The recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, and the tsunami in Indonesia a couple years ago, begs the question, can dogs sense earthquakes and other natural disasters?
From a scientific perspective, the evidence is inconclusive about whether or not a dog can sense and predict earthquakes and other natural disasters, but some people believe that dogs and other animals are good at predicting such dangers and are able to warn us minutes before before an earthquake is about to occur.
For hundreds of years people have believed that dogs, cats, and other animals have abilities to predict earthquakes. And that trend has continued today.
In 2003, a doctor from Japan, Kiyoshi Shimamura, claimed that public health records indicated an unusual increase in dog barking just before the 1995 earthquake hit Kobe. However, seismologists are reluctant to accept behaviors like that as conclusive evidence that dogs are able to make predictions about natural disasters. Especially since several studies have already been attempted to understand the behavior of dogs before an earthquake.
In another example, some people claim that earthquakes can be predicted by looking for an increase in the number of missing pet ads in areas prone to earthquakes. The theory suggests that dogs and others pets will leave an area before an earthquake hits, resulting in an increased number of missing pets. Once again, research studies have show that there is no correlation to support these claims.
On the other hand, many people have commented on a surprising lack of animal carcasses after the tsunami hit Indonesia. They suggest that the animals somehow sensed the coming disaster and left the area before the tsunami hit. One theory for this reaction is that animals can sense vibrations and tremors underground prior to a natural disaster occurring, so they up and leave.
However, I think this would more be an extension of a dog’s normal senses rather than some sort of magical sixth sense able to predict an impending natural disaster.
It must be said that dogs do have some senses that are more sensitive than human senses. So, it is possible that they may be able to detect smells, sounds, and vibrations before we are able to tell that something is happening. It is also true that dogs can predict certain things, like that a seizure is about to occur. However, in examples like these, the dogs seem to be detecting certain physical and chemical signs before they can be picked up by humans.
Dogs also seem to be able to use their senses in other unusual and often extraordinary ways as well. There are countless stories of dogs finding their way home after traveling hundred of miles. So it seems possible that dogs may indeed be able to use some combination of natural survival instincts and their senses to tell that we are about to experience some type of natural disaster.
Whether or not you agree that dogs can sense earthquakes and other natural disasters, there is one important truth to be told. Dogs play a crucial role in many search and rescue missions in the aftermath of a natural disaster. They are also used to locate the bodies of loved ones so that they can be laid to rest. Without the keen senses of these wonderful and highly skilled dogs, the job would be much more difficult.
So hats off to both dogs and handlers who work tirelessly in these natural disasters to save who they can, and recover those that they can’t.
Remember, one of the best things you can do is to make proper disaster preparations before they occur.
How about you, do you think dogs can sense earthquakes and other disasters?
Best,
Omar Reyes
While we are on the topic of natural disasters, do you have a first aid kit ready for your dog in case something happens? You can get a good one here – http://dogcarejourney.com/first-aid-kit
I believe that dogs can sense earthquakes. We had an earthquake in Adelaide last night. The dogs were restless and started barking uncontrollably from 8:30pm. They were both doing laps of the yard barking with shackles up for apparently no reason. This lasted on and off all night. One cat ran away and the other came home at 2am, meowing and wanting to come inside. It was at 2am that the dogs were barking uncontrollably again. Nothing would calm them down. 22 minutes later the earth shook, as did the house. It was only a 3.3, but I’m positive my animals knew it was coming.
Dogs have been excellent hunting companions, therapy animals, guide animals, drug-sniffing canines and rescuers. They have done every task imaginable and I strongly believe that they do sense calamities because of their heightened sense of smell and hearing. My dogs have proven themselves to be dependable in fact they have warned me of an intruder so what more of a calamity with such a magnitude.
I agree with what you wrote I think when disaster strikes it’s the humans who are always the last to react. Dogs and animals know better where to go.
The Dog in the pic looks just like my dog who is a Plott hound!!!! My Plott hound lives in the US and after the Earthquake in Japan and when the Tsunami was approaching the US. He was whining like crazy after I left him in form outside. When I let him back out he didn’t go to the bathroom at all. He just was running around like crazy sniffing the ground. He has done this when other earthquakes have happened too! And when a factory exploded 15 miles from my house he was going nuts and didn’t want me to leave the house and that is NOT normal for him. So YES Dogs can sense things and hear and feel things happening a long distance away!!!!
My dog has gone crazy during all the recent earthquakes. Even today after the Spain quakes she has been restless and follows us around. We live in So. Cal. Before/during and after the Japan quakes she was so not herself. She is always checking the dogs, pacing and laying in spots she usually doesn’t such as the bathroom. During the height of Japan quakes she followed me into laundry room and laid next to my leg right on top of the pill of laundry. At a play dog date where my dog and another play she kept wanting to get back to the car and that was during Japan quakes and the other countries quakes recently. It’s so weird. She is only 3 and the last two months her behavior is new. I swear a big one is coming here based on her feelings. she is an Australian Shepard.
My dog has gone crazy during all the recent earthquakes. Even today after the Spain quakes she has been restless and follows us around. We live in So. Cal. Before/during and after the Japan quakes she was so not herself. She is always checking the doors, pacing and laying in spots she usually doesn’t such as the bathroom. During the height of Japan quakes she followed me into laundry room and laid next to my leg right on top of the pill of laundry. At a play dog date where my dog and another play she kept wanting to get back to the car and that was during Japan quakes and the other countries quakes recently. It’s so weird. She is only 3 and the last two months her behavior is new. I swear a big one is coming here based on her feelings. she is an Australian Shepard.
dogs can definitely sense earthquakes that are about to occur – or feel the vibrations under the earth hours before earthquakes surface. We had 2 earthquakes in the last 6 months where I live, and on both occasions the next door neighbors dogs and other dogs from further away were howling non stop like crazy – they sounded like wolves they were howling all through the night and in the morning – i thought it was freaky but didn’t have a clue what was wrong with them, and then there was an earthquake, this happened once in august and once in february. It is not a coincidence – as I have been living next to them for 3 years and they have never howled before – only these two times before the earthquakes happened. Just before a storm hits they start running around and crying and barking – so dogs sense these things for sure.
Hi, I am writing an article for a dog magazine on dog’s ability to detect earthquakes. Please could I quote your comment in my article?
Thanks
Tim
This dog is an older beagle/hound mix. It appears to be bigger than a beagle but smaller than a hound. Here’s my dog story. Had a black lab in Hawaii and he was totally house broken. On two occasions he piddled on the floor (knowing he would be scolded and put out side). The next day an earth quake was reported. He did not want to be inside when an earthquake hit and he knew he would be put outside if he had an accident on the floor. Too bad they can’t tell us.
what kind of dog is in this picture.
shes beautiful
Hi Maryann,
I am not certain what type of dog it is, but I would guess some type of hound/shepherd mix, probably some Beagle.
Omar