Can Schnauzers Predict Natural Disasters?

We’ve experienced a few earthquakes near our home lately. Unfortunately, we live on a fault line that can shift now and then, and is potentially due for some major activity. I think our family lives in a combination of preparedness and denial, to be honest. When we recently experienced two 3.7 earthquakes that caused some damage to our rock wall and created cracks in our basement, it was a wake-up call for sure. Our Miniature Schnauzer stayed extra close to us leading up to each earthquake and it made me revisit my curiosity about animals being able to sense natural disasters.

Can Schnauzers predict natural disasters? Maybe. Scientific and anecdotal data is somewhat inconsistent, but there is often a positive correlation between odd animal behavior and natural disasters. The finely tuned and heightened senses of smell and hearing in Schnauzers, along with their guard dog breeding, may alert them to disastrous changes in their environment. However, more research is needed.

Animal Behavior Prior to Natural Disasters

There are numerous narratives about dogs behaving abnormally shortly before an earthquake and how other animals flee, congregate, or otherwise behave differently before a volcanic eruption, landslide, or tsunami. These incidents usually suggest one interesting potential: that many animals can predict a natural disaster or other anomalies in the natural course of earthly events.

You may have noticed that your Schnauzer tends to come back inside the house shortly before it begins raining. Several minutes before an earthquake, dogs are regularly noticed to behave abnormally, become restless, or seem more protective of their humans.

We live on a planet constantly surrounded by frequencies (patterns of vibration) we often don’t even notice. Much of the sound and light frequency is out of range for our hearing and sight.

THE SCHNAUZER COLLECTIVE

Due to a growing understanding of animal senses, as well as anecdotal and first-hand observations and experience, there is a widespread belief that animals, including Schnauzers, can be sensitive to impending natural disasters.

Although there is very limited concrete, scientific proof to validate the idea that animals can predict natural disasters, there is a growing body of evidence that their senses do give them advance notice of changes in our shared environment.

How Sensitive are Schnauzer Senses?

Like humans, Schnauzers have five senses, which include sight, taste, hearing, smell, and touch.

While we technically have access the to the same senses, two Schnauzer senses are much more sensitive that ours: smell and hearing.

Schnauzers can hear sounds that are four times farther away, and can also hear very high frequencies ranging from about 67-45,000 Hz, such as the pitch of the dog’s whistle. The frequency that we can detect is much lower, ranging from about 64-23,000 Hz.

Even more sensitive is their sense of smell which is 10,000 to 100,000 times stronger than that of human beings.

Schnauzer sight is somewhat blurry, color-blind, and nearsighted. However, they see ranges of white, gray, and black better than humans and can easily detect things when it’s dark outside. In addition, Schnauzer’s eyes can sense incredibly small movements that a human cannot.

We win out for taste because we have around 9,000 taste buds as compared to your Schnauzer’s 1,700 for the dogs. However, a dog’s sense of touch is on the same level as humans.

Do Schnauzers Have a Sixth Sense for Detecting Natural Disasters?

A sixth sense is the power to perceive a certain situation or the real nature of a person.  A sixth sense could also be described as simply a strong intuition; an extra and difficult-to-pin-down sense to the basic five senses that human beings and most animals seem to have.

An Extra Sense or Just Heightened Sensitivity?

According to Dr. Vint Varga, animals are quite sensitive and explains that sensitivity is a state of being responsive and aware of the world and everything else around us. We all draw on our basic five senses, but we can also just have a “gut feeling” or extra sense about something that does not seem directly connected to what we are literally seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, or touching.

The proposed existence of a sixth sense, in humans or in animals, is not easy to quantify in any provable way.

However, pet psychologist Marti Miller, believes that both dogs, and human beings have a sixth sense. The difference is that human beings tend to deny or judge whatever they are feeling. A human mind begins analyzing what’s going on when they have a gut feeling about something, but animals seem to just act. They do not judge what’s happening in their surroundings, nor second-guess themselves. They don’t appear to doubt or analyze where the information is coming from nor from which sense. They simply behave according to the data.

The idea of a sixth sense in both humans and animals needs much more research. It’s an intriguing concept and seems to have validity in some situations.

However, in humans, Schnauzers, and all animals, could we just be responding to unknown nuances and sensitivities of our existing five senses? Could our “sixth sense” simply be access to heightened capabilities of seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching?

