Can dogs see ghosts? Dogs can perceive things that humans cannot. We hear stories of dogs detecting an approaching storm, the presence of cancer, or an intruder in the distance. They can see, smell and hear things without our knowledge.
Many people believe that, with their extraordinary sensory abilities, dogs can also see ghosts. There’s plenty of anecdotal evidence to support this theory, but what does the science say? The answer may lie in whether you believed in ghosts in the first place.
Can dogs see ghosts?
Any dog owner will tell you that dogs can act weird sometimes. They bark at things that aren’t there, roar past places they’ve been hundreds of times, or chase things we can’t see. When your dog acts like he’s seen a ghost, how you interpret it depends on your beliefs about the paranormal.
Evidence that dogs can sense paranormal activity supports the theory only if you believe in the paranormal. There is no solid scientific evidence for the existence of magical creatures or how dogs respond to them.
Science loves to spoil a good ghost story by offering alternative explanations, yet nearly half of Americans believe in ghosts. So for these people, the question isn’t whether there is a ghost; it’s whether dogs can see it. However, before we can prove that dogs can see ghosts, we need to prove that ghosts exist.
Can dogs see things humans can’t?
Humans have better eyesight than dogs, and they can see a wider range of colors. Dogs, on the other hand, are better at observing movement.
They’re also better at detecting motion in low light. If ghosts tend to appear in the dark, your dog is more likely than you to spot them.
1. Feel the taste of “ESP” more
Your dog’s sense of smell is 10,000 to 100,000 times better than yours. With this “ESP,” or “extra olfactory perception,” it’s no surprise that dogs can smell ghosts before humans can.
There’s even a logical scientific explanation for why your dog can smell ghosts. Anecdotal legend has it that the family dog loved to sit in the deceased family member’s favorite chair. They act as if there is a family member sitting there, curling up on their lap, petting it for attention or licking it.
While it’s possible that the dog “sensed” the presence of the person in this case, it probably wasn’t their ghost. Our smell lingered on the fabric long after we left. We can’t smell it, but your dog can.
2. Hair standing on end
When your dog’s fur stands up for no reason, it doesn’t necessarily mean your dog has seen a ghost. Dogs sense the world around them through their skin and respond to it through the movement of their fur. Angry Cat is actually one of the clearest examples.
When a cat tries to get another animal to back off, they arch their backs and all their fur stands on end. When dogs do this, it’s not always for the same reasons, but the same physiological response. Since dogs can hear sounds four times farther away than humans, they may be hearing sounds that warn them of danger without your knowledge.
3. Dogs are the ultimate positive feedback loop
Dogs are keen observers of human behavior. They read our energies and watch our reactions, and over time they become good at giving us the responses they think we want.
If you believe in ghosts and you believe that your dog can see them, your dog will motivate you when you sense a ghost present. If you’re scared, your dog will show fear by tucking its tail between its legs or hiding behind you. If you’re excited, your dog will become more energetic, too.
If these behaviors result in positive attention to your dog, you’ve just created a feedback loop to motivate your dog’s behavior. Next time they will exhibit the same behavior because they find it rewarding.
4. Can your dog really see ghosts?
While we can’t prove it, it’s possible that your dog actually saw a ghost. Whether it’s a deceased family member’s sense of energy or an obsessed dog, if the energy around them is altered by the presence of a mystical being, then yes, your dog you can feel that presence.
Spooky things dogs can sense
Not only can dogs hear farther away, but they can also hear high-pitched noises far beyond human hearing. This makes them more likely to hear ghost footprints than we are.
They can detect diseases. A dog’s perfect sense of smell has led to the detection of several cancers, as well as pregnancy in humans. Many successful studies have demonstrated their detection capabilities to be accurate.
They bark at things we cannot see. When your dog barks “nothing,” they’re most likely barking at a ghost.
They sense the weather and impending disasters. Some scientists believe dogs can detect seismic activity before an earthquake strikes and can smell changes in the air that herald an approaching storm.
They are afraid of certain places, but cannot explain this fear. Whether it’s a specific corner of your yard or a room in your home, there are certain areas that dogs don’t want to be in sometimes. While they may have experienced trauma there (e.g. noise, fireworks, etc.), many times the fear is inexplicable. maybe they sense something there
So, can dogs see ghosts?
There’s really no way to prove whether ghosts exist, or whether dogs can see ghosts. In fact, dogs can see, smell and feel things that humans cannot.
So whether you think your dog is seeing a ghost, or just detecting something in the distance that you don’t know about, they can sense things that you can’t.
Summary
I’m not sure if dogs see ghosts. But I can assure you that they know there are unusual things going on around them. Believe me, a dog’s instincts are 10 times better than ours.
