Perceptive Pets: A Survey in North-West California

Ever feel like your dog knows you're coming home before you even turn the corner? You're not alone. This phone survey of 200 California households found that nearly half of dog owners said their pets seemed to anticipate family members' arrivals, and a whopping 65% believed their dog knew when they were about to leave — even before grabbing keys or a coat. Cat owners reported similar things, just less often (cats gonna cat). Strikingly, these numbers almost perfectly matched a similar survey done in England, suggesting this isn't just an American quirk. Pet owners who reported these experiences were also more likely to say they'd had psychic experiences themselves. The study laid groundwork for later videotaped experiments testing whether dogs really do react before their owners head home.