When you call your dog, they come to you. Many owners talk to their dogs, but how much do they comprehend? The responses may surprise you. Does this mean they know their name?
Dogs respond to their names, indicating that they are recognized in some way. In fact, they might be better than you think at understanding language.
We know that naming dogs goes back to ancient Greece. Then, names were often associated with speed or power. Although names have evolved over time, their significance has not changed It was typical to name a dog after one of its physical characteristics in medieval times. In later centuries, personality traits and human names gained popularity.
Yes, dogs recognize their name. Every time you call your dog by name and they come running to you or wag their tail, it’s obvious. Are they responding to previous training or do they understand what their name means to them?
It was once believed that dogs would respond to their name due to simple conditioning and deductive reasoning. But according to recent research, dogs perceive their name as a component of their identity. In both humans and dogs, hearing their name activates a similar region of the brain.
This seems to suggest that dogs are aware when their name is being used to refer to them. Dogs are often smarter than they are given credit for.
First and foremost, giving your dog a good name is crucial. Try to stick to short, one- or two-syllable words whenever possible because they are simpler to remember and comprehend. Call your dog Alex if you want to officially name them Alexander. Maddy is a wonderful day-to-day name if you adore the name Melisandra.
Considering how frequently and under what circumstances you’ll use the name is also important. You need something you can call out frequently throughout the day. You also want something that’s appropriate for all situations.
At the dog park, for instance, naming a dog after the Pagan Goddess Hel draws some odd looks.
Make sure the name you choose isn’t too similar to any other family members’ names. It will be confusing if you name your dog Missy if you have a child named Misty. Choose a name that sounds different from any others in the household while keeping in mind your two- and four-legged family members.
Devote a Few Days to stay at home with them
If you intend to adopt a dog, make an effort to set aside two or three days to bond with them. Spend some of your vacation time bonding with your new dog. This can greatly aid in putting them at ease in this strange new environment. As much as you can, keep an eye on them and don’t forget to play with them.
The key to knowing whether or not dogs remember previous owners is understanding how a dog’s memory works. While humans have what’s called “episodic memory,” dogs think a little differently. When you think about something that happened in the past, you most often think about it in terms of time. You know whether the event happened a few minutes ago or a few years ago. We use our artificial measurements of time to place events in the past and keep them in order. Dogs don’t do that. Instead of thinking about an event based on time, they use associations. This is referred to as an “associative memory.” Instead of remembering that they went on a walk two hours ago, your dog remembers that they went on a walk right after you stood up from the couch and got your shoes. They also remember how happy they felt when you were outside strolling down the sidewalk. Going forward, your dog will remember those positive emotions in association with the behaviors and actions that led up to the walk.
Dogs don’t have the same ability to tell time as humans do, which contributes to the difference between human and canine memory, but it’s also a result of their natural survival instinct. Dogs had to learn how to avoid danger as they developed. This was made easier by an associative memory, which stood out everything that either put them at risk or kept them safe. Even today’s spoiled pets use their associative memories to stay safe, just as your dog’s ancestors did to find food and fend for themselves. For example, dogs can associate certain people with different emotions. They’ll associate someone who consistently treats them well with good feelings. They will also recall the traumatic events and avoid that person in the future if they are mistreated or scared by someone.
To remember all the different people in their lives, rescue dogs and other dogs who have lived with multiple families use associative memories. We can infer from anecdotal evidence that dogs remember and can identify people they haven’t seen in a while. The reunion of military parents and their dogs is one of my favorite examples of this. Even if their owners were gone for a year or more, you can tell that the dogs remember their owners by the way they bark, jump, and wag their tails. It’s obvious that the dogs are connecting their long-lost humans to joyful feelings and experiences thanks to these reunions. Dogs have been shown to remember their former owners who were cruel or abusive. Rescue dogs from difficult backgrounds frequently take on traits that reflect their past experiences. If the previous owner, a man with a long beard, repeatedly mistreated them, there’s a good chance they’ll remember that person and react negatively whenever they see a man with a beard, even if it’s a different person each time. It’s difficult to tell if the dog believes that every man with a beard is the same person who abused him or if the sight of someone who resembles him triggers unpleasant memories that the dog finds difficult to ignore.
