Five Things Your Pet Knows Before You Do

Many pet owners believe their pets have extrasensory powers, sensing things before humans do. Whether it’s a dog becoming restless before a stranger arrives or a cat staring at unseen sights, science reveals pets’ extraordinary senses offer clues we can learn to interpret.

This article explores five fascinating things your pet might know before you do, helping you better understand and respond to their behaviour.

1. Knowing When Someone Is Coming to the Door

If you own a dog, you’ve likely experienced a moment when your pet begins pacing, barking, or watching the door intently, even when you’re not expecting visitors. Dogs can detect minute sounds humans often miss—like a car engine idling or footsteps approaching—and pick up familiar scents early. Their internal clock and awareness of daily routines also help them predict when family members or friends usually return home.

Dogs use a combination of highly sensitive hearing, smell, and even subtle vibrations to alert themselves and you to an approaching visitor. This early warning can be helpful in managing excitement or anxiety.

2. Sensing a Storm Before It Arrives

Pets often act nervous or unusual well before a storm hits. This behaviour isn’t just coincidence; animals like dogs, cats, and rodents are sensitive to changes in air pressure, humidity, and electrical charges in the atmosphere that humans cannot detect.

This evolutionary ability gave wild ancestors a survival edge, allowing them to seek shelter ahead of time. Today, it helps domesticated pets respond instinctively to approaching adverse weather. Understanding this can prepare owners to comfort and reassure their pets during storms.

3. Detecting Seizures or Medical Episodes

Although science hasn't fully explained the mechanism, many people with epilepsy or seizure disorders report their dogs and sometimes cats sense seizures before they happen. Specially trained seizure alert dogs can sometimes provide early warnings by recognising unique behavioural or scent changes in their owners.

These medical alert behaviours harness pets’ acute senses and close bond with their humans to improve safety and quality of life, showing the amazing capabilities pets have beyond companionship.

4. Recognising Certain Illnesses by Smell

Dogs’ sense of smell is vastly superior to humans', particularly in breeds like the Bloodhound puppies, known for remarkable scent-tracking abilities. Research indicates trained dogs can detect conditions like cancers, diabetes, and infections from samples or odors given off by affected individuals. This has led to innovative diagnostic methods in some medical fields.

While widespread use of medical detection dogs is limited by resources and training complexity, their abilities highlight the untapped potential of canine olfaction and the importance of ethical, reputable breeders who support such specialised traits.

5. Predicting Imminent Death

There are many long-standing stories about pets sensing when someone is near death. For example, some cats have been observed staying close to hospice patients shortly before death. Scientists theorise that pets may respond to subtle physiological changes like changes in body heat or scent that occur before death.

While more research is needed, these behaviours reflect pets' deep emotional intelligence and sensitivity to changes in their human companions, underscoring the profound bond between pets and people.

Promoting Responsible Pet Ownership

While discovering these remarkable pet abilities, it’s vital to approach them with empathy and responsible care. Ensuring your pet’s wellbeing through regular vet visits, proper socialisation, training, and ethical breeding practices helps maintain their health and sharp senses.

If you’re looking to find a puppy or adopt a pet, always choose reputable breeders or shelters prioritising animal welfare. This commitment helps nurture these incredible natural talents and deep human-animal connections.

Reading your pet’s signals can enrich your relationship and improve their quality of life. Remember, pets often know more than we realise—learning to listen makes all the difference.