A howling dog on a rainy moonless night is a common scene in horror and mystery movies. A dog that stares at nothing and then barks, whines and cowers would certainly make your hair stand on ends and for chill to run up your spine especially if you are alone. Dogs are commonly believed to have the ability to see the unseen. Can dogs really see ghosts? Many dog owning individuals have their own stories about unexplainable paranormal situations that involved the pet. Although it is hard to believe something that is never seen, most people believe that dogs can see ghosts.
What are ghosts and why are dogs believed to have the ability to see these “something” that go bump in the night? A ghost, as depicted by people who profess to have seen one, is an unspecific semi transparent form that resembles the form of the person it once was. Paranormal researchers believe that a ghost or an apparition is the spirit/energy of a person that has died usually from a traumatic or a highly unusual circumstance. Oftentimes, the spirits are not aware that they have died as they are stuck between the level of existence and passing over. These apparitions are perceived by humans commonly through peripheral vision. Most of the times, the presence can be sensed. The odor attributed to the departed and the voices are noticed as well. It is believed that only people with 6th sense or people with an “open” eye can see, smell, hear and feel the presence of ghosts.
Dogs are noted for their heightened senses. The dog’s senses are far superior to what humans have. Dogs are noted to have poorly developed sense of taste. Dogs eat anything that other animals would find offensive. However, the other senses can never be faulted. A dog’s sense of sight, sense of smell, sense of hearing and touch are highly developed. Dogs and other animals for that matter are credited to have a 6th sense as well. These ultrasensitive senses allow the dog to see and sense not only ghosts and spirits but also other paranormal things that humans cannot sense and see.
This phenomenon was demonstrated when a tsunami devastated parts of Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Thousands of people were killed but virtually no dogs and other animals died. These animals were able to escape. It was noted that before the tsunami happened, dogs refused to walk on the beach. Apparently, the dogs were able to sense that something devastating is about to happen.
Unbelievers and skeptics though have a scientific explanation for a dog’s so called ability to see ghosts. Because of dog’s superior hearing ability, it can hear distant sounds that are impossible for humans to hear. Moreover, dogs detect sounds much faster than humans can. For a low sound to be heard by humans, the frequency range has to be from 20 to 70 Hz. Sound frequencies as low as 16 to 20 Hz can be heard by the dog because the 18 or more muscles in a dog’s ear allow for greater mobility. A dog can tilt, raise or lower and practically rotate the ears to be able to hear the sound and pinpoint the exact location the sound is emanating from. Dogs have eyes that can see better in the dark.
A dog that is calmly sitting beside you suddenly growls, stares at nothing and starts to bark. The dog’s whining and barking, the cowering and the tail that is between the legs would certainly make goose bumps erupt. It would certainly be hard to stay calm given that this kind of actuation is commonly attributed to the presence of unseen beings. But it is also possible that your pooch is warning you of an oncoming intruder.
