From saving lives to supporting their owners’ mental health, pet parents have been sharing the remarkably clever behaviour they’ve witnessed from their dogs. Including:
- “Our dog barked and kept running to us to alert us to a serious fire that had started whilst we were sleeping”
- “He reacted to my mum lying on the floor as she had a stroke. He tried to revive her with help from our other dog”
- “She brings my slippers to encourage me to get up in a morning when I’m struggling”
- “She understands my mental health battles and becomes more affectionate when I’m feeling at my worst”
A survey of 1,000 dog owners by Rosewood Pet Products revealed our pets are much smarter than we may realise.
More than half (57%) of pet owners said their dog had supported their mental health, with one pet owner detailing: “She senses when I’m feeling down and struggling with anxiety and reacts naturally with a cuddle and a kiss.”
One respondent revealed his pet saved his family’s life after a cooker overheated and caused a serious fire. The proud pet owner revealed: “My dog saved our lives when our cooker malfunctioned and overheated. He woke us up and alerted us to the fact it was beeping. We managed to escape safely before it caused a fire and burned the caravan down.”
Another beloved dog mum shared, “My sister is prone to collapsing and when she has an episode, my pup turns into a medic dog and pulls her ponytail to clear her airway.”
The survey also revealed the amusing antics our pets get up to: “My pooch purposely rings the bell we have when he needs to go outside to the toilet, knowing my husband will then get up off the sofa, before stealing his spot and quickly making himself comfortable.”
Whilst 85% of loyal pet parents described their four-legged friends as well-behaved, the survey findings proved they’re not afraid to show their mischievous side. Confessing their most red-faced pet moments, anecdotes included, “He once took my underwear off the clothes airer upstairs and brought it down to proudly show off to our visitors!”. Another embarrassed owner shared, “My pup ate an important bill – I felt very foolish ringing the company to explain ‘my dog ate the bill!’”
Bev Panter, Marketing Director for Rosewood Pet, commented: “It’s no secret our pets provide us with love and companionship, but our survey shows how intelligent they can be and in tune with our emotions. Some of these tales are remarkable and reflect the reason why we are a nation of pet lovers.”
