This afforded me ample time to unobtrusively follow my new pet (or foster)about, as it investigated its new territory. We’ve Got Depression All Wrong. A german shepard and also a Irish soft coated wheaten terrier. He contemplated it for some time, but he got it figured out. They would never look at themselves in a mirror but if they saw another cat walk by through a glass door they would try to attack it (until they hit the glass). Perhaps the difficulty resides with the sensory modality used to test self-awareness in dogs. Which brings to mind the question..besides human beings, which animals are also truly self-aware? My dog (13 years of age) often looks at himself in my mirror for long periods. When we humans look into a mirror, we immediately recognize that the image that we are gazing at is our own. How My Dog Recognizes Himself in a Mirror. The reaction I've seen most often, is one everybody is familiar with. It's like he thinks they are actually going to jump out of the TV and onto the couch and he loses it! They may try to fight the dog in the mirror, or play with it, but very few dogs demonstrate any behaviors that would signal they recognize the reflection as their own. After moving recently and having polished floors now he has even injured himself jumping off the couch with such gusto towards the TV. All of this snow moving occurred while Jethro was elsewhere along the path and the dog did not see Bekoff transporting it. So it is my argument, that there is a diffrence among dogs. The dog learned this when he was looking in a mirror while my SIL was sitting in a chair across the room. But I swear my 11-year-old Labrador Retriever recognizes himself in the mirror. My son-in-law's dog understands about eye contact in the mirror. If a dog associates its owner's reflection, with its owner, then I don't see why its hard to believe that a dog can recognize its own reflection. Unless we are able to find a way to breach it, it is possible that some animal behavior will remain speculation. My point is, I did that mirror test with some dogs. Look up stuff on instincts and genetics, it's pretty interesting. . When I put him in front of the mirror. If I walked near the mirror his glance would often be diverted directly at me and then as I passed behind him he would again watch me in the mirror. She displays no social interaction towards the mirror whatsoever and gives inquisitive looks during facetime (something I need to practice with her more but it's difficult getting anyone to bother to help). Taming your first pet comes at the end of a level 10 quest called The Hunter’s Path that you get from your hunter trainer. I don't know, I'm rambling now. No, when he looks in that mirror, he doesn't recognize himself. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. When I turn my head, she turns her head. to look at me either directly or through the mirror; I think I taught him that when I started looking at him through a mirror. I think that other dog is just an image of me!” Also, the dog may notice her owner’s reflection in the mirror. Really interesting. Many people are puzzled by the fact that dogs seem to ignore images of themselves reflected in a mirror. example might be if the dog eats grass when its changed scent makes it think its not well. I saw her eyes focus on the reflection of the white thread, still stuck to her forehead. In this study a string was placed on an unaware child's head, then the child was given a mirror. . Then if I look up at him, he'll turn around and bark at me. She just looks totally floored. Stanley Coren is the author of many books, including: Born to Bark, The Modern Dog, Why Do Dogs Have Wet Noses? In observing many dogs it seemed clear to me that they know what they are seeing is a reflection: you would expect a very confused reaction if a dog saw in a mirror its owner and itself, unless it did not actually know they were seeing a reflection of their owner and probably, given the context, knowing the dog in the mirror with the owner was a relfection of themselves. If an adult dog plays with its reflection, it may be a sign of boredom, or of not being socialized enough. ... One of our male cats loves himself and likes to admire himself in the mirror and our stove (stainless). Simultaneously, the dog is aware that he is facing away from you. Maybe they can change the test. If you have a dog want to train it properly, this is for you. The screen is keenly investigated, a quick sniff tells the dog there's nothing of interest here and then the dog ignores the screen AND the human(s) for as long as they appear taken with it. she does try to get right up to the screen & paw it, sniff it, lick it. He often sat in front of the mirror and watched me but clearly ignored his own image. Every so often my dog will just stop and stare at his reflection. Last night, I was looking out the door and made a comment about something I don't remember, my corgi looked up at me. Does the discovery that the "other dog" doesn't SMELL like another dog, cause it to completely dismiss the entire anomaly? In short, no. I wish there was more on this, I believe Beckoff was on the right track. What breed was this ? First, he introduced a mirror into the home cage of a chimpanzee. And so it goes, I believe, with observing animal behavior. Calm down Rover! Does he make the connection that he is the dog in the mirror? When it fell on the floor, she backed away from it, with all the caution one might take when backing away from a poisonous snake, and scurried into the living area. So I have some experience with dogs. I love (and I know this is kinda evil) to turn on the front-facing camera on the iPad or laptop and watch her interact with the image. I think that dogs do recognize themselves in a mirror once they get over the initial surprise of their first sighting. August 7, 2012 12:14pm CST. No. If, on the other hand, you believe that it is evidence of self-awareness you might also be correct. The conclusion that researchers drew from the fact that dogs fail the mark and mirror test is that dogs lack self-awareness, and thus consciousness. I was happy to see lack of vanity occurred to someone else as well. I think she recognizes the sound of their barking but doesn't know what to make of it. Currently we have a mirror propped up against the wall waiting to be hung and my dog has been laying infront of it staring at himself all day, he … I submit that your perspective will depend largely on how you weigh ego as one of the defining components of self-awareness. Both of them have reacted to their reflections in the mirror by barking. The dog would race into the room, see its reflection in the mirror, and go absolutely wild, barking his head off like crazy. Anytime I hold her up to a mirror she looks at herself briefly and looks away but never barks. And elephants. I conclude he believed it was he who was under attack based upon his understanding that it was his own reflection in the mirror. I'll say, "This is YOUR treat", and he goes back to his treat. The first evening, our Corgi showed interest in her reflection for about 30 seconds. Same question as above: dogs using mirrors => evidence against the mirror-test results? He's just clever. How to Create Emotionally Stable and Fear-Resistant Puppies, Dogs: When They Smell Their Pee They Know It's "Me". She sought my eyes in the mirror and, seeing that I was watching her, she shamefacedly brushed the thread off her forehead. This could be like dogs testing to see if humans are self aware by seeing whether we can identify our own scent. It’s Trying to Save Us. Sometimes the dogs will try to claim something we own. Puppies will play with anything, including their reflections. Dog is immediately interested in reflection, moves to it, gives it a keen sniff . When her brother walks into the image though, she is alarmed by the appearance of this "other dog" and starts whining at it. Many people are puzzled by the fact that dogs seem to ignore images of themselves reflected in a mirror. An (unrealistic?!) org - I didn't realize I wasn't the pack leader until I implemented the first 4 Golden Rules I learned about there. 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