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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Do dogs recognise each other?

111 replies

breadedchicken · 09/05/2022 20:50

Do you think dogs of the same breed recognise each other and react accordingly? My Springer spaniel always seems extra delighted to meet another springer. He's thrilled to meet any friendly dog but seems to go particularly bananas when it's one of his own kind.

OP posts:
LadyCatStark · 09/05/2022 20:52

100% my lab definitely knows when he meets another lab. He also knows to avoid cocker spaniels as my mum’s has a vendetta against him!

Clymene · 09/05/2022 20:54

Absolutely!

cheeseisthebest · 09/05/2022 20:57

Definitely.
Dogs are just so clever.

Moonflower12 · 09/05/2022 20:57

Yes our Spaniel always gets more excited if she sees another spaniel.

OverByYer · 09/05/2022 20:57

Yes. My border terrier likes spaniels. Hates pugs and schnauzers

JayAlfredPrufrock · 09/05/2022 20:58

Oh yes. My old Springer was overjoyed to meet another Spanna

LoveSpringDaffs · 09/05/2022 20:58

If only we could speak dog!!

InTheNightWeWillWish · 09/05/2022 20:59

They definitely recognise breeds, both my dogs have had other dogs have a go at them because that dog doesn’t like their breed. My dogs don’t react differently with their own breed but to be honest I’m not sure if they know what breed they are 😂We have two different breeds and they’ve been socialised with a number of different breeds as puppies. They have breeds that they react more to and these are the breeds that they encountered when they were puppies. Dog1 goes bananas when she sees a golden retriever (my mum had one) but dog2 doesn’t (the retriever had died by the time we got dog2).

StopGo · 09/05/2022 21:01

Our Cocker Spaniel is beside herself when she meets another Spaniel and they seem to be equally excited.

Clymene · 09/05/2022 21:01

My dog was attacked by a couple of staffers when he was young and he absolutely hates them now. Not keen on English bull terriers either (I think it's because they're quite similar and are often white which his attackers were).

He bloody loves spaniels and his cousins are ridgeback and flatties so he loves them too

TheDogsMother · 09/05/2022 21:02

My Jack Russell definitely recognised other JRs. He was also besotted with greyhounds, whippets and lurchers. It's amazing how they recognise dog types and also dogs they met years previously.

Beetle76 · 09/05/2022 21:02

Yes. Dachshunds are notorious for this.

SirChenjins · 09/05/2022 21:04

Definitely! Our cockapoo loves all dogs but he especially loves other cockapoos - major excitement if we see one out on our walk.

Newfluff · 09/05/2022 21:05

Yes. After a lifetime of mutts I now have a pedigree, she definitely knows her own kind, it is amazing to observe.

mintich · 09/05/2022 21:06

Yes! Remember they use their scent as well to recognise each other

collieresponder88 · 09/05/2022 21:07

My pointy nose long dog definitely know others with pointy noses Smile

truhamboys · 09/05/2022 21:08

Mine is a cross of two breeds. He seems to recognise one breed as being 'like him' (and the feeling seems to be mutual) but the other breed he's a bit meh about. I have an unprovable theory that mum was of the breed he favours - he's a rescue, so I haven't a clue.

He also has a passionate hatred for two very specific breeds. Other breeds of similar size / hairiness / shape are absolutely fine - but this is a very specific very barky hatred of dogs that could eat him as a mid-morning snack. He once got half grumpy with another dog that I hadn't thought anything of; it turned out that this dog was a cross of one the hated breeds.

Then again he also really likes little white fluffy dogs and he is neither white nor fluffy so that must just be preference.

tizwozliz · 09/05/2022 21:09

We met a black lab at the vets once who was scared of black labs!

Gherkingreen · 09/05/2022 21:09

Hmm, mine's an unknown mix of many so maybe that explains why he's not too sure about any other breeds when he meets thembcos he's still working out what he is😁.

thenightsky · 09/05/2022 21:09

Our lurcher only recognises other sight hounds. All other dogs he meets, he sticks his nose in the air and walks on by, like they aren't even dogs to him. Grin

Original poster
breadedchicken · 09/05/2022 21:09

Delighted to hear this. It's so funny how they react to their doppelgängers.

@mintich do you think breeds have a specific scent? So all springers share a certain smell that's unique to springers?

My dog definitely has friends (various breeds) who he's thrilled to bump into on a walk but he reacts hilariously when it's another springer, even one he's never met before

OP posts:
LC84 · 09/05/2022 21:10

My dog seems to really dislike little white shitzy type dogs and I have no idea why 🙈🤣 (she's 4 times the size of them so she cant be scared of them!!)

mintich · 09/05/2022 21:10

@breadedchicken I'm not sure, but perhaps they do!

NetballHoop · 09/05/2022 21:10

My dog is a rescue mix of whatever, he's terrier sized.

When very young he knew a Rottweiler and a Ridgeback. He has no problem with them.

He was bitten by a GSD and undestanderbly hates them.

He likes schnauzers and daschounds, but hates Spaniels.

Essentially he's a bit dogist.

collieresponder88 · 09/05/2022 21:10

Gherkingreen · 09/05/2022 21:09

Hmm, mine's an unknown mix of many so maybe that explains why he's not too sure about any other breeds when he meets thembcos he's still working out what he is😁.

A mongrel is the best pedigree !