Ever watched your Golden Retriever at the dog park and noticed how they seem to gravitate toward other Goldens? Many pet parents swear their dogs recognize and prefer hanging out with dogs of their own breed. But is this actually true, or are we just seeing what we want to see? Let’s dig into this fascinating question and explore whether our furry friends really do prefer to stick with their own kind.
The Puppy Memory Connection
Dogs are social creatures who love making friends When you see your pup eagerly wagging their tail at the sight of another dog that looks just like them, it’s easy to assume they’re recognizing a fellow breed member
The truth might be a bit more complicated and super interesting!
Your dog’s preference for similar-looking dogs might actually be traced back to their earliest memories. Think about it – what are your dog’s first social experiences? Their mother and littermates! According to research dogs have long-term memory of their family. They can actually recognize their mother and siblings even years after being separated.
So when your Chihuahua seems to prefer hanging with other tiny pups, it’s possibly because they’re reminded of their early puppy days. The similar physical traits trigger memories of those first playmates. It’s like when you meet someone who reminds you of your childhood bestie – there’s an instant familiarity!
Can Dogs Actually Recognize Their Own Breed?
Here’s where things get super interesting. Dr. Dominique Autier-Dérian and colleagues conducted a fascinating experiment where they showed nine dogs various pictures of animals, including other dogs and humans. The results? These clever canines could absolutely distinguish dog faces from other species, regardless of breed differences.
But here’s the kicker – while dogs can identify other dogs as being dogs, there’s no scientific evidence that they understand the concept of breeds the way humans do.
Let’s be real – breeds are a human invention! We’ve been selectively breeding dogs for specific traits for about 14,000 years, creating distinct breeds that serve different purposes. Without human intervention, dogs would just be… dogs! They’d naturally interbreed, and our neat categories of Poodles, Shepherds, and Terriers wouldn’t exist.
So when your Labrador seems to prefer other Labs, it’s probably not because they’re thinking “Hey, that’s my breed!” It’s more likely they’re noticing familiar physical traits or similar play styles.
What Dog Experts Say About Breed Recognition
In an informal survey conducted by Marc Bekoff (shared in Psychology Today), 84 out of 100 dog owners claimed their dogs recognized and preferred other dogs of their own breed. But what do actual dog experts say?
Sarah Byosiere, director of the Thinking Dog Center at Hunter College, puts it plainly: “Right now, I don’t think we have a ton of actual research that would back most of those claims up… However, that doesn’t mean the phenomenon isn’t occurring.”
In other words, the jury’s still out on whether dogs truly recognize their own breed, but scientists are skeptical about it.
What ACTUALLY Drives Dog-to-Dog Preferences?
If it’s not necessarily breed recognition, what makes some dogs prefer certain companions over others? Here are some factors that likely play a bigger role:
1. Imprinting
Dogs imprint on individuals they encounter early in life. If your Rhodesian Ridgeback was raised with other Ridgebacks, they might feel more comfortable around dogs with similar characteristics – not because they recognize the breed, but because they associate those traits with safety and familiarity.
2. Appearance
Dogs definitely notice how other dogs look! If your dog had positive experiences with white, fluffy dogs in the past, they might get excited when they see similar-looking dogs. It’s association, not breed recognition.
3. Play Style
This is HUGE! Dale McLelland, a certified dog trainer, notes that play styles massively influence which dogs get along. She says there are roughly three types:
- The chasers
- The play fighters
- Those who prefer quieter companions
She even describes a “Socially Awkward Club” at her daycare – a group of quieter dogs who hang together and avoid boisterous play. These dogs recognize each other’s similar energy levels immediately.
4. Size
It makes sense that a Chihuahua might be cautious around a Great Dane! Size compatibility is important for comfortable play, and this often correlates with breed without actually being about breed recognition.
5. Scent
While some have suggested breeds might have unique scents, there’s no evidence supporting this. Dogs pick up all sorts of environmental smells that would likely mask any breed-specific odor.
Do Dogs of the Same Breed Get Along Better?
