Why do stray dogs follow me home when I am

1sweet lady · 03-23-2007

out running? This has happened 3 times to me lately and has happened in the past in different cities... I am a runner and a dog that is lost will come from out of nowhere and decide to stay with me. I acknowledge them at first because I feel bad for them but then I don't really talk to them or pet them because I am focused on my run. The dog will stay with me even when I am 4 miles out from my home. On the sidewalk, over bridges in the heat. When I get home I give them water and food and call the owner or animal control.Just wondering if anyone out there knows the psychology behind this because it keeps happening to me?....This has never happened to my husband and he runs more than I do.Edit: This is not meant to present the animals in a negative light..I think they are great but I am honestly asking a question.Thanks to the first answerer...And to the others, I don't smell or have bacon in my pocket..I am usually nice to them because I feel sorry for them.

Jellybean's Mom · 03-23-2007

I have no real explanation for it except that dogs are highly intuitive creatures and they must sense a friendly aura about you.

While I don't believe in co-incidences because everything in life happens for a reason and a season, we've had a few dogs just show up in front or side of our homes in the past. The first time this happened, my husband and I ended up with our first dog, first Poodle ever. We grew up in homes that didn't allow us to have dogs because of allergies, asthma, upkeep and time.

So the choice to have a pet just came upon us one day 16 yrs. ago and the rest, as they say, is Poodle-dog loving heaven history.

Two weeks ago, my dogs were barking incessantly outside while playing in the yard, so I came out to take a look. My neighbor pointed outside of my fence and said, "it that one of your dogs?" I came around on the other side to find a very tired, frightened Yorkie-poo lost and hanging out next to our garage wall and fence.

I gently came up to her, made her feel 'it was going to be ok' and proceeded to bring her into our yard. She smelled so bad from being lost, matted and dirty with a clumped of poo stuck to her her bottom, and unable to walk because the matts were pulling on her hind leg. I gave her some food, water and proceeded to bathe her outside in a tub filled with shampoo.

After I got all of the stuck poo out of her (praise God for latex gloves), I brought her inside and bathed her with warm water and oatmeal shampoo for a second time. Afterwards, I proceeded to groom and shave off the matts from her hair while my husband called the local animal control to pick her up so they can post a picture of her under lost and found in our area on their website since she didn't have tags.

If her family doesn't claim her, my dh and I are considering adopting her and letting her live out the rest of her life in a loving home since she is 12 yrs. old according to the shelter.

I believe since God takes care of all the sparrows, surely older dogs that are stray are no exception.

dude · 03-23-2007

Obviously dogs are attached to you. This is strange. If you have pets at home maybe they smell them or something. Sometimes dogs go after running things. But in this case they're not chasing anything. Vets could know something about this unusual happening, or even some other sort of doctor.

Pikajane · 03-23-2007

lol...you got bacon in your pocket? Maybe there is a scent on you that appeals to dogs.

waljac6108 · 03-23-2007

you must be a good person. dogs sense that. or you have a pork-chop on your neck. LOL just kidding. if my dog don't like ya, i don't like ya. when i meet new people i introduce them to my dog, i trust her judgment on people. she hasn't been wrong yet to date.

LARRY J7 · 03-23-2007

Any dog worth it's saltcan smell a "mark" from a long way off !!!

Mere Exposure · 03-23-2007

Ever hear the phrase "run with the pack"? You are the lead dog running by and they follow the leader. Check out National Geographic's TV show "Dog Whisperer". The host illustrates rather nicely dog psychology--which is far from what most people think they knew.My daughter loves dogs and always tries to pet them and they flee her. They always heel to me like I am their master and I don't encourage it in anyway. It is a natural instinct or assessment by the dog of who is a pack leader (like me or you) and who is of no use to them (your husband or my daughter).