Four in five UK dog owners believe pets sense danger
A survey commissioned by Burns Pet Nutrition suggests that millions of British dog owners believe their pets possess an almost supernatural ability to sense danger, distress or illness, with the vast majority saying their dog protects them and picks up on when something is wrong. The findings were released to coincide with the launch of The Burns Bravery Awards, fronted by former Strictly Come Dancing star Karen Hauer, which will honour Britain's most heroic and resilient dogs, including Mountain Search & Rescue dogs, at a ceremony in London this November.
Among the roughly 15 million pet dogs in the UK, 80% of owners said their dog senses when something is wrong and the same proportion trust their dog to protect them, while over a third said their dog had alerted them to a health issue they were unaware of and 22% had been woken during an emergency. More than half believe their dog knows when they are sad, 75% turn to their dog rather than family after a bad day, and 98% said their dog had improved their mental wellbeing. Hauer described a personal experience of a dog sensing her distress and spoke of rescue dogs that, despite past mistreatment, continue to show trust and affection; nominations for the awards are now open ahead of public voting.
- Survey: most UK dog owners believe their pets sense danger or distress
- Findings launched alongside new Burns Bravery Awards, hosted by Karen Hauer
- 98% of owners say their dog boosts their mental wellbeing
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Millions of people in Britain own dogs, and pet owners often talk about their dogs seeming to "know" when something is wrong, whether that is sensing an illness, picking up on sadness, or reacting before a dangerous situation unfolds. This piece centres on a new survey, commissioned by the dog food company Burns Pet Nutrition, which asked owners about these experiences and found that most believe their pets have this kind of protective instinct.
The survey's release is tied to the launch of a new awards scheme, the Burns Bravery Awards, which is being fronted by Karen Hauer, known for her time on Strictly Come Dancing. The awards are intended to recognise dogs judged to have shown particular heroism or resilience, including search and rescue dogs, with a ceremony planned in London later this year and public nominations now open.
The story matters because it touches on the wider, ongoing public interest in the emotional bond between people and their pets, and on questions about how far dogs can genuinely detect danger or distress versus how much of this is owners' perception. It is worth noting the survey was commissioned by a pet food brand as part of a promotional campaign, which is relevant context for how the findings are being presented.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Super Mutt! Millions say their dog has ‘super powers’ to detect danger and know when something is wrong”.