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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:

Ski37 · 15/07/2017 17:06

I don't have a dog (although I would love one!) I do, however, have a cat who seems to think he's a dog- he constantly brings sticks into the house for me then chases them and brings them back again when I throw them out again- he may just be wondering why I keep throwing his 'presents' away. He also gets a very hurt look on his face if I try and tell him off which makes me stop every time..... probably why we have no boundaries now and all the 'rules' I was going to stick to when I first adopted him have fallen by the wayside 😂

Roomba · 15/07/2017 17:18

My Hungarian Vizla didn't just think she was human - I'm pretty sure she actually thought she was The Queen

OutwiththeOutCrowd · 15/07/2017 17:25

Dogs can often be more 'human' than humans when it comes to recognising that a human member of their pack is in need of love and attention.

But I think, despite not being able to recognise themselves in the mirror, that they are aware of their own dogginess and that their smell is similar to that of the other dogs around. And they do have a limited view of their own bodies too - which must provide clue.

Even if they don't see themselves as human though, they can still think they're the leader of the household pack!

RoseLight · 15/07/2017 18:00

Dogs know that we aren't dogs. They respond differently to humans and the vast majority of dogs from a very early age will show a preference for humans over their own kind. This is what we have bred them to do and what makes them such successful pets.

They recognise human facial emotions even though dogs don't have them. Pretty cool!

mrsRosaPimento · 15/07/2017 18:13

My dog communicates with his eyes. So I'll say in a squeaky , high pitched voice 'Did you go in the water?' And he'll run over to dh who walked him and look up at him then run back to me. If he didn't swim he won't move. He responds very well to praise. Just like a child, the more praise you give, the more he wants. If he wants to play he'll press the toy into my leg, then run away pause and look over his shoulder. Like a toddler he has to come to the toilet with me. Not like a toddler, if I don't let him in with me, he chews the skirting board.
He is a mixture of a toddler and a dog. He is my heart and I adore him. I have more photos of him on my phone than my human family.

mrsRosaPimento · 15/07/2017 18:14

He knows he's a dog because if he thought he was human he wouldn't roll in dead things or poo.

Glumglowworm · 15/07/2017 18:16

When I had a chihuahua we sometimes met big dogs that weren't convinced ddog was really a dog and were afraid of him.

I think he knew he was a dog, but he had no concept of his size relative to most other dogs. He went through an asbo phase and used to get loudly cross with huge dogs who just looked at him like he was crazy as he jumped up at their shoulder.

InvisableLobstee · 15/07/2017 18:21

I think dogs know they are dogs as they show a lot of interest in other dogs and understand their dog "language", but they love their humans, just like we humans love our dogs. Human families and dog families have a lot of similarities which is why they fit in so well. For example both have a sort of hierarchy but puppies are much indulged by most older dogs.

My dog has a doggie best friend who she meets at the park and they get along much better than she does with other dogs. She also recognises a lot of people, often after a long time of not seeing them.

HemanOrSheRa · 15/07/2017 18:48

When I had a chihuahua we sometimes met big dogs that weren't convinced ddog was really a dog and were afraid of him. That is really interesting Glum. I have a small, cat sized, JRT. I often see large dogs being very cautious of her . Sussing her out, possibly due to her size. She is a soft as shite and completely oblivious .

This is the face I get when I sing to her. She LOVES it .

To wonder if dogs know that they are dogs?

DudeHatesHisCarryOut · 15/07/2017 19:49

I think the opposite is true of my cat: she thinks DP are her kittens, not very good at being cats yet, despite her patiently showing us how to do things such us climb trees, jump onto windowsills and hunt many, many times of the last 7 years. And yet we fail at all of these (and more), still. The most amusing time was when she came across us a standing in the river. Most uncatlike behaviour! She moaned at me for 30 mins until I got out and behaved more appropriately! She despises of us, continually!

My first rabbit thought he was a cat - was always walking along the wall.

NoncommittalToSparkleMotion · 16/07/2017 03:47

My dog is most assuredly not a dog, and would be offended at such a suggestion.

She's a person who hates dogs.

ToothTrauma · 16/07/2017 03:50

My dog knows he is a dog. He knows other dogs are like him and he loves them all.

I'm not sure what he thinks we are. Strange bipedal parents?

