand.

Or maybe they really are being overly sensitive and nothing is going on to upset them.

[neutronstar]

Yes, we have better hearing, and a much better sense of smell. You would be amazed at how much information we can gather by smelling each others butts.

[Orph]

Posted by neutronstar (here)
You would be amazed at how much information we can gather by smelling each others butts.

Ahhhhhhhh. Now your avatar picture makes sense.

[Justplain]

Hi Gillian, those who are in touch with nature know that much understanding can be gained by observing the behaviour of animals. For instance, in the north parts of the northern hemisphere birds start gathering for migration south at times that are predictive of oncoming cold weather even when it doesnt correspond to the 'normal' migration times. I have heard that animals get agitated when forest fires are approaching which humans may not sense. So, yes it is likely your doggies may be sensing tectonic activity. To prove this just keep a log of when this behaviour arises and see if it corresponds to earth tremors. My guess is that you will find a corellation.

[BMJ]

Posted by Gillian (here)
Maybe I should go easy on them and stop accusing them of being annoying and start appreciating that they are sounding an alarm that I am too lacking in sensitivity to understand.

I would agree these little people are loyal, loving and totally devoted to there families. They are doing their job when they sound the alarm for the pack, and I believe they are more discerning than any security system.

[transiten]

Animals can absolutely feel tectonic activity. That's known fo a long time, even small insects like ants and the like. I'm sure you can find info by googeling. Elephants were heading off to the mountains long before the wawes from the tsunami in 2004 hit Thailand f.i.