Dogs and mirrors

[LB2007]

Do you all have or have ever had a dog confront himself in the mirror and get anxiouis about it? Do they outgrow this?

 

[Babyblue5290]

Lucas doesn't bark at himself in the mirror. Never has so I don't know if they outgrow it or not, but I doubt they do.

 

[sparks19]

I catch Belle every once ina while admiring herself in the mirror.... but she especially likes the new friend she found in the oven door.

But she doesn't get anxious or anything and I don't know if they outgrow it or not.

 

[RawhideChews]

Jessi never misses an opportunity to admire herself in the oven door as well. She started enjoying it since she was a puppy. When 2 other male pups were fighting, she just had an accusing look at them and went to scrutinize herself in mirror... She never got anxious about it, on the contrary, it looks like she really examines herself in mirror and enjoys it...

I do think your dog will soon overgrow this.
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American chicken and peanut butter basted rawhide chews, bones, twists

 

[Lilavati]

Sarama glances at the mirror once in a while, but basically ignores it. I think she just glances because she saw something move out of the corner of her eye. I think she knows its just her reflection and not another dog.

 

[StunnedMonkey]

I thought I read somewhere that dogs (and indeed most animals) don't have sufficient self-awareness to associate a reflection (or a photo or a video) with either themselves, or any other animal. I can't recall where I read this, but it was probably on the Internet so it must be true.

 

[milos_mommy]

I think they outgrow it, at least Milo did. Once he realizes it doesn't smell like a puppy, doesn't bite, and doesn't play, he'll probably stop freaking out.

Are you socializing him? You should be, especially if he's getting anxious over a puppy in the mirror

 

[LB2007]

he will whine now and then, or just plain out bark as if to play with that animal, he does not just sit and bark, at first he went ballistic, but now I go stand in the mirror too then he walks off LOL. But the oven is too high, and he is only 6.5 inches so he will never see himself, I can put down a big baking pan the type with a rack and see what he does or lay it on the floor just to improve his sense of awareness. But he will go nuts every now and then, but not every day.

 

[bubbatd]

My dogs as pups always did a double take when they first noticed a large mirror at the end of out old hallway .... figured it out though . I do catch Ollie watching my reflection in my dresser mirror . When he's on my bed , he can see me in the hallway ... I wave and he wags his tail .

 

[Beanie]

Auggie definitely did as a puppy, but it was because he wanted the puppy in the mirror to play with him... after he was in our house as the only puppy for a while he kind of forgot about it. After my sister moved out and took her dogs with her, he started it again, because it turned back into "Hey! You!! PLAY WITH ME!" but it's once again tapered off as he's kinda gotten used to being alone. =/

 

[LB2007]

That is what this darling wants to play, his barks are the kind that says come play with you doggie. What is funny is this, when he tosses the ball and it lands at the mirror so he and his reflection tries to get the ball, that is when the party begins lmao

 

[CelticxConnections]

Gimli flipped out once when he was little and saw himself in the mirror. After that he could care less.

Duke only does anything if its a full mirror. He barked at it and tried to play with the other puppy.

I was told in my intro to psychology class that only humans and chimps can regonize themselves mirrors. That sure doesn't mean that the other animals don't know that they mirror animal is fake.

 

[Giny]

Kassie would growl at the nasty looking poodle looking back at her through the refection of the dishwasher. It was quite comical! She did outgrow it and I miss the times when she didn't know who that little cream colored dog was, looking at her. lol