How do dogs react to their reflection in a mirror?
Some dogs, especially puppies, will try to play with their reflection as if with another dog. Some will simply stare into the mirror having seemingly no reaction at all. Others will seem startled or afraid and stare, stiffened and clenched, possibly cowered in fear at the dog in the mirror.
Another reaction is that some dogs become aggressive, barking, showing their teeth, and even letting out a low growl. Yet other dogs will completely ignore a mirror, walking right on by like it wasn’t there.
There is still so much to learn about animal behavior. Whether your dog looks at his reflection or not is still a concept that should be explored a bit more, if you like. We may never know what is really going on in our dogs’ heads but science can teach us a lot about their behaviors and their built-in senses. Keep in mind that a dog is much more keen to scent than he is to s anyway. So, do not let his lack of interest in a mirror cause you any worry. This does not make him abnormal or anything.
You may have noticed that most dogs do not pay attention to their reflection in the mirror or that some dogs may at first show some interest but over time they start ignoring the . So, why is it that dogs don’t look at themselves in the mirror? As humans when we see ourselves in the mirror we know it is our reflection. However, human babies don’t understand the concept of ‘self’ at first when they see their in the mirror, this is because ‘self’ is a learned concept. This is why babies and toddlers may at first be fascinated with the mirror yet later grow bored with it as they learn to recognize themselves. It is up for debate whether or not a dog understands the concept of ‘self.’
Another theory to this behavior is how when puppies are little they bark and play with the in the mirror yet, over time they realize it is their own and is bored of it. This concept is based on human behavior. Much like how most humans do not make much of a fuss over their after seeing it again and again, all the while, babies and toddlers get a kick out of their reflection. So, the root of this behavior comes down to whether dogs have a concept of self. Or, do they just not really see the in the mirror after all? The jury is somewhat divided on this one.
Many people believe that a dogs behavior towards a mirror and how they oftentimes seem to ignore it is due to the animal having a lack of self-conscious or in other words the dog cannot recognize himself in the mirror. This does not fully explain why some dogs bark at their reflection unless they are only seeing another dog in the mirror and not themselves.
Marc Bekoff performed a research test called the ‘Yellow Snow Test’. The subject of this test was his own dog. What he concluded from that test was that a dog could recognize his own pee marks, which means the dog has a concept of self.
“Do dogs understand mirrors?” A question for science
One thing that we know for sure is that dogs see something in mirrors. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many videos of dog-mirror reactions. Sometimes they seem scared, other times they’re determined to play. Either way, in their first encounter with a mirror, they simply seem unable to look away. You can almost see the gears working in those little heads of theirs.
However, according to National Geographic, when dogs look into a mirror, one thing that they don’t see is themselves. Instead, they may think that they’ve stumbled upon another dog – a potential friend or foe – and act accordingly. If they’re a bit worried about a strange dog in their space, they may stiffen and raise their hackles. Or, thinking they’ve found a new friend, they may do that cute little let’s play squat. Visit our article on doggy body language to learn what your dog might be trying to tell their mirror mate.
The reason why scientists are convinced that dogs don’t see themselves is because, they say, dogs don’t possess self-awareness. The key is the mirror test. If you place a mark on a magpie’s wing, and place the bird next to a mirror, something amazing happens. The magpie will see in their reflection that there’s something on their wing, and try to clean it off. Dolphins, elephants, and some apes are also able to do this. However, dogs don’t. Even humans aren’t born with this ability. It’s only when we reach about 18 months that we pass the mirror test ourselves.
Now, there’s been some disagreement in the field of science about whether this is a true indication of self-awareness. After all, the animals that pass the mirror test rely more on their vision than the animals who fail. To this end, some researchers have relied on scent-based tests to prove that dogs do, in fact, possess self-awareness.
As it stands, though, much of the field agrees that while our furbabies may see a reflection in a mirror, dogs understand mirrors much differently than we do. In other words, they don’t see themselves.
What Does My Dog Do When He Sees Himself in a Mirror?
What is your dog thinking when she stares into the mirror? Does she think what a doll she is? Does she consider whether she needs a trip to the groomer? Does she even recognize herself?
Why does your dog stare into the mirror? These are great questions, and you have more. Delve into the interesting answers.