What do dogs understand?
So, being Thursday and all, I'm thinking of #throwbackthursday. And I think of Rocket, my sweet Aussie girl that passed on a couple of years ago.
If you've been following my posts, you know that Rocket was a bit accident prone. She had arthritis in several areas and, we suspect, some type of internal cancer.
Well, we talk in front of our dogs; about stuff, about them, whatever. That's what you do; you talk to people (and often dogs).
One day a couple of years before she died, my husband and I were watching Rocket hobble around a bit. It was one of those days when the barometer had changed and she was feeling it.
We talked about how, one day, it was going to happen that she would be in so much pain that it would be better for us to do the hard, but kind, action of putting her to sleep. We decided that, when the time came, we would give her a nice juicy steak the night before and then do what needed to be done.
We went on with our day to day stuff and didn't think about it. But apparently Rocket did.
Roughly a week later, we had steak for dinner. We had leftovers and, as usual, gave the dogs some. There was an extra large chunk that we put on a plate and gave to Rocket, expecting that she would happily scarf it down.
Not this time! She backed up from it and looked at us with these incredibly knowing eyes. You could hear her say "I'm not ready yet!" It hit us that she not only had heard our previous conversation but remembered the detail about the steak for her last supper.
We laughed uncomfortably because we didn't mean to worry her and had forgotten about the conversation.
I told her "Oh no, we didn't mean that!" I told her that this time it was just left over steak and it was ok to go ahead and eat.
Darned if she didn't just go ahead then and there and happily scarf down that steak.
We learned a really important lesson that day. At least in our household, the dogs do hear what we say; far more than we ever realize!
Do you ever have those times with your dogs? I'd love to hear.
This is a blog hop!
Today we're following the Thoughtless Thursday blog hop. Hosted by Ruckus The Eskie
Co hosted by Barking From The Bayou, and Love Is Being Owned By A Husky.
Yes, we think our pugs are geniuses. Lol ;)
ReplyDeleteOf course they are. Dogs are much smarter than we give them credit for.
DeleteOh my gosh that is the sweetest story! I've always believed that dogs know more than we think they do! <3
ReplyDeleteWe learned something that day. We watch what we say because the dogs understand even if we don't tell them.
DeleteWow! That put a huge lump in my throat. There is no question in my mind that my boys know most of what we are talking about.
ReplyDeleteMade me appreciate my dogs that much more!
DeleteWow - what an incredible story! I've always thought that dogs understand us more than we think and your story is definitely proof!
ReplyDeleteWe were sure convinced!
DeleteWow, what a great story. Dogs are so truly intelligent aren't they?
ReplyDeleteღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
Yes, they are!
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