why do dogs howl in ireland on the eve of somebodys death ?

[redhead23]

does anyone know the answer please ?

[scotchollie]

Because that person won't be there to feed them in the morning.

[scotchollie]

And my Irish Wolfhound, Bejaysus, howls all the bloody time and nothing's happene............

[redhead23]

lol scotch i wanted a asensible answer man

[scotchollie]

Well, my darling, as I understand it, a dog will howl, to ward off any evil spirits that might try to claim the owner's soul.

Just as the dog protects the master in this world, it will also try and do the same in the underworld.

It's also a sign, pure and simple, that our super sensitive canine friend is sad to be losing his best mate.

[redhead23]

thank you ollie that is a bit eerie !!! i don't like things like that time for a macdonalds me thinks xx

[scotchollie]

Lucky you - my McDonalds is 30 miles away.

Get me a couple of those 99p bacon cheeseburgers will you?

Ta.

[redhead23]

of course - check ur email i sent you its very quiet here tonite , spose most of them are out on the raz !

[Clanad]

I can only assume, that like here in the U.S. (and every country in the world) someone or many someones die every day. Then I can also assume that he dogs must be howling every evening...

[warpig3]

Would there perhaps be a connection with dogs howling and the visiting of banshee's, ie the dogs howl to ward off the banshee's visit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banshee

[Toureman]

Nobody died in Ireland the last time I was there, never heard a dog howl.

[froggequene]

I've never heard anything about dog's howling & banshees but I have been told that the howling of foxes is attributed to banshees. I grew up in the country & did hear several stories about banshees howling around the time of someone's death - they were all living on farms in an area with a large, active population of foxes.

This is a link I found to supersitions about dogs, if you scroll down the page you'll find info on dogs & howling:

http://www.doghause.com/superstitions3.asp

[society]

I have actually heard dogs howl or cry, and owls make noises warning of the death of someone.