Dog Cognition Expert Dr. Brian Hare Decodes Your Dog

I'm leaving my puppy with a petsitter over the holidays. Will he forget about me? I'm nervous.

This is one of these questions that does not have much research in this area. There is evidence that puppies remember their mother but not their siblings after a separation of several years. But in relation to their owners, the only experience I’ve had is of raising an Australian mutt called Cina. I spent 2 weeks with her when she was 2 months old, and 5 weeks with her when she was 5 months old, and even if I haven’t seen her for several years, she greets me with the same enthusiasm that she shows towards her owner. I think the older your puppy is, the more likely it is that he will remember you.

We are going on a long road trip this winter with my dog. Do you think he understands the concept of us leaving home and going to a new place? 

Again, not much research, but based on my experience, if you often take your dog to exciting places in the car, that’s what they will associate the car with. If, on the other hand, your dog only gets in the car when they have to go to the vet, then they may not understand the new significance of your road trip. 

I am bringing my puppy to my parents' house and it will be the first time he will meet the family dog, who just so happens to also be the same breed as he is. Can dogs recognize other dogs who are of the same breed? 

I consider breeds to be a human constructed concept. Even between kennel clubs, there is little agreement on what a breed actually is, and genetically, the differences between breeds are so tiny, they are almost insignificant. I think dogs can tell the difference between the size of themselves and another dog, and there is research that shows that dogs can recognize each other by their vocalization, but I think it’s unlikely that a Duck Tolling Retriever will see another Duck Tolling Retriever as anything more than a similar-sized dog. 

Can dogs comprehend when seasons and weather change? Do they know summer from winter?

Dogs can definitely tell cold from warm, and dark from light, so in winter, dogs will experience that the weather is getting colder and the days are shorter, but there is no way of knowing whether they form a concept of seasons. I doubt it. 

Whenever I have guests over, my dog acts really shy towards them. I am having a holiday party and want to make sure my dog isn't stressed out. How can I tell if my dog is shy or stressed?

There are many obvious signals that a dog is stressed that you probably don’t need much interpretation for: growling, whining, howling, scratching, chewing and other general destruction. There are also a few more subtle signs, like lip smacking and yawning. However, one research group found that dogs actually prefer being with other people than with other dogs. Dogs evolved to be attracted to humans. So, unless your dog shows obvious signs of aggression towards other people, I would say they would rather be with you coaxing treats from your guests than anywhere else.

These days, dogs need sweaters and boots when they walk around in the snow. How did their ancestors survive winter and stay warm in the colder months?

The ability of different dogs to cope with extreme temperatures varies. Huskies, for instance, can quite happily drag a sled through Antarctica, while Ethiopian village dogs can withstand temperatures of 100 degrees in the shade. Because we don’t always choose our pets based on weather considerations, some dogs need a little help coping with the climate. However, there is no question that our pet dogs have it easier than their ancestors. Probably in winter, before booties and sweaters, many more dogs died of exposure, or injured themselves while they were hunting. Just like we tend to live longer in our comfortable lifestyles (the life expectancy of humans in the Stone Age was around 20 years old), our dogs now live longer, thanks to the accessories and care we lovingly provide for them.