This is where things get practical for pet parents considering adding a second dog to their family. Will dogs of the same breed naturally get along better?
The answer is… maybe, but not because they recognize each other as the same breed.
Dogs of the same breed often share similar:
- Energy levels
- Play styles
- Exercise needs
- Temperaments
A Border Collie and another Border Collie will likely both enjoy running, herding toys, and mental challenges. This similarity in activity preferences can make for compatible housemates. Meanwhile, a Border Collie and a Basset Hound might have very different ideas about what constitutes a fun afternoon!
But remember – individual personality still trumps breed characteristics. Two dogs of the same breed can have completely different personalities, while dogs of different breeds might be soul mates.
Should You Get Two Dogs of the Same Breed?
If you’re thinking about getting a second dog, should you stick with the same breed as your current pup? Let’s look at some pros and cons:
Pros:
- You’re already familiar with the breed’s needs and quirks
- Training techniques that worked for your first dog will likely work for the second
- Similar energy levels and exercise requirements make daily routines easier
- They’ll likely enjoy similar activities and games
Cons:
- You’ll miss out on experiencing a different breed’s unique traits
- You’ll have to deal with the same breed-specific health issues twice
- If the breed has problematic traits (like stubbornness or excessive barking), you’ll face double the challenge
The Bottom Line: It’s Not About Breed, It’s About Compatibility
The evidence suggests that while dogs may appear to prefer their own breed, it’s not because they have some innate understanding of breed categories. Rather, they’re responding to familiarity, similar play styles, and positive associations.
As certified dog trainer Dale McLelland points out, “At my daycare, dogs know from first sight what type of play style other dogs have.” This recognition of play compatibility happens instantly and has little to do with breed recognition.
So when choosing a second dog, focus less on whether they’re the same breed as your current pup and more on whether their individual personality, energy level, and play style will mesh well with your existing pet.
FAQs About Dogs and Breed Preferences
Do puppies recognize their siblings after being separated?
Yes! Studies show dogs can recognize their mother and siblings even after years of separation. This family recognition is likely based on scent and appearance rather than breed awareness.
Why does my dog seem to prefer dogs that look like them?
Your dog probably associates dogs with similar appearances to those they had positive experiences with in early life. It’s about familiarity, not breed recognition.
Can dogs tell the difference between dogs and other animals?
Absolutely! Research has shown that dogs can distinguish between dogs and other species, regardless of the wide variety in dog appearances.
Will two dogs of the same breed automatically get along?
Not necessarily. While same-breed dogs often have similar energy levels and play styles, individual personality differences can still lead to conflicts. Proper introduction and socialization are always important.
My dog only plays with certain breeds – why is that?
It’s likely your dog is responding to those dogs’ size, play style, or energy level rather than recognizing specific breeds. They might also have had positive experiences with similar-looking dogs in the past.
The Tail End
So there you have it – while many of us dog parents swear our pups recognize and prefer their own breed, the science doesn’t back this up. Dogs definitely recognize other dogs and form preferences about who they like to hang with, but these preferences are based on factors like play style, size, and past experiences rather than some innate understanding of breed categories.
The next time you’re at the dog park, pay attention to which dogs your pup gravitates toward. Is it really dogs of the same breed, or is it dogs with similar play styles and energy levels? You might be surprised by what you notice!
And remember – every dog is an individual with unique preferences. Just like us humans, they choose their friends based on compatibility and positive interactions, not superficial categories. That’s something we could probably learn from them!
Some pilot data on whether or not dogs know their own breed or mix
Im a fan of citizen science, so after I talked with Zeller, I asked 100 people if their dog recognized dogs of the same breed or mix. Their answers didnt surprise me at all, based on talking with people at dog parks during the past few decades. Of the 100 people I queried, 84 said they were sure—they knew—their dog recognized and preferred other dogs of their own breed or mix, 13 said their dogs didnt, and 3 said they didnt know. When I asked if their dogs preferred dogs of their own breed or mix, 24 people said they did, while 76 said they didnt think so or didnt know.
