Hey everybody,
About 10 years ago, when I was a child and used to spend summer in a village, I had a she-friend there. She had a female German Shepherd puppy named Ada. I loved to be with them both; we had walks, played, enjoyed the nature, and so on. Playing fetch was one of our favourite time spending, hehe. But when the summer was over, I had to return to the city, so did my friend. When I was back to the village the next summer, I was a little bit afraid to come to my friend's house because the puppy had grown up, and I didn't have any idea whether Ada remembered me and how she would "greet" me (usually she barked at strangers). To my surprise, as soon as Ada saw me, she started to wave her tail, sniff me all around, lick my hands, yelp a little and show all other signs of happiness. That WAS astonishing because I didn't expect her to recognize me! Well, I knew too little about dogs' memory.
This warm greeting repeated every summer. Apparently, I became Ada's childhood friend.
So, how long is a dog's memory span? Some people say that it is as long as the dog lives unless it gets senile. Some say dogs can remember their former owners they have not seen up to 8 years. In my case, Ada remembered me throughout her life even though I was not her owner, we just used to play together.
What is your experience of having or meeting dogs that remembered you all their life?
About 10 years ago, when I was a child and used to spend summer in a village, I had a she-friend there. She had a female German Shepherd puppy named Ada. I loved to be with them both; we had walks, played, enjoyed the nature, and so on. Playing fetch was one of our favourite time spending, hehe. But when the summer was over, I had to return to the city, so did my friend. When I was back to the village the next summer, I was a little bit afraid to come to my friend's house because the puppy had grown up, and I didn't have any idea whether Ada remembered me and how she would "greet" me (usually she barked at strangers). To my surprise, as soon as Ada saw me, she started to wave her tail, sniff me all around, lick my hands, yelp a little and show all other signs of happiness. That WAS astonishing because I didn't expect her to recognize me! Well, I knew too little about dogs' memory.
This warm greeting repeated every summer. Apparently, I became Ada's childhood friend.So, how long is a dog's memory span? Some people say that it is as long as the dog lives unless it gets senile. Some say dogs can remember their former owners they have not seen up to 8 years. In my case, Ada remembered me throughout her life even though I was not her owner, we just used to play together.
What is your experience of having or meeting dogs that remembered you all their life?
It's a difficult question to answer, because first you have to determine what you define as memory.
The short answer: as long as it's important to them. (just like us)
From: http://www.seefido.com/html/dog_memory.htm
The short answer: as long as it's important to them. (just like us)
From: http://www.seefido.com/html/dog_memory.htm
To be able to make a somewhat complete analysis about the span of dog memory, it is important to differentiate between associative memory and real memory. It is said that if a dog does not have some sort of exterior stimulus that he is not able to think about or remember parks or places he has been in before. But as soon as dog hears his owner's voice, smells him or perceives his presence at a distance, his associative memory activates or comes to life.
This same type of reaction seems to happen to people that have not seen each other in months or years and their immediate reaction is as if no time had gone by at all. Some veterinarians say that after a dog has been away or separated from his owner for over ten hours and after the dog's tension and desperation has gone from having left his home and owner, that the dog is then able to inverse the situation. It seems that the dog is able to change the hostile or anxious feelings he had...
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I travel abroad every year to visit my family. My grandparents had two dogs and every time we arrived and stopped the car in front of the gate they started barking, defending their territory, but as soon as one of of gor out to open the gate so we could get the car inside, (even in the middle of the night witch it usually was/is) their behaviour changed like 180 degrees. They recognize us, no doubt.
The same happens with my aunt and uncles' dog every year. When I'm there at summertime I'm usually the one who feeds him and changes his water several times a day when it's really hot. And the one who goes outside to pat him in the morning. And the one who walks with him from time to time, and he remembers that. I'm his favorite when we are there because I'm the one who gives him most attention
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=147_1223108811
along with her kennel mates; we have had her two months now and she is good with me but still very scared of 'normal' living things and very skittish of other people; I figure it will take her at least a year to get really comfortable but I also do wonder if she will ever forget what she lived through for 3-4 years; will she gradually forget that and/or will the new good memories/experiences eventually block the old bad ones out? Any advice, opinions etc. would be appreciated; she has really had a rough time of it and we are completely willing to be patient but really want things to be good for her. Thank you!!