Have you ever wondered why your dog reacts strangely when they see themselves in a mirror? Puppies tend to see their reflection as another dog and may bark or play bow at it. Older dogs, on the other hand, often ignore their reflection and act as if they can’t even see it. Dogs lack the ability to recognize their own reflection and don’t have the same self-awareness as humans and some other animals.
Signs of a Dog Understanding a Mirror
Puppies may bark, growl, show their teeth, snarl, or whimper at their reflection because they don’t recognize it as an image of themselves. Some puppies may even playfully interact with their reflection by play bowing, running back and forth, barking in a playful tone, or trying to play chase.
Older dogs, however, tend to ignore their reflection and avert their eyes or stare off at something else.
Body Language
When dogs see their reflection, they may exhibit signs such as staring, barking, head tilting, averting eyes, exposed teeth, or play bowing.
Other Signs
Other signs that your dog may notice their reflection include initiating interaction, acting aggressively, trying to play chase, or running back and forth.
History of Dogs and Mirrors
Dogs lack the ability to recognize their own reflection in a mirror, similar to human babies who can’t do so until around 18-24 months of age. Chimps and other animals like dolphins, gorillas, and orangutans show self-awareness when looking at their reflection. Dogs, however, always treat their reflection as another dog or simply ignore it.
Some believe that dogs lack total self-awareness and consciousness, while others think that dogs recognize their reflection but are not concerned about their appearance like higher primates are. Another theory suggests that dogs rely more on their sense of smell and can recognize themselves through their own scent.
Science Behind Dogs and Mirrors
The mirror self-recognition test is a widely used method to measure which animals possess self-awareness. Dogs have been unable to recognize a colored dot on their body in this test, indicating their lack of ability to identify themselves in a mirror.
Training Your Dog to Understand a Mirror
While you can’t train your dog to recognize their reflection, you can conduct a DIY dot test at home to see if they show any signs of self-recognition. Attach a colored dot to your dog and observe their reaction when placed in front of a mirror. If they paw or scratch at the dot, they may recognize it as something on their body. However, if they show no interest in the dot or their reflection, it is likely that they don’t recognize themselves or simply have no interest in their reflection.
“In a world of mirrors, dogs find a friend or foe, but never themselves.”
Tips & Things to Know
1️⃣ Dogs do not recognize their own reflection in the mirror and lack self-awareness. Puppies may react with barking, growling, or play bowing, while older dogs tend to ignore their reflection.
2️⃣ Dogs may exhibit body language such as staring, barking, head tilting, averting eyes, exposed teeth, or play bowing when they see their reflection in the mirror.
3️⃣ Dogs can recognize themselves through their sense of smell. An experiment with urine marks in the snow suggests that dogs have a sense of self-awareness.
Frequently Asked Questions, Answered ✅
1. Why do puppies react differently than older dogs when they see their reflection in the mirror?
– Puppies see their reflection as another dog and may bark or play bow, while older dogs tend to ignore their reflection.
2. What are some signs that a dog notices their reflection in the mirror?
– Staring, barking, head tilting, averting eyes, exposed teeth, play bowing.
3. How do dogs differ from humans and other animals in recognizing their own reflection?
– Dogs lack total self-awareness and consciousness, unlike humans and some other animals.
4. How can you test if your dog recognizes their reflection in the mirror?
– You can do an at-home dot test by attaching a colored dot to your dog and seeing if they recognize it in the mirror.
5. What does the mirror self-recognition test reveal about dogs’ ability to recognize themselves?
– Dogs have not been able to recognize a colored dot on their own body in the mirror, suggesting their lack of self-recognition.
