Does your dog rcognize their own breed

[ludwigman]

Does your dog recognize their own breed

In my opinion yes but I have not tested it with my German Shepherd Dog (GSD) yet.

My dog Sasha does not like other dogs but she has never seen another GSD since I have owned her. My mother watched a show that was about this very question but she couldn't remember the details. I couldn't think of any possible way they could so I went on the net to do some research.

What I found was a good percentage of people don't believe dogs can recognize their own breed and go on and on about how dogs are not self aware and don't pass the mirror test. But there is a select few that have a very simple answer that made me believe that they absolutely can recognize their own breed.

What the select few theorize is that although they don't know what they themselves look like they do remember their litter mates and their mother. The bond they experienced as pups have stayed with them even if it's deep within. To me that's all the proof I need and don't need to question it any further. It's also easy to believe that if another breed has caused them harm that they can react negatively towards that certain breed.

I just met a very cool girl that has a GSD and she said she would bring it over to see how Sasha reacts. Although I think Sasha is capable of recognizing her own breed I'm not going to speculate as to what may happen.

Have any of you dog owners noticed your dog acting in different ways towards different breeds?

 

[js1138]

Base on your plausible theory I think it's possible, but I've never seen any evidence.

As far as I can tell, miniatures don't even notice that they're smaller than other dogs, much less different.

 

[hogdaddy]

Have you ever put your dog in front of a mirror and let them see themselves?

Interesting to see their reactions and I think they realize eventually who it is.

As to the original question, my dogs have never seen another of the same breed, however they are brothers (avatar)

 

[ludwigman]

Base on your plausible theory I think it's possible, but I've never seen any evidence.

As far as I can tell, miniatures don't even notice that they're smaller than other dogs, much less different.

Dogs definitely see any other dog as a dog and I'm not saying they see themselves as different but may respond better to what they were bonded with as pups.

I always admired those little 5 pound dogs that wouldn't hesitate to take on a 200 pound dog. If all people were like that there would be fights breaking out all over the place :sigh:

 

[ludwigman]

Have you ever put your dog in front of a mirror and let them see themselves?

Interesting to see their reactions and I think they realize eventually who it is.

As to the original question, my dogs have never seen another of the same breed, however they are brothers (avatar)

I haven't tried the mirror test but I will and I'm not personally saying whether or not they do see themselves. Some dogs get along with all other dogs but mine doesn't so that factor and the show my mother watched is what got me thinking of introducing her to her own kind.

I'm by no means a dog expert I just can't debunk the litter mate and mother theory.

If those are your dogs in your avatar they are nice looking, are they a herding breed?

 

[elgato8905]

I would say yes. My dog automatically wants to fight with any other dog that looks like her.

 

[Sandy G]

Chihuahuas typically seem to be "clannish", & don't like other breeds, & are unaware of their size...My sister has an Olde English Mastiff that literally is almost as big as I am, & Gomez "Challenges" him every time he sees him...Frasier could easily bite Gomez half in two, & WOULD if there wasn't a sturdy chain-link fence separating them. Frasier is a big, lovable pussycat otherwise, but when he sees Little Big Man, he goes into full "Cujo" mode...

 

[jamesrpm]

Some days my dog doesn't recognize it's name , all other dogs are to be played with. She is a labradork.

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

Yeller gets waggy when she sees nearly any other dog, but her interest does seem to peak when she sees another Lab.

 

[gearhound]

For some reason, unlike the East Coast, Shetland Sheepdogs are a rarity in New Mexico?
He is constantly parking at his own reflection and other dogs he sees.
He's all bark and no bite, as he doesn't posses an aggressive bone in his body.

Steve

 

[hogdaddy]

I haven't tried the mirror test but I will and I'm not personally saying whether or not they do see themselves. Some dogs get along with all other dogs but mine doesn't and that and the show my mother watched is what got me thinking of introducing her to her own kind.

I'm by no means a dog expert I just can't debunk the litter mate and mother theory.

If those are your dogs in your avatar they are nice looking, are they a herding breed?

They are herding breed Border Collie's.

 

[fotno]

If by 'recognize' you mean by sight, then no. A dog's eyesight is very poor, seeing little to no color, and they are extremely nearsighted. I doubt very seriously that a dog can tell the difference between one dog breed and another by sight alone.

