Watch Out! Your Dog Remembers Everything You’ve Done
Anyone who lives with dogs knows that they understand not only many of the situations, but many of our words as well. They are smart and learn easily. And it seems that nothing escapes them. So you might not be surprised when we say that your dog remembers everything you do.
dogs and their gaze
Who has ever felt annoyed because your dog was staring at you and following you around? He watches us get out of bed, change clothes, make breakfast, eat meals…
Why do furry ones do this? And most intriguingly, what do you do with this information? Although the question seems ridiculous, some studies demonstrate something very interesting. Dogs have always had observation as an innate characteristic. They like to explore their surroundings and take a close look at those they live with and their friends.
They say that the best memory of dogs is the olfactory one, and no one disputes that. However, it does not mean that it is the only one. Today, we’re going to tell you a newfound secret: Your dog remembers everything you do.
Your dog remembers everything you do, says a study
Before, we wondered what our dog does with all the information it absorbs from observing family members. We believed they were doing it because they were bored, or as a way to pass the time, not giving the matter its due importance.
Three researchers from the University of Budapest organized a study on the subject and guarantee that “dogs not only remember what they do, but also what their owners and other family members do, even when these actions are the most insignificant”.
The study is investigating the so-called episodic memory, known only in humans. It’s what helps us remember some things we think aren’t important.
How was the study done?
For the research, 17 dogs of different breeds were trained, some of them crossbred. The training was based on the program “Do what I do”, based on the book of the same name, but in English, by Claudia Fugazza, “Do as I do”.
The method is to match human behavior with that of dogs. Teach animals to repeat our own actions with the “Do it!” command. For example, the owner jumps up and says “Do it!” and the furry one jumps too.
The most curious thing about the experiment is that the animals are able to imitate their owners’ actions up to 24 hours later. This means that your episodic memory lasts for up to 24 hours.
Giving the order “Do it!” 24 hours after the first imitation, the dog will still remember what to do. Amazing!
But that wasn’t all, as this trick would just be learning a new order, like “seeing”, for example. The study went further and wanted to surprise the pets. They were taught to lie down on the floor, regardless of the gesture made by the owners. However, when they were sure that all the dogs had gone to bed, they were surprised by the command “Do it!”
By being able to imitate unexpectedly and after several hours, dogs show that their episodic memory works like ours. They demonstrate that they are able to recall everyday tasks, even if they are of no importance. So beware! Your dog remembers not only what he did, but also what you did.
