Is it true dogs can see ghosts?

[CAJ1]

I'm living by myself at the moment as my other half is away. I live in a house that was built last year on a site that used to be a farmers field.

Last night I was watching tv, I have a corner sofa and was sat in the corner with my puppy lying at the end of the sofa. All of a sudden she leapt up and sat staring at a spot near the window then her eyes seemed to follow something that I couldn't see all the way round the room. She stopped when she reached me but stared intently right behind me and then started growling. I've never heard her growl and she definitly wasn't looking at me. She then barked and ran over to me and was whining and pawing at my knee while still looking behind me.

It absolutely freaked me out and scared me thinking she could see a ghost lol, I ended up going into the kitchen and when I went back to the living room again she got on like normal. Can dogs really see spirits etc? If not, what would you put her behaviour down to?

[China Doll]

A spider.

Seriously. Dogs can smell spiders apparently.

[snags]

^ pmsl.

My dog has no nose...

[CAJ1]

It was sort of high up near where the ceiling and wall meets and I never saw a thing China Doll! She does have a very good sense of smell though, she manages to find all sorts!

[chelle7272]

Yes my dog used to beahve like that with spiders. Just as you describe she would sit up and watch then when it appeared (to me anyway) she'd then race over and eat it if she could catch it in time.

I really miss her now I've moved into a house and there are bl00dy spiders everywhere!

[MissCommando]

Even though ppl make take the mick, I believe they can. My dog once started sniffing something, honestly as though there was in invisible person in front of her and she was growling and the hackles on her back were all up.
I know lots of people don't believe in that sort of thing. I think you have to see it to believe it.
The room went icy cold when the dog went beserk. Did you notice if the room went freezing?

[Old_Geezer]

Your question implies the existence of ghosts. Ok let's assume that to be the case.
Then I have to say that I've not had a dog tell me it was a ghost it saw. Most of them just say bark bark, woof, growl, bark bark, howl.

[Zeuhl]

Is your doggy a Standard, a Miniature or a Medium?

[Purple_Popple]

I also believe they can, my dog used to rush to the bottom of the staircase in my old house, and just sit there for ages looking into space....then he would wag his tail as if 'someone' was there...spooky! No matter how much i called him to me from the staircase he would briefly come to me, then rush straight back, after a short while he would just walk back to me and lay down, this happened on several occasions on and off...

[carmalee]

How will anyone really know any way?

[snags]

Do they see them in black and white or colour?

[CAJ1]

lol, I don't know which would be worse now, a spider or a ghost! :D

No, MissCommando, the room stayed the same temperature although I got goosebumps but that might have been due to me sh*tting myself lol!

Hi Old_Geezer, I'm not a believer really. Just I googled dog staring at something I can't see and it kept coming up with "it sees a ghost"!

[China Doll]

Look... If Howard Marks says dogs can smell spiders regardless of whether we can see them, then I believe him... ;0)

[Canary42]

She's winding you up :)

[CAJ1]

She is a 17 week old lab Zeuhl

Thats strange too Purple_Popple. I hope it was a one off with my dog or at least until my other half is back!

Good point carmalee, I suppose no one knows. I guess I'm asking more for opinions really!

lol good question snags, I'm going to assume black and white!

[andy-hughes]

Dogs hear and smell all sorts of things that are beyond human senses.

Just because a dog stares into space does not infer that its vision is focused os something you cannot see but your dog can. Far more likely is the fact that the dog is concentrating on one of its other senses - hearing and / or smell, so its vision is 'in neutral' as its brain processes stimuli from other senses.

In respect of Purple's post - the same applies. If a dog has its senses fixed on an external stimulus, a noise or smell of which you are unaware, the dog may well concentrate on that, to the point of ignoring anything else, including your call. the sound or smell may evoke a pleasant memory for your dog, and induce tail wagging,but the popular notion that your dog is able to see a ghost is probably just that - a notion, noithing more.

[CAJ1]

Andy-Hughes, I saw your name in the post box and hoped you would have said it wasn't a ghost! Your posts are always informative and I reckon you know everything... no ghosts then! :D

[wendilla]

I used to work in a nursing home years ago and now and again I would take my dog up to see the ladies there .I went upstairs and that morning a gentleman had passed away .I went into the room which was empty and my dog would not come in. He sat and growled. The same happened again when someone had passed away also he had refused to walk past a certain house. Luckily he was small and I had to pick him up .I found out later that someone had hanged themself in that house so yes I do believe that dogs can sense ghosts or something.

[Old_Geezer]

OK, listen up... paws up all you dogs who think they have seen a ghost....
Hmm ... not so many then. ;-)

Seriously, who knows what is going on in the canine mind.

[vivandorron]

Dogs can hear thunder miles and miles away and the sound will echo around the room to them; when we are completely unaware of it. There are lots of natural sounds which dogs can hear that we can't and they do sometimes appear to be fearful for no apparent reason....... However, people who believe in ghosts will tell you that dogs are aware of the supernatural;.. something which I dismiss.

Ron.

[snags]

How does a dog know it's a ghost?