Mirrors: Most (if not all) dogs are unable to recognize that the image in the mirror is a reflection of themselves, not another dog entirely. Most often they assume an aggressive posture, and as the dog in the mirror becomes more aggressive they respond in kind. Most experts assume that this is because they do not have the capacity to interpret the information properly, which makes sense because even most higher primates can't do it. Even small children have difficulty with the concept.

Recognition of breeds: Puppies are born both deaf and blind, the only sense they possess from birth is their sense of smell. It will always be their strongest sense, and the amount of information they're able to detect and how they process it, is still largely a mystery even to experts. I have no trouble believing that if each breed of dog has a distinctly different smell than the others, that other dogs might be able to smell it.

Having said that - The difference between the DNA profile of a Chihuahua and a Timber Wolf is so small, that it would be difficult to imagine that one would smell significantly different than the other, all other factors being equal. They can certainly tell the difference between male and female by smell, and I know if they smell a stranger (human or animal) on the wind they react to it.

 

[ludwigman]

If by 'recognize' you mean by sight, then no. A dog's eyesight is very poor, seeing little to no color, and they are extremely nearsighted. I doubt very seriously that a dog can tell the difference between one dog breed and another by sight alone.

Mirrors: Most (if not all) dogs are unable to recognize that the image in the mirror is a reflection of themselves, not another dog entirely. Most often they assume an aggressive posture, and as the dog in the mirror becomes more aggressive they respond in kind. Most experts assume that this is because they do not have the capacity to interpret the information properly, which makes sense because even most higher primates can't do it. Even small children have difficulty with the concept.

Recognition of breeds: Puppies are born both deaf and blind, the only sense they possess from birth is their sense of smell. It will always be their strongest sense, and the amount of information they're able to detect and how they process it, is still largely a mystery even to experts. I have no trouble believing that if each breed of dog has a distinctly different smell than the others, that other dogs might be able to smell it.

Having said that - The difference between the DNA profile of a Chihuahua and a Timber Wolf is so small, that it would be difficult to imagine that one would smell significantly different than the other, all other factors being equal. They can certainly tell the difference between male and female by smell, and I know if they smell a stranger (human or animal) on the wind they react to it.

Sight is their weakest sense compared to their other senses that are extremely acute but I disagree that they wouldn't be able to make out different breeds with eyesight. Based on what I have witnessed from my own mutt her eyesight is very good. I would venture to guess that a wolf could tell the difference between a bear and a moose from a considerable distance based on sight. With all the different breeds of dogs with their vast shapes and sizes I don't think the moose and bear example is unrealistic.

I do agree about the puppies senses not being developed at first but I thought that the senses were developed for the most part before being removed from the mother. Again I could be wrong because I'm no expert.

I like the fact that you flirt with the idea that different breeds could smell different than others because that same thought actually crossed my mind. Heck they use dogs to sniff out cancer in humans.

You seem very knowledgeable concerning canines and I respect your input.

 

[AstroZon]

Dogs don't distinguish breeds. They know that another dog is a dog and not a fox or coyote, but could care less about the other dog's breed. They do care about sex as they are programed to follow hierarchy usually led by a dominant male (but not always.)

Certain dogs get along well with other dogs, and this is determined by a long ritual of feeling each other out. Play is a big part of this ritual.

Dogs raised together will develop group hunting techniques like circling opposite directions around a shed or tree to box in a squirrel. They'll also sit or lay in opposite directions to monitor everything around them.

 

[ludwigman]

Dogs don't distinguish breeds. They know that another dog is a dog and not a fox or coyote, but could care less about the other dog's breed. They do care about sex as they are programed to follow hierarchy usually led by a dominant male (but not always.)

Certain dogs get along well with other dogs, and this is determined by a long ritual of feeling each other out. Play is a big part of this ritual.

Dogs raised together will develop group hunting techniques like circling opposite directions around a shed or tree to box in a squirrel. They'll also sit or lay in opposite directions to monitor everything around them.

What is it about a Fox or Coyote that they can tell it's not a dog? I'm not being smart just curious.

