How long is a dog's memory span?

morrigan

It varies from veterinarian to veterinarian. Here's much more information on the subject: http://www.seefido.com/html/dog_memory.htm Dec 20 06, 6:22 PM

Master_Algie

"To be able to make a somewhat complete analysis about the span of dog memory, it is important to differentiate between associative memory and real memory. It is said that if a dog does not have some sort of exterior stimulus that he is not able to think about or remember parks or places he has been in before. But as soon as dog hears his owner's voice, smells him or perceives his presence at a distance, his associative memory activates or comes to life. This same type of reaction seems to happen to people that have not seen each other in months or years and their immediate reaction is as if no time had gone by at all. Some veterinarians say that after a dog has been away or separated from his owner for over ten hours and after the dog's tension and desperation has gone from having left his home and owner, that the dog is then able to inverse the situation. It seems that the dog is able to change the hostile or anxious feelings he had. Some people say that the dog's emotional tension leaves him as well as the image of his owner in his mind, which then allows the dog to peacefully live his life with another owner. Whether this is true or not is beyond our knowledge. Some people believe it while others don't. If it is true though, how would we explain certain behaviors the dog does when he has lost his owner because of death etc. and they reject any invitation into a new home? There are many cases of dogs that have run away, rejecting any help and that actually look anxious sad. There are breeds that do not get completely hung up on their owners and these types seem to accept change a lot easier than others. There are others though, that just don't accept new owners. These dogs are only able to have one owner. This might be because of a predisposition or generic characteristic but the truth is that some do not accept a new owner easily." http://www.seefido.com/html/dog_memory.htm The theory that dogs need stimuli to activate memories would associate their memories much to humans. Even if the stimulus is but a quirky resemblance to a past thing, or a linked feeling, there is generally a happening that triggers you to recall something. If you have a canine pal, you'd probably guess that there memories are quite long. My pup Chloe terrorizes the neighbors whenever the opportunity is aroused during daylight hours, but ever since a coyote nearly slit her neck she hasn't dared venture far from our front porch. Following three weeks with the vet in my family's absence, she still displayed caution around my dad who tends to yell brutally when she misbehaves. She still displayed the wildest play amongst me, for she remembered I don't mind her rambunctiousness. We can't at the moment pinpoint the average dog's span of memory. We can only observe and analyze based on their behavior. Dec 20 06, 6:27 PM

Master_Algie

I apologize Morrigan for swiping the link. I began writing my post prior to the submission of your answer. I'd also like to clip this page, a Yahoo Answers forum engulfing a related inquiry. The response I'd like to highlight: "For years I've heard that a dog's memory is only 3 or 5 or 10 minutes long, and then they forget what you just taught them. HAH! After being away from people all night, must you re-teach your dog its name every morning? Notice how this type of drivel always comes from an absolute authority on learning, memory, and animal neurological acquisition system functions? SURE! Something must be learned before it can be remembered, and it must be perceived to be learned. If at a lecture I'm so distracted by a stunning dog or a gorgeous human that I didn't hear the last remark, I will not remember it because I never heard it, so I never learned it in the first place. And some things the speaker says will have more impact on and relevance to me than others, so my increased interest in certain things makes them far more likely to be retained in my memory. Some things powerfully enhance learning and memory. Trauma, for example. You're not likely to forget something you learned that badly traumatized you when it happened. And it doesn't have to happen often. Trauma is a very powerful memory enhancer. Do you really want to strike, choke, or hang a dog? Joyful fun also enhances memory. You likely learned the alphabet at almost the same age you learned the times tables, from the same teachers, in the same school, with the same classmates, and both subjects were given equal importance. But - don't lie! - you remember the alphabet much better than the times tables. Why? Because you not only learned the letters, you COLORED them and SANG them and PLAYED them and WORE them and ACTED THEM OUT! You were the A and Billy was the C and Sally was the T and together you spelled CAT! But you DRILLED the times tables. "Six times eight is forty-eight! Six times nine is fifty-four!" No fun there. Unless your work entails mental multiplication, you likely were anxious to put the times tables behind you right after that final exam! That's not unique to humans. Many years ago when I was first taught how to train dogs, I noticed that dogs learned faster during our play sessions following the classes! It might take several minutes, or even several sessions, to make sure they knew the correct responses to commands, but they learned the difference between "ball" and "ring" and "rope" NOW! They were FUN, PLAYFUL things! I realized I was teaching more quickly and efficiently during our play sessions than during the classes! So, not only did I end up (hopefully) teaching them something, they taught me a great deal. I've been fortunate to have many fine teachers. Most of them were animals. Don't underestimate canine memory. If they forgot where the good hunting spots were 10 minutes later, they'd have gone extinct millions of years ago. Enhance retention with fun, playful repetition and dogs will impress you with their incredibly long memories!" http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=1006032908509 Dec 20 06, 6:32 PM

zbeckabee

I think this says it all: "Don't underestimate canine memory. If they forgot where the good hunting spots were 10 minutes later, they'd have gone extinct millions of years ago." http://www.drdog.com/tips.htm Dec 20 06, 6:44 PM

ItalianBabe2

Thanks! Dec 20 06, 7:37 PM

What-A-Mess

What was the question? Dec 22 06, 3:24 AM

zbeckabee

Well...that explains the itch from a few weeks back. Dec 22 06, 4:20 AM

What-A-Mess

If I were truly a dog I would not stop at the scratch. Kinda like the Mistletoe video............. Dec 22 06, 5:25 AM