Sometimes dogs do things that leave us wondering just how much they really understand. I experienced one of those moments while dog sitting two French Bulldogs. At first, I thought it would simply be another fun experience. I had no idea those two days in their home would leave me with a mystery I still can’t explain.
Meeting My French Bulldogs
I’ve cared for many dogs over the years, but this was my first time dog sitting French Bulldogs. These two Frenchies were four and seven years old, and from the moment I met them, they were hard not to love.
Their mom had to fly out of state to visit an elderly relative and needed someone to care for her two babies. I was lucky enough to get the job.
They were cute, affectionate, and full of personality. They also loved being close to me, and I quickly became attached to both of them. French Bulldogs are known for being affectionate and social companion dogs, and these two certainly lived up to that reputation.
What Were They Like?
These two Frenchies had very different personalities. The younger one was playful and always ready for some fun. He often brought me a toy and waited for me to chase him. Before long, we were running around the kitchen together. It became one of our favorite games.
The older one was more independent. He preferred to do his own thing and didn’t demand as much attention. I wondered if his calmer personality had something to do with being seven years old.
Both dogs loved going outside, although they couldn’t stay out for long. Their short, flat faces make French Bulldogs less tolerant of heat and strenuous exercise, so their outdoor time needed to be limited. Still, they loved going out for a little sniffing and exploring.
Then there were the mornings. Both dogs would come to my bed and snuggle with me. They were incredibly sweet, but there was one thing I wasn’t prepared for—the snoring! The younger one was especially loud. I didn’t know a dog could snore that loudly and still be so cute.
What Happened on the Last Day?
The last day started out normally. Their mom had told me she expected to be home around 6 p.m., so I knew roughly when to expect her.
At about 5:30 p.m., both Frenchies suddenly jumped off the couch and headed straight for the door. They stood there staring as if they were waiting for someone to arrive.
Then they began moving between the garage door and the front door. They would wait for a while, then move to the other door. This continued for about 40 minutes.
What made this so strange was the timing. Their mom’s plane had landed at 5:30 p.m. She was still about 40 minutes away, but somehow, these two French dogs seemed to know she was on her way.
It was almost as if someone had told them, “Mom has landed. She’ll be home soon.”
How Did These French Bulldogs Know?
When the Uber finally pulled up, both dogs suddenly became extremely excited. They started screeching and could barely contain themselves.
What amazed me was that they still couldn’t see who was arriving. The doors were closed, and they couldn’t see the car outside. Yet they somehow knew their mom was there before she even stepped out.
Was it their incredible hearing? Could they smell their mom from a distance? Or were they picking up on subtle clues that I simply wasn’t aware of?
Whatever these two French Bulldogs sensed, I couldn’t explain it and had never witnessed anything like it before.
What Science Says
Well, it turns out my experience with these French Bulldogs isn’t the first time dogs have surprised people this way. Researchers have studied whether dogs can sense when their owners are returning. I had no idea this had actually been researched.
One well-known study involved a dog named Jaytee. Researcher Rupert Sheldrake reported that Jaytee seemed to anticipate his owner’s return during more than 100 observations.
However, another team studied the same dog and reached a different conclusion. Their experiments found no evidence that Jaytee could psychically detect when his owner was coming home.
So, science hasn’t proven that dogs have a sixth sense. They may simply be responding to sounds, smells, routines, or other clues that we don’t notice.
After watching my two Frenchies that day, I have to wonder if there are still things we don’t understand about their remarkable abilities.
What Do I Think?
The more I think about it, the more amazed I am by what dogs can do. Some can detect changes in the human body, including certain illnesses. Others serve as guide dogs or service dogs and help people in remarkable ways.
My first experience with these French Bulldogs gave me much more than two days of dog sitting. It gave me a mystery I may never be able to solve. More importantly, it reminded me how much we still have to learn about these incredible animals.