Maybe "recognize" was the wrong word to use and I may be putting to much weight on the whole visual thing but what I do know is that as I continue my research I have visited some forums similar to this one but obviously about dogs that have discussed this and there are enough witnesses that lead me to believe that there is something to it.

Chihuahuas are mentioned a lot and probably Huskies next but plenty of other breeds are also mentioned.

At this point I'm not sure anymore what might be happening and I don't want to sound like I'm talking out of my butt

That's what discussions are for though right? I was hell bent on the puppy mother idea but who knows, as mentioned before smell could play a factor.

A couple of other interesting stories were about wolves as pets.

One story was, someone brought a wolf to a dog park and and most dogs took a wide path around it but Huskies wanted to play with it.

Another one was, a man owned a very dog aggressive dog that wouldn't tolerate anything but his aunt brought her wolf over and the dog avoided it at all costs.

It has been mentioned that the DNA between wolves and dogs have a very minute difference so I wonder what it was that was recognized in the wolf as being something to avoid. There was no mention of either wolf showing aggression.

I'm having fun with this discussion guys, please don't take it as argumentative, I'm just bouncing ideas around and learning from those with more knowledge than myself.

 

[fotno]

What is it about a Fox or Coyote that they can tell it's not a dog? I'm not being smart just curious.

It has been mentioned that the DNA between wolves and dogs have a very minute difference so I wonder what it was that was recognized in the wolf as being something to avoid. There was no mention of either wolf showing aggression.

It could be any one of, or combination of factors: Differences in genetics, environment, diet, even morphological or biological factors that we wouldn't recognize as being important. As I mentioned earlier, even the experts don't fully understand how a dog processes the information gained from scent. I do know that my dogs hardly react to our local deer, possums, raccoons and the like, but if a coyote or bear crosses near our home they go nuts. There's definitely a difference in smell, but obviously I have no idea what cue they're going by.

 

[ludwigman]

It could be any one of, or combination of factors: Differences in genetics, environment, diet, even morphological or biological factors that we wouldn't recognize as being important. As I mentioned earlier, even the experts don't fully understand how a dog processes the information gained from scent.

Good info, I'll take some of the above factors and research them.

I do know that my dogs hardly react to our local deer, possums, raccoons and the like, but if a coyote or bear crosses near our home they go nuts. There's definitely a difference in smell, but obviously I have no idea what cue they're going by.

That's interesting, maybe coyotes and bears give off a different scent do to being meat eaters. I think there was an Indian tribe that would stop eating meat before a big hunt because they believed the prey could smell the meat coming off of them, through sweat I would imagine.

Sasha will go after deer like she wants to murder them but the rabbits can run past her and she doesn't take off and I've seen her just sniffing a possum once. She also thinks cats are the greatest thing that ever walked on the planet, in a good way. It could be smell but I always thought because the deer were bigger that she thought they were a threat and she was just guarding the property. I don't have to worry about bears but there's plenty of coyotes and sometimes when I can hear them making all their racket Sasha will put her nose in the air and I think she smells them but seems to ignore it, they're sneaky so I don't thing she ever saw one so I'm not sure what she would do.

 

[cubdog]

My two Akitas definately recognized other Akitas. They got along with every other dog but their own kind.

cubdog

 

[roger2]

An anecdote FWIW:

I used to live next door to a Great Pyrenees, young adult male named Midas. Midas was terrified of thunderstorms. When left home alone, if a thunderstorm came he would find a way out of his house even if it meant busting through a door or window.

Thunderstorm comes one day, he is home alone and finds a way out of the house. Later that evening his owners get a call from someone who had found their number on Midas' collar. Midas had traveled four miles in the bad weather and the house where he ended up had another Great Pyrenees. :scratch2:

This was not out in the country where the next house was four miles away. It was Bloomington, IN home of Indiana University, a small but densely populated city. Midas traveled from the south side of town to the north, likely passing dozens of other dogs along his way. Neither Midas nor his owners had previously met the other Great Pyr or its owner.

 

[ludwigman]

My two Akitas definately recognized other Akitas. They got along with every other dog but their own kind.

cubdog

I wonder what makes them aggressive towards their own kind, elgato8905 has a similar situation.

My dog automatically wants to fight with any other dog that looks like her.

I hope Sasha doesn't do that, I was hoping for the opposite results, I will have her on a leash to be safe.