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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To wonder if dogs know that they are dogs?

76 replies

OverTheHammer · 14/07/2017 07:44

I mean, in a family setting do you reckon they realise they're different to the rest of the "pack" or do they think we're all the same?

I find it fascinating. I find dogs fascinating and the relationship we have with them - their loyalty and affection towards us - the expression on their faces when they're being mistreated or abandoned. I mean, if they think we're all the same animal, how heartbreaking must it be for them when they're given up on?

OP posts:

dinosaursandtea · 14/07/2017 09:04

YANBU - what I really want to know is if animals interpret human behaviour as different versions of their own. Like "oh, that loud sound they make to each other is their version of mewing" or "when a human puts its mouth on you, that's a sign of affection" (I meant kissing obv, that sounds SO wrong!). Also curious about whether they recognise gender and have just spent the past 12 years feeling sorry for DW and I for trying to mate when we clearly can't make offspring together... fairly sure at least one of them thinks we're very stupid not to have realised this.

KoalaDownUnder · 14/07/2017 09:08

My dog sits on her bottom with her back against the sofa back and her legs straight out in front. Exactly like a person.

She then watches tv with absolute focus, cocking her head from side to side. With extra attention paid to dogs/birds/cats (she's a lurcher).

MackerelOfFact · 14/07/2017 09:11

what I really want to know is if animals interpret human behaviour as different versions of their own

Yes, this! When you're in bed sleeping, do they realise you're doing the same thing that they do when they're in their basket? Do they have the empathy/understanding to translate that into an appreciation of your needs?

Original poster

OverTheHammer · 14/07/2017 09:13

Aww glad you don't all think I'm nuts. My dog is a French Bulldog and he's never actually met another dog of his breed since he left his litter. He tries to get on with all breeds but they don't always like him. Jack Russell's particularly don't like him for some reason. He gets on really well with my friends cockapoos (because they're nuts like him) but doesn't seem to care too much for the Labrador we often meet. He's not aggressive to him but treats him like he just can't be arsed with him! Pretty much ignores him. If he sees a big dog like a German Shepherd or an Akita he pushes the boundaries with them until they snap - this has resulted in his being knocked flying by the paw of a German Shepherd and nearly having his head ripped off his shoulders by an Akita (thank god it was on its lead!). For this reason I think he wishes he was a bigger dog.

I once went ape shit at him after he'd been naughty and he went over to the window and just stared out of it like a child wishing their mother loved them. Broke my bloody (usually cold!) heart. In my head he was looking up to the sky wondering whatever happened to his real mum 😭

OP posts:

PoochSmooch · 14/07/2017 09:24

My older dog is pretty sure she's a human. She's bright enough! We were in the garden yesterday and she had mislaid her ball. She was looking at me quizically, like "where is it?" and I said, just in a conversational tone of voice, not pointing or looking or anything, "it's behind you" - and she immediately whipped round and got it. She can tool use - she moves chairs to help her climb up to get the cat's food. And she always gets up on a chair when we have people round for dinner and sits and listens in to the grown-ups talking She gets frustrated if she's not included.

Husband was freaked out by a dream he had about her. She suddenly stood up on her hind legs and started strolling about like a person. He started yelling "Oh my god, Pooch, you're so weird! Why are you doing that?", and she plumped back down onto four paws and then, with a hurt look on her face said to him "It took me fucking ages to learn how to do that".

Hahahahaha!

Younger dog is all dog. She knows who and what she is and she's happy with that.

KoalaDownUnder · 14/07/2017 09:24

Oh God, your last paragraph is how I felt when I shouted at mine!

She's a rescue that had a hard life before I got her, and I was imagining her thinking 'This is where the love stops and mum starts being mean to me'. 😢

PoochSmooch · 14/07/2017 09:30

Oh, don't. That is making me go all snivelly I don't think that dogs think like that, but then I still wonder...

ArchieStar · 14/07/2017 09:31

My dogs are currently part of a love triangle with the dog next door, it's quite entertaining!

