Dogs do not have a full understanding of death as humans do, but they do sense changes related to death through their acute senses and can show behaviors that reflect an awareness that something is wrong. They can detect subtle biochemical changes or scents associated with sickness or dying, and may respond emotionally to the death or absence of a companion or owner. However, dogs do not assign the complex meaning or emotions to death that humans do; they mostly perceive it as a change in their environment or in their own physical state.
Awareness of Death
Dogs may be aware that their bodies are changing or failing as they approach death, and they can sense the distress or grief of humans around them. This awareness is more about sensing physical discomfort and environmental cues rather than a conceptual grasp of mortality.
Behavioral Changes
As death nears, dogs may become more affectionate or clingy, seeking comfort, or alternatively they may withdraw and become lethargic. Some dogs show signs of confusion or restlessness due to cognitive changes and discomfort.
Emotional Responses
Dogs grieve the loss of human or canine companions, showing behaviors akin to sadness, anxiety, or depression. They respond to the absence of their loved ones but likely do not understand the permanence of death. In summary, dogs understand death in a limited, sensory, and emotional way rather than a cognitive or existential one. They recognize changes that signal something is wrong or that a companion is gone, but they do not comprehend death as humans do.
