It’s impossible not to admire, respect and love a dog

An incident last night reminded me of the complexity of the dog’s mind.  It has not been the first time this has happened.

Our 6 year-old German Shepherd dog, Pharaoh, was given a bone as a treat during the previous day and, as sometimes happens, it was a bit tough on his stomach.  So at around 1.30 am, I was woken up.  Nothing so special about that.  But reflect on how this happened.

1.30 am is the part of night where, hopefully, we are in that very deep phase of sleep.  How then does Pharaoh calculate the best way of awakening me so that he can be let out into the yard?  One might consider the various options:

– He barks

– He paws at the bed

– He jumps on the bed

– He scratches at the door

and so on.

What Pharaoh did (and has done before, so this is a calculated behaviour) is very gently put his damp nose onto the side of my face, just below my left ear, which was the part of my face nearest to the edge of the bed.  It woke me so gently from my deep sleep but made me immediately aware (as a parent is when their young child cries) that Pharaoh required urgent attention.

A moment later he was standing by the bedroom door, letting out that soft, quiet whine that is only used when he needs

to use the yard.  Within seconds his collar and lead were on and he was outside doing what nature was prompting him.

No big deal but it stayed with me this morning as I reflected on the empathetic way that Pharaoh had communicated with me during the night.

Dogs sensitivity to the world around them is a powerful reminder that the less we focus in on ourselves the more we learn.

By Paul Handover

• Dog lessons