Will My Dog Remember Me After A Month?
STETSON’S STORY
Let’s start off with my first guide dog puppy, Stetson.
I picked up Stetson from Guide Dogs of America (GDA) as a 10 lb, 7 1/2 week old puppy.
One word describes him: ADORABLE!
Since day one Stetson was attached to my hip. We had adventures to Disneyland, train rides, Knott’s Berry Farm, movie theaters, shopping malls, you name it we did it.
When he turned 16 months old GDA called to let me know it was time for Stetson to start Guide Dog College.
Not every puppy in training makes it as a guide dog and after 2 months of formal training I got the call that Stetson was going to be career changed (the nice way of saying he was being dropped).
Would Stetson remember me after being away for 2 months? An emphatic YES!
I remember walking into the kennel area waiting for the techs to bring Stetson out for our reunion.
They came out with three very similar-looking black Labs, possibly two of Stetson’s siblings. One of the three charged toward me with unbridled enthusiasm and I knew Stetson didn’t forget me.
Signs Your Dog Recognizes You After A Long Time Apart
The fact of the matter is that your dog will almost always remember you, regardless of how long youre gone. While studies havent necessarily been done to see how long it takes for your pup to realize that their owner is absent, “it is evident that they will ultimately see it as a loss if they (the owner) dont return within a certain period of time.” “If you are not around, your dog knows things have changed and a certain level of comfort is lost.”
Thats why our pups get so excited when we return! Studies have also shown that the longer youre gone, the more excited your doggo will be upon your return. Just look at the countless YouTube videos of soldiers returning home to their pups after months, or even years, of being deployed. Read the stories about dogs who have been lost for years, only to come upon a previous owner and recognize them immediately. There are endless numbers of examples and stories of pups reuniting with their owners after a long time and knowing theyre back with their best friends. Dogs react almost directly upon seeing them, with excited and happy behavior.
Even if youre gone for months, as long as your pup associates you with happy, loving memories, expect to see pure and utter joy from your fluffy BFF. They may jump up on you, give you slobbery kisses, or even whine, bark, or howl, since they cant contain their happiness! Tails will wag, ears will perk up, and an amazing reunion will ensue.
Other times, they may not recognize you right away by your face (especially if its been a while and youve changed!). Your pup will get it, though, it may just take a little sniff test before the lightbulb goes off! Studies show that regardless of how long it takes, eventually, “your dog is going to be happy and relieved to see you, so its important to give him your full and undivided attention.”
Some body language to look out for to see if your pup remembers you include:
Other signs that your dog remembers you are:
What Is The Memory Span Of A Dog?
What is the memory span of a dog? You must have noticed that even after a long hospital stay or a vacation, your dog will still remember you. This can make you wonder about the memory power of your dog. Dogs generally have both long and short-term memories.
The short-term memory of dogs allows them to remember certain events. These events will be forgotten by your dogs after 10 to 20 seconds. For example, if you find your shoes chewed up after you come back from a vacation, there is no point scolding your dog.
This is because they do not even remember what they have done. Dogs always live in present. They do not think about the past because most of the time, they cannot even remember it.
On the other hand, dogs do not have a long-term memory like that of the humans?
Humans can remember many events or even specific events even after a long period of time. This type of memory is called associative memory.
But if your dog is loved by someone very much or if someone gave a lot of attention to your dog, then they will remember that feeling that they felt when they see or smell that person again. For this, you have to be quite friendly with the dog.
If you are worried about how long does it take for a dog to forget a person, then you must know that dogs rely on their nose and eyes for discerning their owners.
Of course, they can recognize a person with the smell. But their sense of sight is more powerful and stronger. They can use their sense of sight for determining a person. If the dog has a pair of strong healthy eyes, he will never forget you or anyone associated with him. But unfortunately, dogs with weak sight can have a tough time to discern exactly who you are. Then they can use the power of smell to identify.
Your Dog Forgets You When You Leave
So, how long do dogs remember people? Do dogs remember people’s scents? Do dogs forget people?
In short, your dog will remember you and your scent forever. A dog’s memory is so complex and good at the same time that he will remember how you look, smell, voice, movements, and any specific events and the emotions and feelings associated with you or each person they’ve met.
We are sure you’ve seen videos on YouTube of dog parents surprising their dogs after being away for several months or even years. And sure enough, dogs instantly recognize their masters and greet them.
But, can dogs remember you after years? How long until a dog forgets you? A dog’s memory scent is so powerful that a dog will recognize your scent no matter how long you are gone. But how do they do it? Read on to learn!