brock wilson wrote 05/25/2006 03:13 PM Dogs and Memory? #107283 - 05/25/2006 03:13 PM
brock wilson Webboard User Reg: 01-28-2005 Posts: 133 Loc: nyc Offline	I had fostered a wonderful GSD for about a month this past October. I was a ble to place him in a home here in Manhattan where he stayed for three months, during which time I would see him once or twice a week for a walk or some affection. Ultimately, his new owner lost her apartment and the dog ended up in a great situation with lots of space and a loving owner in Rhode Island. So here's my question: I haven't seen the dog for approx. 5 months untill last weekend when I went to visit. Judging from his reaction upon seeing/hearing me he seems to "remember" me. He also was immediately responsive to a command I use but his new owner does not. ("where's your tummy?" results in a flop to his back.) Does anyone know how accurate a dog's memory is? Not sure if that's the right word. Clearly he has some idea of who I am. Does it extend beyond a vague sort of "Oh yea, THAT guy. I like him. He gives me treats and pets me." Does anybody know the level of detail a smart GSD has to their memory?
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OrvilleStoryIII wrote 05/25/2006 03:46 PM Re: Dogs and Memory? [Re: brock wilson ] #107284 - 05/25/2006 03:46 PM
OrvilleStoryIII Webboard User Reg: 04-16-2006 Posts: 30 Loc: Birmingham, AL Offline	Dog are individuals just like humans. Some will have better memories than others. But most all dogs will remember pack members. Now that the dog is in a new pack, he may remember you, but be uncertain of the pack rank when you come back into the scene. Dog's don't have human emotions per say, they live by pack order. What you see as affection and may associate as "love" is a dog exhibiting a behavior of submission. Basically, "Oh yea, THAT guy. I like him. He gives me treats and pets me." is the dog's attitude in the best case situation to begin with. This is a good relationship as it is, being a pack member with a dog is a strong bond. Akino v Kanonsburg SchIII, 05 IFR Team member (HOT); Bobo of Seeblick Sch I (HOT)
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Red Thomas wrote 05/25/2006 04:00 PM Re: Dogs and Memory? [Re: brock wilson ] #107285 - 05/25/2006 04:00 PM
Red Thomas Webboard User Reg: 11-04-2005 Posts: 199 Loc: Mesa, AZ Offline	Dogs remember a lot, and for a long time too. Ulyssess' dog waited for his master's return for over a decade. Argos was the first one to recognize the King returning from the Trojan War disguised as a beggar. Just after recognizing his master, having fulfilled his destiny of faith, the very old dog died. A dog's ability to remember cruelty and kindness is the stuff of legend. Red Thomas Mesa, AZ
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Dorothy Daly wrote 05/25/2006 08:33 PM Re: Dogs and Memory? [Re: Red Thomas ] #107286 - 05/25/2006 08:33 PM
Dorothy Daly Webboard User Reg: 12-08-2005 Posts: 21 Loc: Woodlawn, TN Offline	Point of literature here! Argos didn't die because he had fulfilled his destiny by waiting 20 years for his master's return. Argos died because when the hero returned from his voyage, he refused to acknowledge the dog because he did not want to be recognized. Argos dropped dead from heartbreak. Otherwise, I agree. Dogs remember amazing things, for a LONG time. "No dog is safe until all dogs have manners." Mindy McGlasson
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Michelle Overall wrote 05/26/2006 05:03 AM Re: Dogs and Memory? [Re: Dorothy Daly ] #107287 - 05/26/2006 05:03 AM
Michelle Overall Webboard User Reg: 12-01-2005 Posts: 152 Loc: Offline	I believe that if your bond is strong, they never forget you, I rehomed a bitch that remembered me after not having any contact for 7 yrs, it was an amazing moment when she jumped up at the car when she heard my voice, I nearly cried it was incredible they are just so intelligent, Dogs unlike humans never have agendas what you see is what you get <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Sitz.. platz...Daiquiri anyone? "Bart Humperdink Simpson"
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brock wilson wrote 05/26/2006 06:32 AM Re: Dogs and Memory? [Re: Michelle Overall ] #107288 - 05/26/2006 06:32 AM
brock wilson Webboard User Reg: 01-28-2005 Posts: 133 Loc: nyc Offline	Michelle, I must agree. It made me feel very good to be "remembered" such as it is, and this was after a few months, let alone 7 years. Thanks for sharing.
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Mike Uslan wrote 05/26/2006 01:06 PM Re: Dogs and Memory? [Re: brock wilson ] #107289 - 05/26/2006 01:06 PM
Mike Uslan Webboard User Reg: 04-14-2006 Posts: 27 Loc: Offline	I sold a female GSD to a friend about 10 years ago. She was really too soft for me and would pee with vocal corrections. I couldn't deal with her softness and sold her to a friend who just wanted a pet. When I finally made it over to his house about 7 years later the old girl came out straight to me and did a submissive down right in front of me. Blew away me and my friend that she not only remembered me but still was submissive.
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Janice Jarman wrote 05/26/2006 03:12 PM Re: Dogs and Memory? [Re: brock wilson ] #107290 - 05/26/2006 03:12 PM
Janice Jarman Webboard User Reg: 04-19-2005 Posts: 505 Loc: Mid Missouri USA Offline	My youngest daughter (Mandi) has not been out to the farm to visit in about 5 years. We've visited, but not at the farm. So CeeCee had not seen her since she (CeeCee) was 2 years old. Harley never had met Mandi. Mandi came to visit weekend before last, and when she came in the fence, CeeCee did her usual bark, charge and bristle at the 'stranger', until Mandi spoke and CeeCee got a whiff of her scent, and than CeeCee was all wags and wiggles and hello how ARE ya DOIN'?! Of course Harley was wags and wiggles after the first alert bark, he loves company. CeeCee acted just as if Mandi had gone to the store and come back the same day and was never gone for 5 years. Amazing. Janice Jarman
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Mike Sanchez wrote 05/26/2006 03:58 PM Re: Dogs and Memory? [Re: Janice Jarman ] #107291 - 05/26/2006 03:58 PM
Mike Sanchez Webboard User Reg: 05-18-2003 Posts: 305 Loc: Offline	Dogs communicate mostly by sense of smell so they've got megabytes of different scents they react to. So it's not that they necessarily remember you, but they know the scent and how to react to it.
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Bob Scott wrote 05/26/2006 06:51 PM Re: Dogs and Memory? [Re: Mike Sanchez ] #107292 - 05/26/2006 06:51 PM
Bob Scott Moderator Reg: 06-14-2002 Posts: 7417 Loc: St. Louis Mo Offline	I can't quote the studies, but it's been said that, in humans, smell can trigger more memmories then any other of our senses. old dogs LOVE to learn new tricks
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