Would a dog who is 3ish remember what happened when they where 10mnths?

Just wanted to know peoples thoughts? There is a reason but wanted your opinions?

Thanks

I doubt it, unless it was really traumatic.

I think that some dogs remember people or places they've liked, but I don't know to what extent.

they prob would'nt remeber the time scale,if some thing horrible happened to them i think they remember that.

Why do you ask?

Kinda wanted more views, but this has happened twice now with Moo both in the last month.

She gets really down, skulks to the ground, tremors. won't come to me, I have to pick her up onto the sofa. I can sit and just hold her, she buries her face in my arm and shakes.

She will then take herself off and lay in the middle of floor, then move 2 meters than again, all the time shaking, she looks like I'm about to hit her (there is no history of this as far as I am aware).

I can then say Moo get your ball and she will perk up, but not herself at all, won't actually play, its hard to explain. She eats fine, but is just odd!

I was on the verge of calling he vet the last time, but she was fine the next day, just wondered if me moving things around has triggered something in her, just interested as to where her behavior has come from, it is very odd, right now she is pacing!

As we all know they are very sensitive Janey and hope you get to the bottom of it , how do you mean when you say "moving things round"

ah bless her,sounds like some thing has spooked her,has any thing else changed for her?

Maybe she just doesn't like change - it might make her feel insecure.

Aww poor moo, give her a hug from me.
Not so sure its about remembering things, when claire gave the rabbits back to her sister aftrr a few month of looking after them riley went into a sulk for two weeks and wouldnt sit with claire at all and even went and sat in garden ignoring her.
Could she be missing something or has there beena big change? I couldnt imagine why she would relate a past fear event towards you because of all the love you give her.
Whatever it is i hope you get to the bottom of it soon and that gorg girl stops having the episodes.

Nothing has really changed, the first episode I was so worried, she started to hobble around the place with a huge limp, next day fine again, tonight same behaviour its the twitching/tremour I am perplexed about?

Honestly think they only remember trauma that long, but can remember people/ smells too. I wonder if Frosty was ever in a bad situation as well as sometimes when reach for him he slinks like he might get whacked (which has never happened to him since I got him at 10 Months old)... Hope Moo is feeling better.

I think they remember more than most people think they do.

jstaff wrote:I think they remember more than most people think they do.

Completely agree.

Of course I think smell has a big part in it.

They may remember alot but for for moo to associate that with janey...i dont think so. Tis a weird one tbh and only other thing i can think of is a fear period.

I think dogs can remember things, but they just don't dwell on it, if that makes sense. Everyone says dogs live in the moment, and that's true; if you tell them off after something's happened, it won't make a difference. So it's safe to say they move on from the past (whether good or bad) quickly. That's not to say that bad past experiences don't cause problems for them, they do, but I doubt they have moments where they remember the bad and start feeling bad about it. I reckon whatever has made her like that was something in that moment. I mean, dogs are very sensitive, in terms of hearing/smell, but also I reckon they pick up on body language and energy better than people do, so could be anything.

I don't know, Janey. I hope she feels better. I know you are doing everything to make her feel loved and secure

They certainly remember some things I took Ledger back to the rescue centre before Xmas to drop off some food and toys it was six months since I'd rescued him and they called the girl who looked after his kennel to come and see him as soon as he heard her voice on radio he started going crazy tail wagging and looking at all the doors. I am also convinced that whoever owned him as a pup fought as if the neighbours argue he will go to the furthest wall and start shaking also if he sees me shadow boxing he will go for my arm

Why do you particularly say 10 months? What happened to her when she was 10 months - was thatwhen she went in to rescue?

Caryll wrote:Why do you particularly say 10 months? What happened to her when she was 10 months - was thatwhen she went in to rescue?

Shouldn't you be sleeping? I think she means from the first 10 months of age... though I could be incorrect (I think I did that once...)

Janey, thats an good question, and one I myself know to be true, Pixee was found a stray at approx 12 months, was in the blue cross for 3 months, we had her at 15 months old. She has been with us for 9 months now . There are certain things she fears, like some people, we know what kind. She is getting better, but will never trust strangers. And as its very rare you come across a red head, its been 3 times now, she really goes mental! as if shes in fear. So red heands and certain people. As we had no history of her, we know she has been beated, she was hand shy, not just round the head, but round her sides, back etc, she is fine now, but still does not always like her head touched sometimes, she backs off when she sees a hand come towards her head in fear. When she gets told off, the first time I still remember, she wet herself and tried to hide, but we called her back, and she just curled up into a very tight ball as if to make herself as little as possible, that broke our hearts. Now when she is told off, bless her, she jumps up to us to lick our chins to say sorry, once we let her and say its ok, she is back to herself. Yes I will say they remember certain things, its like us humans we remember bad things, but try to forget them, and things or just feeling down can set those memoriers off. Hope Moo is feeling herself again soon she is so lovely

bbimson wrote:

Caryll wrote:Why do you particularly say 10 months? What happened to her when she was 10 months - was thatwhen she went in to rescue?

Shouldn't you be sleeping? I think she means from the first 10 months of age... though I could be incorrect (I think I did that once...)

