bozthepup Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 Hi everyone I have had to go interstate for work for a fortnight and wondering if there is any science - or perhaps anecdoctes are more appropriate here - on puppy memory ? Boz turned 14 weeks yesterday and his puppy-sitter has plenty of space and a labbie 15 weeks old - so he is thriving on his own little holiday (see photo). Anyway, being a silly mother I am wondering how quickly he will remember me when I get back on the weekend - or will he recognise me immediately ? I am interested to know how long memory takes to develop (I generally feed him and tend to be around the house more than OH) I miss him ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rish Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 We have been away 2 weeks,and out baby (we have 4) was about 6weeks -she and her sister (we adopted her) ((pics soon!) both remembered us,but we did talk on the phone to them as well. I adore Leight so much that i coudnt go away right now,my last total love died almost a year ago-she was the 2nd dog i loved,and Leigh is now the 3rd,(i love the other 3 totally,but not with this totall passion) So try phoneing her up-or make sure u leave a pic,and i dont think its silly,BOZ is so lovely ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bozthepup Posted January 27, 2009 Author Share Posted January 27, 2009 We have been away 2 weeks,and out baby (we have 4) was about 6weeks -she and her sister (we adopted her) ((pics soon!) both remembered us,but we did talk on the phone to them as well.I adore Leight so much that i coudnt go away right now,my last total love died almost a year ago-she was the 2nd dog i loved,and Leigh is now the 3rd,(i love the other 3 totally,but not with this totall passion) So try phoneing her up-or make sure u leave a pic,and i dont think its silly,BOZ is so lovely ! Awww... I hadn't thought about talking to him on the phone; my work colleagues would find that conversation interesting I'm sure ! His puppy sitter keeps saying 'where's mummy ?' but as she said, he looks at her like she's an idiot. Quite funny to picture though. I think a big part of it is how quickly they grow at this stage so I feel like I'm missing as his little puppy face turns into a doggy one ! Glad to hear the 6wk olds remembered you though !thanks for that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogon Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 Hiya BTP. My OH went away for three weeks and pup, now nearly 13 weeks remembered and ran to him tail wagging furiously. Pup doesnt usually do that to strangers - rather likes to hang back a bit and suss out before approaching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bozthepup Posted January 27, 2009 Author Share Posted January 27, 2009 Hiya BTP. My OH went away for three weeks and pup, now nearly 13 weeks remembered and ran to him tail wagging furiously. Pup doesnt usually do that to strangers - rather likes to hang back a bit and suss out before approaching. Good to hear - although I forgot to mention that BTP will greet strangers pretty happily; so it might be hard for me to tell what he's 'thinking'. Main thing is, when those lil ears goes back and he comes running towards me with the the tail going crazy, I won't know for sure .... but it be lovely anyway! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuffles Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 Our dog stayed with our friend for 2 weeks over Xmas, she has another dog and they get along brilliantly. When we arrived to pick him up he ran straight past us chasing the other dog! After about 5 seconds, he did a double take, came over like "oh, I remember you!", had a pat then ran off to play again! Although not the lovely bum wagging welcome, it was great to see that he had had such a great time while we were gone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyliegirl Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 (edited) dogs aren't stupid, they don't have a 30min span and have an acute sense of smell which also acts as their memory guide. I have left my parents for over 2 yrs and come back and the dogs and cats remember me perfectly. A pack member will always be remembered by your scent and looks, dogs go by smell first so will always recognize their humans. unfortunately talking on the phone to them isn't going to make them remember you, they will be confused by the noises coming from the device and your voice changes on the phone dramatically so they wont recognize you, usually they bark or whine at the phone because they have no idea what it is and the best reaction is to bark at it. Edited January 27, 2009 by kyliegirl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teebs Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 A bit different, but still I work for one of Atlas' breeders. I took Atlas in one day, it has been years and years since he has seen the breeder. Most people who have met Atlas know he doesnt like to do much, sleeps all day, never gets excited, never barks. he went off his NUT!! I couldnt believe it, he saw Peter and started running around like a mad man, barking and jumping all over the place! I would never had believed it if i hadnt seen it for myself. Even now, after knowing Peter and seeing him many times, he still goes crazy when he sees him (he never acts like that for me!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fainty_girl Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 Not puppy stories, but here goes: When Jessie was about 3 years old my parents and brother went overseas for a few weeks. Since day 1 when we rescued Jess, she has been a complete velcro dog for my mum. When my folks came back, Jessie did not seem to instantly recognise my parents. Instead, she went straight up to my brother (who she also adores), and then about 1 minute after she realised who my mum was, then she went nuts, jumping on her and crying. Before owning Jessie & Tilly, I grew up with my kelpie X Tammy (she lived until she was 15 years old). When Tammy was 14 years old I spent 6 months overseas. She had cataracts, so her vision was not great, so when Tammy saw me for the first time in 6 months she barked at me like I was a stranger. Then when she recognised me, she just sat near me, with an excited and happy doggy smile! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildatHeart Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Once a dog has scented a person they never forget, i thought.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bozthepup Posted January 31, 2009 Author Share Posted January 31, 2009 well the jury is in and the verdict is ... not sure !! Boz was already inside the house when I arrived as his sister in law (human) had picked him up for us. He ears were right back and tail going crazy - so he either remembered me or he just loves people so much he was just happy that I was a human ! Anyway, it's soooo good to be back with him - he's grown heaps ! thanks for input everyone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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