Does your pet alert you?

[shoiji]

Right now there is a story on the news about a dog who rescued the family that was pet sitting him. They went to bed with a pot on the stove. The dog woke up the woman who was able to get the family out of the house which was filled with black smoke.

So, does your pet alert you. I realize that dogs are great at doing this. But has you pet been able to alert you in different situations?

My one cat will start yelling and come running to me if a pot I have on the stove is boiling away. At first I thought she was annoying until I realized what she was doing. No I know to check the stove since I sometimes forget I have something boiling away.

She will also growl sometimes when someone is at the door before the door bell rings.

So how has your pet alerted you that you need to pay attention to something?

[krbshappy71]

We now have a super-alert dog, the bloodhound. She smells people before the other dogs are hearing them, its pretty amazing. She'll whine, pace, they watch her wondering what's up, then they'll hear or smell it themselves and bark. (she's not much of a barker unless they start it)

My Sheltie alerts me to my cell-phone that I don't always hear, especially if its on vibrate on a soft-surface. He'll come up to me, go to the phone, back to me.

They all alert me to the microwave beeping by rushing over to the kitchen, back to me. I'm presuming because they know it means FOOD. But it's helpful as I don't always hear that either, especially if I'm in the basement.

I'm pretty sure if something major happened they'd let me know.

[Palooka]

I think it's cute when my little cat will growl if she hears an unfamiliar noise.

[mndtrp]

No. At best, she'll run to the door before I hear someone knock.

[Missy]

My border Collie will alert me if someone is at the door or in the back/front yard. He's EXTREMELY protective.

The beagle is good at letting us know if another animal is around Cat...dog...bird...fly....beetle....

The cats are good about being tattle tales if the kids are wandering the kitchen at night. they come in and yowl. (if someone is up obviously their intent is in feeding them, so when the kids don't and instead are sneaking a late night snack for them selves, well...the cats take umbrage and come to get kibble from me.)

The bird will squalk if he sees something move on the patio during the day.

[arnie]

I used to have a dog when my kids were smaller. One night,my daughter had a nose bleed in her sleep. The dog paced between my room and my daughter's. I didn't pick up on it until the next morning, when he stayed near her bedside until I went in there to wake her up. Of course, she was terrified because she had blood in her hair and on her pillow. He would not leave her side- until she was calmed down and cleaned up.
Now- I have three cats. They like to wake me before my alarm goes off. Mostly for food- My Siamese cat will sit on my night table and talk to me until I get up and tend to his needs.

[Squidge]

I'm afraid the only thing my cat alerts me to is her hunger...especially in the middle of the night. Her preferred method is poking, prodding, padding, kneading and meowing

I do love her

[frugalfranny]

They both alert me.

I can tell by their bark if it is someone 'just walking by' on the street.......or if someone is coming to the front door........or if someone is in the back yard.

The 'back yard bark' coming from Muff (black girl) is very insistent and fast..........she gets real upset that someone is on her turf!!

[Ceashels]

Cleo alerts us to any one at the door or a cat left out on the porch.
Lacy alerts us to the snow plows, the trash trucks, the school bus, the jet liner 20k feet in the air, the wind, the squirrels, etc.
Precious doesn't notice things outside of her 6 inches of vision.

Cleo is pretty perceptive though and I expect will alert us to other things as well.

[Josephhgoins]

I think Thomas would wake me if the apartment was burning, but only to open the front door to let him out. He would probably try to close it behind him.

As a general rule he couldn't care less about us silly humans.

[Squidge]

I think Thomas would wake me if the apartment was burning, but only to open the front door to let him out. He would probably try to close it behind him.

As a general rule he couldn't care less about us silly humans.

I'm really glad that it's not just my cat that takes this attitude towards humanity.

[Molemommy]

Last easter I was outside talking to my husband on the cell phone when I passed out.... (inner ear infection) and my dog charlie was in the house freeking out... so my husband called my grams to tell someone to look for me... He knew even though I was outside.. he is very intuned to how I feel.... and of course they both allert me to someone new in the neighborhood...

[Trishagirl]

I think he would cause he does whenever someone goes past the house on a bike or just walks by or when the delivery guy is here.

[Carol_AF]

My 5 little ducks have actually saved my life.

I was walking briskly to the greenhouse one morning, with my ducks running along in front of me. They all suddenly jumped to the right and froze on the spot. I stopped to see what had frightened them, initially thinking they had baulked at a tuft of long grass. They hadn't. There was a large King Brown snake behind the tuft, raised up ready to strike should I take another step. I live 20 minutes from the nearest hospital. King Brown venom can kill within 20 minutes. I am very fond of my little ducks!

[shoiji]

Carol, great story. Also reminds me as a child the two cats would stand between me and whatever loose dogs were running around when we were outside. I was always amazed to see the cats stand there ground and the dogs would not come closer.