Will your dog save your life?

Dogs are rightfully considered our best friends. They follow us on our heels, look at us with loving eyes and it seems that they are ready for anything for us. But is it? Will a dog come to the rescue if you really need it? Is the dog ready to save your life?

Photo: shaw.af.mil

Does your dog know when you are in danger?

Let’s start with the main thing: does the dog always understand that you are in danger. Alas, not always. And sometimes the dog’s attempts to save us are quite dangerous. For example, when a person is swimming, and a dog, trying to get closer to him, climbs onto his back and actually pushes him under water.

But there is good news: in some cases, dogs “smell” danger – for example, an impending natural disaster or a change in blood sugar that threatens coma. Sometimes it seems that dogs have a sixth sense (which is still not known to science), thanks to which, for example, they “figure out” people who are dangerous to us.

In addition, dogs are sensitive to your emotional state. So in many cases of impending danger, the dog is still able to understand that you are in trouble. And even if the pet did not sense the danger, but you are aware of it and began to act accordingly, it is likely that he will also connect, following your example.

Do dogs know when danger threatens their relatives?

Dogs are guided by the emotional state of people, but they are also sensitive to the emotional state of other dogs. Researchers from the University of Vienna found that dogs clearly understand when another dog is under stress.

When are dogs ready to help us?

This is a difficult question. If only because, even if the dog understands that you are in trouble, he is not always able to help you. And sometimes, with all her desire, she does not understand what exactly she should do, and sometimes she reacts in a not entirely desirable way. For example, he rushes to protect you from a stranger who just walked too fast in your direction.

In what situations can dogs most often help us?

1. When you are upset. Noticing that you are upset or crying, the dog will most likely try to comfort you. Scientists from the University of London conducted a study that proved that almost all dogs react to human crying, and much more actively than to other sounds (for example, giggling or talking). Most dogs try to lick a person, get on your hands and demonstrate in every possible way that they love you and will never let you down. In the course of the study, dogs even broke through a closed door to comfort a crying owner!
2. predict natural disasters (e.g. earthquake or storm). Dogs can anticipate natural disasters hours or even days before the event happens. They begin to behave restlessly and show signs of stress. So if your dog is acting unusual, check the weather forecast.
3. When meeting dangerous people. Sometimes even a friendly dog ​​starts barking at a certain person, gets between you and tries in every possible way to drive him away. Perhaps you should listen to her opinion? And sometimes dogs, protecting their owners from really dangerous people, even sacrifice their lives.
4. When you are sick. Specially trained dogs, for example, can diagnose cancer and changes in blood sugar, thereby saving lives.

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What dog breeds can protect you?

When it comes to protecting the owner from an intruder, they say that there are breeds whose representatives are more inclined to join the fight. For example, the American Kennel Club considers the following breeds of dogs to be considered “protective”:

• american akita 
• Appenzeller Zennenhund
• Bullmastiff
• Catahoula Leopard Dog
• Caucasian Shepherd Dog
• Central asian shepherd dog 
• Doberman 
• Estrel Sheepdog
• German Shepherd 
• Giant schnauzer
• Bullets
• Romanian Miorite shepherd dog
• Rottweiler 
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier

However, this, of course, does not mean that a dog of a different breed or a mongrel is not ready to save you in case of danger. After all, Charles Darwin was right when he said that a dog is the only creature that loves us more than itself.