Based on this evidence, many behaviorists have a theory that dogs only remember people who make a lasting impression. That impression can be either positive or negative, but the associated emotions need to be especially strong to stand the test of time. Therefore, dogs are likely to remember past owners whom they either bonded with or were afraid of. Someone who fell somewhere in the middle, however, might not have made a lasting impression.
I take this to mean that since my rescue dog bounced between three different homes before I found him, he might not remember his previous owners. He was only with each family for a few days, and that probably wasn’t long enough for him to make any associative memories connected to individual people. If your dog spent years with the same person or went through a particularly traumatic experience in a short-period of time, however, there’s a good chance they remember their past owners. They would also probably recognize that person and react accordingly. I’ll likely never meet my dogs’ previous owners. And I can’t know for sure whether or not my dogs still think about the people who used to be in their lives. I do know, however, that my dogs love me and are happy to be part of my family. We’re living in the present, not the past.Do you know how dogs choose their favorite humans? Find out here.
As a dog mom to two rescue pups, I’ve often wondered if my dogs remember their previous owners. If we were to pass them on the sidewalk, would my dog react in an unusual way? Do my dogs think about their previous families randomly throughout the day? I’ll never know exactly what my dogs are thinking. A lot of what goes on behind those puppy dogs eyes will always be a mystery, but scientists and canine behaviorists have done studies on canine memory. We can’t know for sure, but evidence supports the theory that dogs do indeed remember their previous owners. How much they remember and whether or not they think about them regularly is still up in the air. But if your dog has lived with more than one family, there’s a good chance they remember those important people from their past life.
I’ve previously discussed how adopting a dog altered my course of events. I hope this motivated you to think about getting a rescue dog for yourself. Reading about my experience renaming my adopted children may be helpful if you’ve already done it or are considering taking the step to become a parent for a rescue.
“Rescue Me” is a recurring column by Samantha Randall, editor-in-chief at Top Dog Tips. She’ll provide personal anecdotes and perspective about her life as a pet lover with a passion for cat and dog rescue.
We use the name listed on all of the dog’s shelter records if we are fostering it. When he or she is adopted into a forever home, things are much easier. It would probably be preferable to continue using the foster home’s name, at least temporarily, if the dog you are adopting was previously housed there.
Here are some suggestions I can give you on how to pick the best name for your new furry family member now that you have decided whether you will be keeping your dog’s name or coming up with a new one.
There are many things to consider before adopting a dog. Your primary concern is how to make your new furry family member comfortable in your house. Along with providing your best friend with food, water, toys, and other necessities, you should consider the name that will be given to him or her.
FAQ
Do dogs miss their previous owners?
It’s common for dogs to feel sad when a person they’ve developed a bond with is gone. Dogs do understand the emotional feeling of missing someone who is no longer a part of their daily lives, even though they may not fully comprehend the extent of human absence.
How far back do dogs remember?
According to National Geographic, a study conducted in 2014 on various animals, including rats and bees, revealed that “dogs forget an event within two minutes.” Dogs don’t seem to have a long-term memory that lasts much longer than those two minutes, unlike dolphins and other animals.
Do dogs actually remember their names?
Dogs can learn the names of various objects and commands, and they can even learn to respond to their name and recognize it when being called. However, do dogs recognize their name and associate it with their sense of being? Dogs, however, are unaware that this is their own name.
What is the 333 rule for dogs?
Many dogs, whether they are puppies or older dogs that have been rescued, tend to follow the 3-3-3 rule when acclimating: 3 days of feeling anxious and overwhelmed. 3 weeks of settling in. 3 months of building trust and bonding with you.