Interesting behaviour by Mad Maxx

[Lab_adore]

I have a very good friend who has Cystic Fibrosis, so her breathing is a bit laboured but otherwise you wouldn't know. Maxx has always been completely obsessed by her and today cemented that. We haven't seen them for a while but we spent a long weekend last Christmas, a day at their place in late summer then they came here for OH's birthday in June. Each time Maxx jumps and jumps at her, trying to get to her face/mouth.

Today I thought 'he is four months older now, he will be normal with her'. Nope. Her husband might as well not been here; it was all Sue. Normally after a few minutes of a new arrival he normally calms down so I put him behind baby gates for 15 minutes then brought him out. Mistake. He took a flying leap onto the couch (he has NEVER done that) and gave her a massive lick right up her face. Oh. how. embarrassing. She was fine...I think, just a bit weirded out. She said her cousins dog does the same thing to her and no-one else.

Do you think he senses her different breathing or something?

 

[HAH]

This is curious isn’t it? My only thought is that dogs are often drawn to things that are outside the usual, and to physical problems/difficulties - on a tiny scale, if we have any scratches, cuts or bruises, Kipper tends to seek them out and lick them if he can. I wonder if Maxx picks up on your friend’s breathing difficulties and is drawn to her mouth/face to try and ‘help’, to put a human slant on it. Awks for you though...

 

[Lab_adore]

I think she is ok with it. She and her hubby used to dog-sit our first lab a lot and they adored him and he them. But Benson was a totally chilled-out dog vs puppy Maxx. She knows he will (dear God hopefully) calm down eventually. When they left he sniffed all around the chair she was sitting in

 

[HAH]

I guess we’re assuming it could be to do with her CF; maybe she just smells like catnip to Maxx? He’ll definitely chill over time, and probably she gives off ‘friend to dogs’ vibes which will only encourage Maxx’s love of her

 

[Stacia]

I think dogs are empathetic if something isn't quite right. My find slipped over yesterday and Rourke jumped all over her as he was worried. Years ago when my OH had a heart attack and bypass, I was invited to a friend's house for a meal, I was feeling very low and her Whippet jumped on the sofa and tried to lick my face, I could feel the care she was trying to give me. So I think Maxx picks up on the CF and is doing his best to make her better

 

[Aitch]

I know some dogs react to a diabetic hypo so I wouldn't be at all surprised if they reacted to other bodily distresses. They are very intuitive.

 

[SwampDonkey]

They probably can smell the difference people who have CF have different Body secreations.

 

[FayRose]

I agree with what everyone else says. Our dogs hooters are so very sensitive, I wonder what we smell like to them? I don't doubt that they pick up differences, after all dogs that are - incredibly to my thinking - trained to smell illnesses and dogs that can sense when an epileptic owner is about to have a seizure are picking up something. Maybe smell, maybe body language that we are not aware we are showing. It's fascinating.

 

[Naya]

I do believe that dogs can scent when something is wrong medically. When I come home from work, Harley always sniffs by my left ear and this determines if she plays or is chilled. It always matches with how I am feeling physically.