Do dogs really know their name?

With humans, dogs will learn their own name, but it's more of a habitual thing that needs to be trained into them.

tails.com - How do dogs know their names? - Training - Tails.com

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When you call your faithful companion to your side, they will often run up to you, tail wagging and eyes alert (unless their’s something really interesting like a ball, or another dog or something else that has them engrossed). Because of this, we can deduce that dogs know their names, but how do they work that out? They don’t speak the language after all, so how do they know what we call them?

Repetition, repetition, repetition

While Rex may not know that his name means ‘king’ in latin, and while Fido may not know that his name means ‘trust’ in latin, both of them are more than likely to know their names (despite the fact that they’ve never had a latin tutor). They know their own name because we start calling them by their name when they’re puppies and through a combination of deductive reasoning on their part, and positive reinforcement (treats and such) and repetition on our part, they will come to associate that sound with their owner’s desire to want attention. And provided that they see you as being the alpha, or at least above them in the pack hierarchy, they will come running at the sound of your beckoning. This is one of the key aspects of training dogs really, and it’s why training has to start at a young age. A two month old puppy is effectively the same as a four year old child, and so it’s time for them to go to school. What’s one of the first things we do at school? We learn to recognise our name (albeit in humans this comes in the form of writing and to be honest, dogs tend to have problems holding the pencil). A dog responding to its own name being called is a cornerstone of any early training.

The wild ones

Of course wild dogs and their wolf cousins don’t have to worry about things like names, but how do they recognise each other? Wolf conversation tends to centre more around the nightly howl, the smells detected by their powerful noses, and body language. Your own dog will still communicate with other dogs in these ways too (hopefully the nightly howls are swapped in for barking at the park in the afternoon though) but they make a special exception for us. With humans, dogs will learn their own name, but it’s more of a habitual thing that needs to be trained into them.

If your dog is excelling at training, why not reward them with a delicious dog treat from tails.com for their efforts?

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Why do dogs wipe feet after pooping?

Our dogs consider pooping as a way of sending a message to other dogs that the ground they just did the deed on, is theirs. By kicking up dirt afterward, they're compounding the scent of the bathroom along with the pheromones coming from their feet glands to create one strong scent.

cesarsway.com - Why Do Dogs Kick Their Feet After They Poop? - Cesar's Way

Dogs are great. But sometimes, some of their habits are a little strange. Like when they kick their feet after they’ve gone to the bathroom. Ever wondered why?

Instinct

Turns out its instinct. Dogs are very vigilant creatures who are watching out for other canines who may be encroaching on their territory. Our dogs consider pooping as a way of sending a message to other dogs that the ground they just did the deed on, is theirs. By kicking up dirt afterward, they’re compounding the scent of the bathroom along with the pheromones coming from their feet glands to create one strong scent. In addition, the disturbed grass also serves as a visual clue to other dogs that they’re walking on someone else’s territory. The pheromones from kicking the ground are actually stronger than the odor from their poo or pee. Besides the territorial claims, these pheromones can also serve as other warnings for dogs, such as potential danger. While it may seem strange to us humans, it is best to leave them to their habits because if you interrupt a dog from doing what is natural to them, you might begin to make them feel more vulnerable. So it looks like dogs will be dogs.

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