My oh had just gone to work so I had 5 minutes to have a look on here! No, I wondered if she remembers something about her past, when she went in to rescue or just after. Maybe somethingshe can hear has remindedher of it!

Staffy lover wrote:. When she gets told off, the first time I still remember, she wet herself and tried to hide, but we called her back, and she just curled up into a very tight ball as if to make herself as little as possible, that broke our hearts.

That would have broken my heart as well.

Poor Moo
I agree with jstaff, I think they remember more than we give them credit for. Recently I mentioned my cats name that died 8 months ago and Millie went to where she used to sleep looking for her. She's also, when I said where's your ball, gone and looked under the tv unit. There was a tennis ball under there that must have been there quite a while.
maybe things being moved around triggered some sort of memory. The moving around she done before finding you would have been very stressful for her.

~Caroline~ wrote:
maybe things being moved around triggered some sort of memory. The moving around she done before finding you would have been very stressful for her.

That's what I was trying to say, but I couldn't think of the right words!

I saw that you had said that after I hit send on my post. Stupid phone tells you there has been another post but won't let me see what it says lol.

Thanks for all the replys and its interesting to read everyones opinions, the only thing I know about Moo is she had 3 homes prior to me in a 10mnth period ish, I was just thinking that by me moving a few things, and its just shoes a new light etc, nothing major, triggered something in her brain. Even though she has been here for 3 years and its only happened twice and both very recent.

Anyways I went to bed and just held her, she trembled and then fell asleep and then woke herself up and started trembling again, it was a looooong nite!

She is ok this morning as expected, a little subdued and a little stuck to me like glue. Curious that that is the only thing I can put it down too and nothing more under lying.

Thanks again, I appreciate your time Xx

That could be it Janey, 3 homes before you, thats so sad. I have to say that over the weekend, we have had a steam valley fayre in the fields not far from us, all over the weekend, Pixee has been very jumpy, I put it down to that, and sunday she wet her bed. There was a lot of noise, so where ever that triggered something too? I just gave her so much fuss and said it was ok. And since then she has also been stuck like glue to me. This morning she seem back to her self. Lets hope Moo is soon back to her own self now she knows nothing is going to happen to her just cos you have moved a few things. ><

edited to correct wrong word used

They definitely remember trauma. I had a Dobe years ago who, as a puppy failed to see a single strand wire boundary fence and ran into it and it caught him at throat level flipping him onto his back. From that day on he wouldn't cross a wire fence. He used to leap our garden wall which was about 5 ft high until I hit on the idea of laying a piece of wire along the top of the wall.
He never jumped the wall again! problem solved.

That could well be it. I think a dog's memory is pretty selective, tbh, but traumatic things seem to trigger a long term response. Maybe the moving things around has made her feel a little insecure & anxious. If that's the case then now you've stopped moving things she'll hopefully settle.

Poor little thing, you just don't realise how stressed they get being foisted from one home to another.

Dempsey said to send a big sloppy lick her way..........

I don't think they remember the same way as people do but more a classical conditioning pavlovs dog thing. I hope she snaps out of it soon or you work it out Poor moo!

Thanks again all, she is fine today, I will await on another episode, well hopefully not, tis the time I wish they could talk ><

Staffy lover wrote:When she gets told off, the first time I still remember, she wet herself and tried to hide, but we called her back, and she just curled up into a very tight ball as if to make herself as little as possible, that broke our hearts. Now when she is told off, bless her, she jumps up to us to lick our chins to say sorry, once we let her and say its ok, she is back to herself.

Poor little thing but so awesome that she loves and trusts you now.

I would be reluctant to put these episodes down to just moving a few things around. It seems very strange that it has only just started happening, it sounds like a fear reaction but I would want to rule out some reasons. I think a trip to the vet for a check up might be a good idea as this sounds like it could possibly be pain related fear. If there is no trigger that is making her react like this I think its worth taking her for a check-up.

Yes dogs can remember things that far back, but how their minds work she wouldn't just think of it off the top of her head. Something would have to trigger it like a sight, sound, smell.

Thanks LC that was my concern also. I will leave off the vets for now, she has been ok since but I will go if she gets another episode. She is due a vets visit soon and I will definatly mention it then. Xx

Such a hard topic as we're never going to be inside their heads personally I would say that it could be down to you moving things around, dog's can be almost OCD when it comes to change, Biscuit can't handle it at all BUT I would definitely be getting her into the vets for a check up. I do think that the amount of time ago that something happened wouldn't make a difference, as how would experiences during their vital socialization phase up to 12 weeks affect them well into adult hood if they didn't remember? It shouldn't matter if it was 10 seconds or 10 years later, as far as i'm aware there is no time limit on memories and a trigger is a trigger. However what they then do with those memories is another complicated matter.

I know that if Bis is feeling unsettled due to changes within the home she will become extremely submissive and just crawl around everywhere tongue flicking and wagging her tail really really fast , there's every chance that she could have been beaten in her previous home, but there's every chance that she's also just a naturally submissive dog! Really hope she's okay though sounds horrible to see x