Phantom barks?

I've heard other people describe such things as you're describing.  Our dog has been gone for over 7 months, and as much as I pray for him to "visit" me (in dreams or with sounds or feeling his presence), sadly I haven't experienced it yet.  Hopefully, someday he'll communicate with me like that.  I know it would upset me, but at the same time it would be very comforting.
 
The only thing like this that did happen was about a week after he died.  He always wanted to poke his head into the bathroom when DH was in there, so DH never closed the door enough that it "latched."  Tonka would push it open with his head and peer in.  One night when the house was really quiet and DH was in the bathroom, the door suddenly pushed open ajar.  It was probably just some kind of air current or something that caused it to do that, but DH felt it was Tonka checking up on him. 

After Meeko passed, we still heard her tags jingling in the hall or outside.
 
I think it's completely natural when your mourning a loss. You're so used to having your dog around that you expect to hear noises. It's been less than 2 weeks since the passing of my heart-kitty and, once in a while, I think I'll see her out of the corner of my eye. Whether or not it really was her checking in on me is a mystery. I, for one, like to think it really was her, rather than my mind playing tricks on me [].

I know for a fact that my dogs have visited me after they have gone. We were letting invisible dogs in and out of the house for three months after Nika and Hunter died.

Nika was a little cocker who did the very hilarious Bark-and-Spin when she wanted in the house. We all (three of us) very clearly heard that imperious little bark and knew there was a Spin and a Glare behind it even after she passed. It was VERY distinctive.[]

Hunter scratched at the door. Sadie would jump up on my bed (invisibly) making the bed shake. Stevie put his nose in my palm after he was gone, and whined very, very sadly for a week. THAT was disturbing. Sofia would stop and stare, and follow him with her eyes. She could see him, I swear. He helped raise her.

They want to be with us.

My father knocked on the wall above my bed every night after he was killed. I knew it was him. It happened every night for months. It happened to my siblings, as well. It was so comforting to know he was there watching out for us.

You can think what you want, but I for one know that death is a transformation, not an end. The older I get, the more surely I know it.

Jean, all of this must bring such a warm feeling into your heart.
When my best friend Jordan died, I could feel him sit on my bed. I was weeding the edge of the driveway about 5 days after he passed and felt someone brushing against the back of me. I knew it was Jordi and it was the warmest feeling I have ever had. enny use to stare up towards the ceiling and her tail would wag like crazy. She reacted like she does when I come home. Sometimes when I am working outside I hear a bark that is exactly like Pennys. I wish so much I could feel her presence in bed with me at night, I miss her so much. She would always sleep with her back touching mine and if I moved, she would move to get back into position.
I believe with all of my heart that dogs have souls and they do go to heaven. They have the capability of crossing through the thin vail just as our loved ones do.
My dad use to come over and bring the kids bags of treats. I could always smell his cologne on my hands after handling the bags. He has been gone 10 years now and once in awhile I still catch the smell of him on my hands. I absolutely love it, best feeling in the world.

My father knocked on the wall above my bed every night after he was killed. I knew it was him. It happened every night for months. It happened to my siblings, as well. It was so comforting to know he was there watching out for us.

My grandfather who passed in '99 has spoken to me 3 times.  2 of the times he told me to make sure my sister was taking care of "that little tow-headed brat" which is my nephew.   It's really odd, but he and I shared a strong bond-and my sister was always his favorite, so by extension her son is his favorite too.

Before my older husky died, a few mos before when he was seemingly well, I had a dream that he was pulling a sled only it floated on water - me and my children were in that sled.  But the husky was under the water.  It was strangly not too disturbing.  It was like he was just doing his job.
 
I miss him and can drop tears very easily about him.  But I have not had a dream with him and I wish I knew where his soul was.

dogslife, please know that his soul is right up there where it is suppose to be.
I know how easily the tears flow, I still miss Penny so much and wish she was here with me. Maybe he is just waiting for your heart to heal a bit more before he blesses you with a visit in your dreams. Then I am certain you will feel the warmth and love he still gives to you.
(((hugs)))

Thanks Lena. 
 The loss is incredible.  I can't believe how much this still hurts. He was a beautiful creature.  Inside and out.  Always people remarked how sweet and pretty he was.  Gentle, perfect dog.  I told the children that God wanted him because he was so beautiful.   So, I must believe it.
I am thankful for all of the time we had with him.  Even at the end, I treasure each moment with him.  My whole family misses him. 
I think that the dream I had was some subconscious understanding of his imminent loss.  
 

I agree with lena... I think they visit us in dreams when we are better able to handle it.  At least that's the way I feel about how long it took FeFe to visit me in a dream.  Hubby had a dream of her the night she passed, without ever knowing what "Rainbow Bridge" was about, his dream was so similar to it.  That she was back to her young, healthy, puppy-ish ways.  His dream gave him so much peace while I was begging God to please let me see her so I'd know she's ok.  A month later, she visited me in my dreams.  I've had only one more dream of her since.  Unfortunately, I haven't had her visit me in other ways as other speak of... there are times when Trixie comes bouncing thru the doggie door, huffing and puffing that it sounds like FeFe and I keep thinking she's going to run around the corner.  By the way, I love reading how everybody's loved ones show their presence.  I like to think they're our guardian angels, looking over us.  I hope one day to feel Fe's presence as if she's right beside me.

I have only one 'human' version of this... Hubby's mom came to me in a dream, over a year after she passed with a message for his dad.  He had been on meds for depression but wasn't taking them (he was in really bad shape but pretended to us that he was fine)... we had no idea but SHE told me that he needs help, he needs to take his meds and he needs to not be so hard on the people that love him.  It made a huge difference.

I believe some dreams are very powerful and contain important messages.  Of course some dreams are just down right silly at times, making no sense.... like  I once dreamed FeFe couldn't carry her puppies to term so they transferred them over to hubby (he had the big pregnant belly in my dream... hehe).  He had a c-section (how else would he have them? lol) and it was the prettiest litter of puppies I'd ever seen LOL 

I was so broken up when my rabbit Clifford died and he knew I wasn't handling it well and he stayed with me as long as I needed.  I could just feel the presence of his spirit whenever I sat and thought of him.  It was so comforting.  I was just as much a mess when Miko, my Aussie mix, had to be put to sleep but I've never felt the same or dreamed about her and I wanted to very much so I'd know she was ok.  Then I thought about how she must feel about dying: she had finally found a good home with people who loved her and took care of her and made her feel like a queen - she didn't want to leave and wasn't happy about having gone over the Bridge.  I can't wait to see her again there.

I was thinking about him the other day and patting my boy pup.  He looked at me, hoped off of the sofa and came back with the old guys pink teddy bear, He sat it down beside me!  And went and laid down in the kitchen!   Wow.