Studies Into Whether Dogs Can Recognize Other Dogs
In 2013, Dr. Dominique Autier-Dérian from the LEEC and National Veterinary School in France conducted a study on whether dogs could pick out other dogs’ faces. Dr. Autier-Dérian discovered that regardless of what breed they were, dogs could indeed recognize their fellow canines.
First, they tested whether dogs could differentiate between species and sort faces into a category for dogs. Dr. Autier-Dérian and her team used nine domestic dogs—two of which were purebreds (a Border Collie and Labrador), while the remaining seven were mutts. The study showed pictures of different breeds and crossbreeds on a computer screen.
What is even crazier? Dogs have regional accents and can recognize them.
Two dogs on a walk recognize something about each other
They also included pictures of other species of animals, including humans. Amazingly, all nine dogs grouped the s of dogs in the same category! The team concluded that dogs could, indeed, visually recognize their species.
Although research shows that dogs can recognize other dogs, there is no scientific research into whether they can differentiate between breeds. Writing on behalf of the BBC’s Science Focus magazine, Charlotte Corney said that while dogs are intelligent, they don’t pass the “mirror test.” The mirror test was created in 1970 by Gordon Gallup, Jr., which tests whether an animal understands that it’s looking at itself and not another animal.
Only a few species have passed the mirror test, excluding dogs. That means they don’t have a greater sense of awareness like a dolphin does, for example.
Professor Sophie Scott from University College London’s Neuroscience Department believes dogs have excellent social skills and are great at reading situations—perhaps even better than we are. So, even though dogs can’t recognize their breed, they still have incredible social skills that surpass that of humans.
“I will tell you that every owner of a purebred dog I know swears their dog recognizes all other Frenchies, bull terriers, Chihuahuas … ” Terri Bright, director of behavior services at MSPCA-Angell, tells The Dodo. “I havent ever seen any research on this, and I dont think its true.”
Sackman suggests some breeds, like the Cavalier King Charles spaniel, may not have as many social signals at his disposal – the breeds small face is prized for being flat and puppy-like, but unable to convey as many social signals as the more wolf-like husky or German shepherd, whose elongated faces have plenty of room for emotion.
If you’ve ever noticed that your dog seems to behave differently around other dogs depending on the breed, you’re not alone. Dogs recognize breeds of other dogs (although their ability to distinguish between their own breed and others might surprise you). But can they recognize their own breed? Let’s find out more!
Dogs have a great sense of smell and can often recognize other dogs by their scent. However, they also rely on visual cues to identify different dog breeds. For example, a small dog may look up at a large dog and think, thats a big one! Conversely, a large dog may see a small dog and think, thats a little one! Dogs also use body language to communicate with other dogs. For example, a wagging tail usually means the dog is happy, while bared teeth usually indicate aggression. Dogs from different breeds often have different types of tails and different ways of wagging them, so this can be another way for dogs to identify each other.
Its no secret that dogs are amazing creatures. They can learn tricks, perform complex tasks and even serve as support animals. But one thing that often goes unnoticed is a dogs ability to recognize other breeds of dogs. Yes, were not just talking about recognizing their own breed. In the scientific world, this is called cognitive bias recognition or referential identification. In order for a dog to be able to do this, they must first have had extensive exposure to the other breed and the two types of dogs need to live in close proximity. For example, if you own both a Chihuahua and Pug you may find that your pug knows when another Pug walks by your house but doesnt know when another type of dog passes by. We also know that it takes less exposure for these cognitive biases to form between closely related breeds.
Dogs get to know each other by sniffing each other and feeding off of each other’s energy. When you take your dog to the park, you will see them doing these kinds of investigative behaviors which will show you that they are working on getting to know various breeds. As they get more exposure to other dogs they will gather more information and experiences and build off them over the course of their life. Because of this, it’s very healthy for your dog to get to play with other dogs if they are non-aggressive. Socializing your pet will help them learn more and show off their stellar recognition skills! The link has been copied!
Dogs have an amazing sense of smell, which allows them to recognize their own breed. This is because each dogs breed has a unique scent. Dogs also have a strong sense of sight, which allows them to see subtle differences in other dogs appearance. However, the most important factor in determining whether a dog can recognize its own breed is its experience. Dogs that have been around other dogs of their own breed are more likely to be able to recognize their own breed than those who havent had this experience. Dogs of similar breeds also have similar behaviors which means they may get along well when it comes to playdates or dog park visits.
Do dogs recognize their siblings, and other questions about canine emotional intelligence
You’ve seen it happen—whether on the Internet or in real life with your precious pup—a dog running up to another dog who looks just like them! It often becomes part of a larger feel-good story about the dog finding its long-lost littermate.
By definition, breed refers to animals within a species having a distinctive appearance and typically having been developed by deliberate selection. If we boil it down to the basics, dog breeds refer to different types of dogs bred to perform particular tasks or look a certain way. At present, more than 400 dog breeds are recognized globally—although this number doesn’t reflect the hundreds or thousands of crossbreeds out in the world!
According to Kennel Clubs, the standards for breeds depend on the type. They suggest understanding questions such as “Where was this breed developed?” and “What breeds went into developing this breed?” to understand the differences between breeds fully.