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Do dogs have names for each other?

Dogs seem to understand the concept of 'names' more than other animals.  My dogs know the names of the cats and recognise their own names.  Does this mean that they have a similar system themselves or merely associate the sound with the image?

I can understand how sound + image works in the case of the cats names for example, not sure how it would be applied to their own name though.

 

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Categories: Animals.

Tags: Behaviour, AnimalBehaviour.

 

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Goatboy says:

No expert here, but if an animal is self aware it would apply the sound of its name to itself?

Dogs seem to have the intelligence ( to a a layman ) of about a two year old human. Especially in the way they behave as part of a group, and they are scocial / pack animals. So surely they must beself aware?

Goat.

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posted on 2010-08-11 19:34:04 | Report abuse


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Goatboy says:

Desmond Morris did a wonderful though short book covering this, though my copy is out on long term loan, would be worth a read.

Goat

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posted on 2010-08-11 19:37:37 | Report abuse


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Yarrumecurb says:

Dogs learn to associate your calling their name with a reward of some kind. Normally if a stranger calls that name the dog will ignore him.

However, dogs certainly introduce themselves to each other by another means which we should all be grateful is customarily performed by humans by shaking hands or kissing.

Therefore when each dog has made the acquaintance of another, they may associate some kind of name, but I suspect it would not be used in polite company.

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posted on 2010-08-18 02:18:09 | Report abuse


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