How Dogs "Know" Things

Mummy said I should try and explain dogs’ intuitions to you all. That’s a big subject, but I’ll try. (And remember, I’m only 2, so I don’t know everything yet!!)

First of all, everyone knows that Cesar Millan talks a lot about “calm assertive energy”. We dogs pick up on that so fast, we don’t even know we’re doing it! 

But a second factor in the equation – yes, I’m studying math.... ;0) – is the temperament of the dog. In my case, I am described by everyone who has ever known me - from Sara France to my mom, to her friends and the neighbours – as a “laid back” Coton. Of course, we all know there is really no such thing as a laid back Coton, but compared with others, that describes me pretty well. I love to play as much as the next dog, but I don’t mind sitting around looking at the scenery when my mom is talking to someone. If she wants to stay home and read, that’s fine. I’ll have a nap or visit the neighbours. So I have a fairly calm energy myself. I’m also somewhat assertive, but I do give way to older dogs that I should respect, like Ciera. If she tried to eat my food, it kind of ruined my appetite anyway, so I let her. I knew Mummy would give me some more later.

My friend Bean, who is now living with another family, but who used to live with Auntie Moira, was a nervous dog. He had never spent enough time with a family to know the protocols of family living – like where to go potty. Nor had he learned that a human can protect him. He was so used to having to protect himself that he was always on the look-out for trouble, when we went for walks. Trouble is, Auntie Moira was also on the look-out for potential problems, since she was afraid Bean would attack other humans and dogs. It was a case of Auntie Moira being a bit of a worrier anyway, even before she rescued Bean, and Bean being a worrier too. So neither of them ever got relaxed about going out for walks.

The reason I say he didn’t trust his mom to take care of herself is that he “knew” intuitively, that she wasn’t comfortable herself !! Auntie Moira just can’t stand the thought of bothering other people so she was nervous.

You might ask, well, who doesn't mind bothering other people? True, but as an example, my mom just doesn’t expect that either one of us is going to upset anyone. It’s not that she doesn’t care; it just doesn’t occur to her. I’m the same way. I have always expected people and other dogs to like me, since I almost always like them, so neither Mummy nor I are worrying about anything when we go out. Normally....

But things were different on Tuesday. Actually before Tuesday, Ciera and I noticed that Mummy was getting a bit tense. She was trying to get our apartment cleaned up and wearing herself out, doing it. Ciera and I knew that the way she was working was unusual - for her. She was pushing herself too hard. Also, we weren’t getting the same walks we normally get. Something was going on!!

When Mummy started unloading the trunk of the car one day, we began to zero in on what was happening. All of a sudden, stuff I’d never seen before was coming out of that trunk, and most of it smelled like Uncle Jim and Auntie Clare!! We hadn’t smelled them in MONTHS!!! And some of the stuff also smelled like Ciera! Some of her stuff turned out to be in the trunk of the car, too. (Mummy had packed a lot of her things in the trunk, since Ciera didn’t need them, and we are short on space at home.)

OK, so this told us that, whatever was going on, it must have something to do with Ciera, and her mom and dad. Of course, Ciera wasn’t sure what it was, so she got worried, and then, so did I. Well, when Mummy took Ciera to the groomer, we both wondered if there was some connection. Was Mummy going to give Ciera away to someone else – like the groomer, or someone who would be visiting him? When she left Ciera there, I was hoping she had just forgotten her..... Boy, was I ever glad when we went back and got her later!!

But we were doing other weird things that day. Getting the car washed. There were a lot of strange looking little people crawling all over the car and shooting us with hoses. It was a bit scary, and Ciera and I were already nervous. We could tell Mummy was nervous too. She was in a hurry and a bit impatient with us. Plus, you know how people – and animals – give off pheromones telling us when they are nervous, angry, happy or even sick. Yep, we were sure getting that message.


We went home, and Mummy was still rushing around. We didn’t even have time for dinner!! And then back we piled into the car and drove out to the airport!!! Well, I was pretty sure I wasn’t going any place, but Ciera and I both began to wonder if maybe she was. 

Neither one of us was expecting what really happened though!!

When Mummy took us over to where the escalator was, we sat very quietly, because we were worried and overwhelmed. People don’t communicate well with dogs, because their human noses don’t work very well, and they don’t know how to read – or give – body language. When I suddenly heard Uncle Jim cry out, “There they are!” I was thrilled, because now I knew that we had a happy reason for being at the airport. I was so thrilled I ran right over to him for a kiss, forgetting all about poor Ciera, who couldn’t see or hear him. It took her a long time to figure things out, because of that, along with all the commotion and smells of other people arriving and meeting their own families.


When she finally realised that her mom and dad had come home, she wasn’t too sure that she was safe yet, even after we all got in the car together. She was “reading” Uncle Jim and Auntie Clare’s vibes, and they were not happy campers. It had been a very long day for them; in fact, it had been a very long 5 1/2 months! Well, you know how it is when you’re already worried and upset and have been rushing around and not having your nap – or even dinner? You’re already psyched for bad news, and nothing that was happening was making things seem better. We had to drive to unfamiliar places and park, and Auntie Clare got out of the car and left us all.... We dogs had no idea that she was going into the Safeway to get groceries!

Finally, however, we did get back to her place, and the first thing Ciera did was sniff her familiar patches of grass while the humans stood around. When we went into her own apartment, it smelled funny, because strangers had sub-let the place for a few months but, since it was after 9:00 at night and the proper time, Mummy tossed bits of lamb and rice treats on the kitchen floor, which turns out to be where Ciera’s parents do it, and she began to feel better. We both did, plus.... we were hungry!! 

Next thing you know, Auntie Clare was making up the bed with fresh sheets and horsing around with Ciera the way she always used to, so Mummy and I felt a whole lot better about things when we left to have Uncle Jim drive us back home. That was last Tuesday.

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Today - the next Tuesday - we had a BIG surprise!! (At least, I did!) The doorbell rang, and Mummy told me Ciera was here! I flew off the bed and raced down the hall to meet her. I was so excited to see that she was OK, that I couldn’t stop flinging myself on her and hugging her!! Mummy and Auntie Clare sat around and talked for a while, then we all went to Whole Foods and got lunch to eat outside, the way we always used to. It was just so great to see Ciera and her mom and to know that Ciera is a LOT happier, now she knows her mom didn’t abandon her 5 months ago, and everything is OK after all!!


Anyway, I hope this helps you understand a bit more about how dogs’ “intuition” works, that you will be able to figure out how to communicate better with your dog, or at least learn how to figure out what your dog is thinking....


Well, I need my nap now.....