MardAsSnails · 16/07/2017 04:13

When we went to rescue our lab, he'd been being kind of looked after by some very low paid workers who couldn't always afford to feed themselves, never mind the random dog that lived nearby. He was going to be taken to a local kill shelter, so We went and took him - DH had worked nearby so Dog knew him too (DH would take spare chicken for him for lunch most days). The look when we put him in the car, when he looked at the guy who used to bring him water, it was heartbreaking. 'What are the doing to me, what's this big thing on wheels, why am
I in it'. He's a big smiley boy now though but his sad face is awful to see.

He'd never been around other dogs, and the first ones he tried to 'talk' to on a walk were chocolate labs. 5 owners and 7 choc labs were stood around talking, and my Yellow decided to drag me over, chunnering away on his way over. They all barked at him, two snarled. He hid behind my legs and won't go near other labs at all now. Racist buggers - they wouldn't talk to him cos he's yellow.

But I definitely think they know others of their breed after that. We also had a local
Dalmatian who hated all other Dalmatians - she was fine around every other dog apart from dals.

FastAbsorbingCake · 16/07/2017 05:48

I don't know if my cat thinks she's human, or that we're some weird oversized hairless cat, but she does know one fact; She is the BOSS.
Which is why I'm awake at this time 5:30am (just been to feed her…)

Umpteenthnamechange · 16/07/2017 06:03

This thread .... I've found my people

We do fret about it. If she feels left out and excluded during conversations etc. Ddog seems not in the least bothered. The yowl of excitement she lets out if anyone use the phrase "go for a walk" in any context in any room of the house - even in an unrelated sentence like - two centuries ago the queen of Bazinga decided to go for a walk with her trolls" - is unbelievable. She can speak in her head.

steff13 · 16/07/2017 06:22

My mom had a Shih Tzu, and if she ever scolded him, he would follow her around the house and then sit right next to her with his back to her. So she would know for sure he wasn't speaking to her.

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 16/07/2017 06:33

Our cats know they aren't human, they know they are far superior to the slaves.

lidoshuffle · 16/07/2017 06:33

Our late dog knew "walk" in any context and get all excited, so we's spell it, but then he learned to spell. We'd be like living thesauruses (thesauri?!) saying words like perambulation, beating the bounds, expedition etc.

julessussex · 16/07/2017 06:58

I was never a dog person until recently.

My eldest daughter has just split with her long term boyfriend and their little sausage dog has been dumped in us because she's lost interest in him. The dog was bought by the boyfriend as a present for my daughter and I think she finds it just too painful to be around him.

This adorable little dog has melted my heart and I feel so sad for him, when my daughter visits he goes berserk, climbing all over her, clearly really misses her, I'm doing my best to make him happy but I feel so sad for him and yes, angry at the boyfriend and my daughter too for turning their back on him.

fleshmarketclose · 16/07/2017 07:42

steff our shih tzu cross does the turning his back on you when he is upset with you too He does it if you mention going to the groomers, on the way to the groomers and when he gets back from the groomers. He's generally not bothered if you tell him off though because he believes anything he does is reasonable and justified

sueelleker · 16/07/2017 07:54

I often wonder if dogs know that they dream-for instance, if they're chasing a dream rabbit and wake up, do they think 'that was a good dream' or 'where's that rabbit gone'?

MipMipMip · 16/07/2017 08:38

MipHound knows he's a dog. He also knows that other dogs are dogs.

And that humans are dogs. And that horses are dogs. And that cats are dogs. And that rabbits are dogs. And that they well want to play with him!

FastAbsorbingCake · 16/07/2017 09:19

@steff13.

Giggorata · 16/07/2017 09:49

Ours know they are dogs (possibly because we often inform them of this fact, as in "morning Lola - you're a dog!"......and they react differently to dogs and humans.
They also markedly prefer their own breed. (Labs) and neither are too keen on collies. Elder dog hates Boston terriers because one had a go at her years ago at her first country fair as a pup and she bears grudges. She even went potty at one on TV.

Hoppinggreen · 16/07/2017 09:59

I think ddog thinks me and DH are something "not dog" but that the dc are like him from the way he treats them and plays with them.
Also, he doesn't seem to consider very small dog as actual dogs. He is very excited when he sees other dogs but we regularly walk past a gate where a little Pom hangs out and does a really funny squeaky yippy bark at him he just looks baffled and keeps going. There are also a couple of Chihuahuas at the top of our road and again he shows no interest in them at all

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