Also, when we first rescued the eldest we tried (and failed) to be strict with her, no jumping on beds, etc. She then pulled eldest DD down off the bed via her dress as DD was getting on the bed! Had to give a firm "not your puppy she's our puppy" speech to DDog. They adore each other now though thankfully.

Original poster

OverTheHammer · 14/07/2017 09:33

Aww Koala don't! 😭 You know that scene out of Oliver! Where Oliver is in the basement singing "where is love?" Out of the window? My dog likes to recreate that scene when he's in trouble

OP posts:

user1492771818 · 14/07/2017 09:34

The cell surface receptor Dog Leukocyte Antigen is similar in different breeds, so different breeds probably smell like each other.

GoodyGoodyGumdrops · 14/07/2017 09:37

I've known two dogs who thought they were cats. They had both been brought into their human families when they were very young puppies, too young to leave their mother, and the established pet was a cat who was either pregnant or had just had a litter. In both cases the puppy was 'adopted' by the mother cat, and treated as one of the litter.

I got to know them when they were already adult dogs. It was weird seeing cats and dogs grooming each other, playing together and sleeping all tumbled in with each other. Weird, but ever so sweet.

Miscella · 14/07/2017 09:44

I spent last night in the spare room as dh insisted on sleeping on his back which makes him snore.

Unfortunately I just traded dh for ddog who insisted on sleeping on his back.....

our ddog definitely identifies as human!

HemanOrSheRa · 14/07/2017 09:49

Figaro2017 · 14/07/2017 09:58

I often think it's such a shame they can't talk to us, our dog is such a big part of our family and i feel sorry for her when we're all talking and she has to stay in her silent world. Being able to bark and cry isn't enough for her. Without wishing to sound bonkers i just hope she doesn't fret about this.

Thank heavens my dogs can't talk. I'm sure they would grass me up to my wife. Every fart, biscuit or sausage eaten that I blame on them would be exposed as all me!!

muddlefuck · 14/07/2017 10:17

I'm sure I read an article about how scientists had decided that cats think humans are just bigger cats, they don't realise we're different

dailydance · 14/07/2017 11:28

I remember reading about that too muddle. I get the feeling that mine think that they eventually grow into a big cat like me.

ellestyle · 14/07/2017 16:01

Haha figaro

redorange89 · 15/07/2017 08:04

Sitting here giggling at this thread, I love that I'm not the only one that sits looking at our dog trying to suss out what she's thinking and wishing I knew.

thelikelylass · 15/07/2017 10:46

We give our dog a voice, he talks in little cockney barrow boy accent, something like one of the little urchins from 'Oliver'. We think this is how he voices himself to his humans, but he could speak chinese for all we know.
He stares me out. All the time.

housewife19 · 15/07/2017 16:38

Can anyone advise me if it's worth paying for 121 dog training ??
Got a 9mnth old labradoodle that's taking no notice of me
Even though we've done all the classes

PickAChew · 15/07/2017 16:40

They must have a ruff idea.

Guitargirl · 15/07/2017 16:43

I don't have a dog but I love this thread

amusedbush · 15/07/2017 16:44

My dog thinks he's my husband. He and I go to bed early and DH comes in later, and DDog is much aggrieved that he has to give up 'his' side of the bed

HelloPossums · 15/07/2017 16:54

Haha I was just thinking about this the other day.

I was watching A Streetcat Named Bob (anyone seen it?), and Bob seemed to behave much more like a dog than a cat Apparently he played himself in the film - he was very cute

Lotsawobblybits · 15/07/2017 16:57

I've often wonder this as DDog loves her human home comforts, food, sofa, bed etc.
She talks as well, lull in the conversation and she makes an how-ow-ow noise.

However, if another dog is on TV she stars intently head cocked ears alert, still looks behind the telly when they go off screen!

She also recognises other dogs when we are in the car. So when we drive past dog walkers she will stare intently, so she must know she's a dog!

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