Since theres no scientific evidence that dogs recognize dogs of their own breed or prefer to interact with them, but numerous people claim they do, its interesting to think about what factors might account for why this myth persists. Here are a few:
Imprinting. Imprinting simply refers to the phenomenon of a dog or other animal, including humans, preferring individuals or objects with certain characteristics with whom or with which they had contact early in life. In the natural world, the first individual is typically a harmless friend, such as their mother or other family or group member. Imprinting can aid in species recognition, and imprinting to sounds can occur prenatally. So, its not surprising that Jason wrote, “I’ll tell you from personal experience that my dog recognizes other Rhodesian Ridgebacks, without a doubt, which only makes sense since she was surrounded by them as a puppy.” Whether Jasons dog recognizes “Rhodesian Ridgebacks” as her own breed is another matter.1
Appearance. What a dog looks like might also influence a dogs preferences for others. Byosiere rightly notes, “Dogs can develop preferences for certain appearances in other pups. We can make some inferences like maybe a dog who has a really fun dog friend who is white and fluffy might associate that positive experience with other white, fluffy dogs.”
Sight. Dogs dont know what they look like, or if they do, its likely a very rough representation of who they are.2 Its unlikely dogs use this information to identify breed or mix.
Sound. Someone once asked me if perhaps dogs recognize breed or mix based on vocalizations. I dont think so.
Smell.A dog might prefer a dog who smells like them. Some people have suggested that each breed might have a unique odor that helps dogs to know that they are members of the same breed, however, dogs carry lots of different odors on them from rolling here and there and from their surroundings, and I don’t see how a breed-specific odor, if there is one, would retain its integrity and be used for breed recognition.
Familiarity. Imprinting equates with familiarity, and dogs can become familiar with dogs of a certain size, look, or odor early or later in life and simply feel more comfortable with them and prefer them over other dogs. These preferences dont necessarily have anything to do with a dogs recognition of their own breed or seeing, hearing, or smelling themselves in another dog.
Play style. Dog breeds dont have distinct personalities. Focussing on social play, Dale McLelland, a certified dog trainer in the UK, wrote to me that play styles have a huge influence on a dogs preference for dogs with similar styles or similar likes being drawn to each other. She wrote, “There are the chasers, the play fighters, and those who like a quieter companion. Mixing those play styles rarely makes for a continued friendship between dogs.” I agree.
She also wrote, “At my daycare, we have what we affectionately call the Socially Awkward Club. These are dogs that are quieter and dont want to get involved in boisterous play but will hang about together and randomly have a little burst of play, only ever chasing with them, never rough and tumble… dogs know from first sight what type of play style other dogs have. If they are too excited or boisterous in any way, my little group of quiet dogs will not welcome them in.”3
Size. Dogs might prefer dogs of the same or similar size, which would be correlated with breed or mix. I dont think this is a major factor, but it might be related to play style—a small dog might not like to be crushed by a larger dog, even in fun, and a large dog might not like to be nipped at by a more agile, faster dog.
There’s no evidence they do. So why do many people think they do?
- Dogs, like other animals and humans, will imprint on important figures in their early life.
- As a result, they may grow familiar with and gravitate toward dogs who have a certain appearance, odor, etc.
- Size and play style may also play a role in preferences about which dogs to spend more time with.
An essay by Jon Zeller called “Can Dogs Tell the Difference Between Breeds?” has resulted in countless emails flying into my inbox this morning. Many people rephrase this question into something like, “Do dogs know their own breed or mix?” The bottom line, based on interviews with many dog experts, is simply, “No, they dont know their own breed or mix.” Sarah Byosiere, director of the Thinking Dog Center at Hunter College, agrees: “Right now, I don’t think we have a ton of actual research that would back most of those claims up… However, that doesn’t mean the phenomenon [of dogs differentiating between breeds] isn’t occurring.”
Dogs can, of course, tell the differences between individual dogs and whos a friend, a newcomer, or a foe. While it appears that these sorts of discriminations are based on breed or mix, other explanations better account for these observations while leaving the door open that dogs might know their own breed and prefer others of the same genetic makeup.