A few years ago, when I was out of town, my husband suffered a pseudo aneurysm which caused him to pass out on the floor. Our goldendoodle woke him up by licking him on the face. My husband called me, and I advised him to dial 911 immediately. After an ambulance ride to a local hospital, and then another ambulance ride to Georgetown hospital, and a required surgery, the situation was resolved. My husband credits our dog for saving his life. That dog seldom left his bedside during the two weeks of his recovery.
Last week, I read an article about a woman who was dying in her hospital bed. She asked if her dog could be allowed to stay on the bed with her. She wanted him to be sure to know that she was dying, and she wasn’t just disappearing and abandoning him. She said if he stayed there with her, he would understand.
On the local news, two nights ago, a house was fully engulfed in flames. A firefighter and a rescue dog entered the house. The dog found a baby at the back of the house whom the firefighter carried to safety. Unfortunately, the baby’s mother had already died before the rescue team arrived.
Then the next day on the news there was a story about an older man who decided to go for a hike in the woods by himself. It got dark. He got super tired and fell asleep. A rescue team led by a rescue dog found him. An ambulance was called, and the man is now recovering from dehydration.
Search and rescue dogs save millions of lives each year. It is estimated that one military rescue dog can save as many as 150 lives during its career in a combat zone. In addition to search and rescue dogs, thousands of therapy dogs assist people with disabilities such as vision, hearing, PTSD, and more. And then there are therapy dogs that provide emotional support in hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and mental health facilities.
Sometimes I wonder whether people really appreciate how smart dogs are. Research suggests that the average dog has an IQ of about 100, Dogs possess unique forms of intelligence that often surpass human abilities, such as an acute sense of smell.
Average dogs can learn about 165 words and signals. They can understand simple arithmetic such as knowing when a treat is missing. Dogs are highly adept at reading human body language (much more so than humans) and can display a range of emotions, such as joy, fear, anger, jealousy, and empathy. They have great problem-solving skills and can solve puzzles, toy challenges, figure out how to open cabinets, and find alternative routes.
Dog breeds that rank high in intelligence include border collies, poodles, German shepherds, and golden retrievers.
I’ve always been intrigued by dogs that Presidents bring to the White House. LBJ had beagles. Jimmy Carter had a border collie. George Bush had an English springer spaniel. Bill Clinton had Buddy the Labrador retriever. George Bush has Barney and Miss Beazley, two Scottish terriers. Barack Obama had Bo and Sunny, two Portuguese water dogs, Joe Biden had Major and Champ, two German Shepherds. (Donald Trump is the only president in more than 100 years who has not had a dog while living in the White House.)
President Harry S. Truman is credited with saying, “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.” Dare I say, truer words were never spoken, especially in today’s toxic environment.
During this holiday season, let’s give a shout out for all the love, guidance, and support dogs bring to our lives.
Maria Grant, formerly principal-in-charge of the federal human capital practice of an international consulting firm, now focuses on writing, reading, bicycling, music, and nature.
