As pet owners, many of us have experienced the joy and companionship of having more than one dog in the family. If you have had the pleasure of having multiple dogs at once, you may have noticed a unique connection between siblings. Whether through shared playing and exploring or a general understanding of each other’s needs, it is undeniable that some dogs have a special bond with their brothers and sisters. It begs the question — do dogs have the ability to recognize their siblings through scent? Can dogs smell their siblings?
In this blog post, we will explore the science behind the canine sense of smell and the potential that dogs have to recognize their siblings. We will discuss the role of genetics and familiarity in the dogs’ ability to identify each other’s scent. We will explore if and how siblings of different breeds and ages can identify each other and how it affects their relationships with one another. Finally, we’ll look at the importance of scent recognition for pet
Do Dogs Remember Their Siblings?
As with so many things concerning dogs and their feelings, it can be hard to definitively know what they’re experiencing. While there is a lot of qualitative evidence that dog siblings remember each other, there isn’t a huge amount of data suggesting that they feel particularly homesick for their littermates
Dogs are pack animals; they’re family orientated by design. Right now, your dog sees you as part of their pack. But their connection to their first family will differ depending on how long they spent with them. If dog siblings spent their critical socialization period (3 to 17 weeks of age) together, it’s likely that they would at least be able to recognise each other if they met again. Dogs have long term memories, and experiences during that socialization period imprint on them. But it’s not really comparable to how we feel about our family.
Rather, it’s more likely that dogs are able to recognise (or “remember”) their family through smell. If they encountered each other again, they may feel more comfortable than with a strange dog, as their smell memory would tell them that this is someone they know. Although that recognition probably isn’t because they know they’re specifically related: they could have a similar response to any dog they knew during that socialisation period. Also these studies don’t suggest the dogs are missing each other. Rather that they just show a familiarity when reunited. More, “Hey, I know you from somewhere,” than “Oh my gosh I’ve missed you so much.”
Do dogs remember their mom and siblings?
Dogs remember their mothers and siblings, especially if they are still young. Sadly, there is not much you can do about it. But if you work on strengthening your bond with your dog, you’ll eventually become their new family. Therefore, even though the memory will endure, they won’t miss them as much.
Should You Feel Bad about Separating Dogs from Their Siblings
No–if you do it right. It’s crucial that young puppies spend the first eight weeks with their family. In addition to needing their mother’s milk, which, like human milk, has many nutritional advantages, they also benefit from their siblings’ social and behavioral guidance. Removing them too soon can cause problems in the future, including difficulty gaining weight, an increased risk of disease, and separation anxiety.
When new puppies are first brought home, they will always go through an adjustment period during which they may cry and whine. As long as they weren’t split up too soon, that’s acceptable and fairly typical. Everyone experiences some distress when a major life change occurs, after all. But with lots of love, care, and attention, they’ll quickly get used to their new place and begin to view you as family.
FAQ
Can dogs smell if they are related?
No, dogs can’t smell DNA links. According to research published in 2019, under laboratory circumstances, dogs are unable to detect a relationship between two people. And if they are unable to detect DNA connections, they will not be able to detect human relatives.
Will my dog Recognise his sister?
Our pack includes dogs, so there you have it. Dogs may remember their littermates, especially if they lived together for 16 weeks or longer, but you shouldn’t be concerned if they still miss them years after moving in with you. They see that you’re their family now.