When it comes to Schnauzers, that is the currently accepted answer.

We live on a planet constantly surrounded by frequencies (patterns of vibration) we often don’t even notice. Much of the light and sound frequency is out of range for our hearing and sight. However, dogs and other animals have access to various ranges of all of the frequencies. For both humans and animals, what appears to be a sixth sense might simply stem from our innate, but sometimes heightened, ability to detect the frequencies in which we are constantly bathed.

For Schnauzers, it may appear that they are able to predict natural disasters due to their sensitive hearing and smelling senses. They may hear changes in sound and pressure frequencies that would indicate movements in the earth or atmosphere. They may smell chemical changes associated with fire, floods, gasses, and more.

How Might Schnauzers Warn Us with Their Behavior?

A Schnauzer may try to tell you that something is not right when they show signs of restlessness and anxiety. If a Schnauzer is hearing or sniffing something different in the atmosphere like a hurricane, a volcanic eruption or a tsunami, it’s most likely they are going to have a difficult time staying calm.

Based on prior anecdotal data, a Schnauzer may become restless, anxious, antsy, and find it difficult to settle down in one place. You should also expect a lot of barking, howling, whining, jumping, and even panting and pacing. Dogs might not fully comprehend what is happening, but they do know that something unusual is pending.

As a result of their guard dog breeding, and their loyal and protective nature, a Schnauzer is likely to increase their protective contact. If you notice that your restless dog is having a difficult time leaving you on your own, is trying to monitor you, or is consistently trying to sniff, touch, or lick you, then something might be wrong.

Can Schnauzers be Trained to Warn of Danger?

While it is not clear as to whether we can specifically Schnauzers to sense natural disasters and warn those around him, you can train a Schnauzer to communicate their heightened senses in a way that alerts you to anything unusual in your environment.

In addition, Schnauzers can be trained as excellent Search and Rescue Animals (SAR) to help in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. They also make excellent Therapy Dogs and Service Dogs and can be of help in coping and healing.

If you are interested in any type of specialized training for your Schnazuer, contact an organization or agency that specializes SAR, service, or therapy training. With the assistance of trained professionals, your dog can learn how to focus on specific skills, and also pick up any changes in wind, the weather, or some other minor details.

Even with a trained Schnauzer, you will have to learn how he is alerting you to the specific changes to know what their reactions are, and then you can develop and sharpen those reactions into some signals that can alert you.

Undoubtedly, one of the most important aspects of utilizing a Schnauzer’s sense of danger is simply to be keenly aware of his behavior and responsive to what he might be trying to tell you.

Keep your Schnauzer Safe: Tips to Include in your Family Preparedness Plan

When you are preparing your family’s emergency plan, you should consider the special needs of your pets as well. As valued, loved members of your family, their general well-being and safety should be a priority, especially when a disaster strikes.

Here are some quick tips to help keep your Schnauzer safe in the event of an emergency.

• Always include all your pets in your family’s emergency planning.
• Have an emergency kit for your Schnauzer, at least pre-packed half-way, and easily accessible in your home.
• Ensure that your Schnauzer’s emergency kit contains portable water and food, toothbrush and paste, coat and blanket, and any medications he needs.
• Ensure that you have some accessible means of transporting all your pets at all times, such as dog carriers, backpacks, or even strollers.
• Make sure your pets are used to traveling on a lead, in a carrier, or a car before an emergency.
• Ensure your Schnauzers is microchipped and is also wearing ID tags.
• Secure your schnauzer in your house to help you find them easily in case you are evacuated in a hurry.
• Always know where you’ll be able to evacuate your family members and your pet when disaster strikes.

Additional Questions:

Do Other Animals Sense Natural Disasters?

Many animals have more finely tuned and developed senses than human beings. Dogs excel in hearing and smelling, but may also sense changes in moisture and atmospheric pressure. Among domestic animals, there are consistent reports of cows failing to give milk, bees abandoning hives and hens not laying any eggs before tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, and tsunamis.

Insects and bats can also discern ultra-sounds, which are inaudible to human beings. Flamingos and other birds have also been reported to fly to higher grounds before tsunamis hit. Sharks change their motion patterns before a cyclone or hurricane hits, and elephants behave erratically before a volcanic eruption or landslide. Every animal species uses their innate senses to detect changes in their environment. Observing and learning from their behavior can give us clues to be alert to natural disasters.

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