Not every dog is a four-legged homing pigeon. But some make journeys beyond human comprehension. One of those issues bound to result in heated discussion around a dinner table is the question of whether dogs have a special sense that allows them to find their way back to their family from wherever they may be.
Some people feel that dogs have a kind of homing instinct.
The proposal is that this ability is something like that of pigeons, who can find their way back to their own lofts over distances of many miles. Other people feel that this homing talent is some kind of urban legend that all started with the film Lassie. The first Lassie film was based on one of the most famous and best-loved of all dog stories, Lassie Come Home. In Eric Knight's tale, the beautiful collie escapes from the Duke of Rudling's harsh kennel keeper, and the idea of finding her way back to her home becomes fixed in her mind. So begins Lassie's journey.