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mjbuck

Hancock, MI

MH
Posts:144

08/09/2012 12:46 PM
As I sat looking out the window on this rainy day, I noticed my dog was in her bed also looking out a different window for some time. She was just staring out there at nothing, kind like I was. Got me to wondering about dogs and the passage of time. I think I read somewhere that animals do not experiene the passage of time like we humans. A dog is unlikely to be sitting in her kennel, etc., and be "bored" as a human is in a jail cell, just staring at the wall, counting time. Maybe that is not a good example, but I think you know what I mean. Humans can feel time drag by. Can dogs?

smatulewicz User is Offline

Michigan

MH
Posts:1191

08/09/2012 1:16 PM
I think Bella is definitely capable of feeling boredom, and her boredom results from not having the level of activity as she nirmally would. So if she understands the level of activity is less on any given day i would assume she undersrands time and the passage of time. And I would think their expectation of routine would suggest that they have an understanding of time. Once upon a time in college I got into a debate with a professor in a values class about what makes humans and animals different. Since science had ruled out the previous idea that humans were the only ones with the ability to use tools...he now felt the biggest difference between human and animal was that we can feel emotion and animals cannot. He claimed animals cannot grasp things like being self aware (which would allow them to be things like self conscious or embarrassed or ashamed). I disagreed with his theory whole heatedly. I don't know about you but I have seen a dog exhibit all of those things...as did my cats...as did my horses. I think we give animals too little credit.

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7844

08/09/2012 1:39 PM
I think dogs are aware of time, but maybe more in a subconcious way. They always know when it is time to get up, eat, etc. I do know that dogs live in the moment and do not fret like we do about the past and the future.

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

vnrose53

MH
Posts:379

08/09/2012 1:59 PM
I know others have had very similar experiences--when I drive home in the evening I approach the house from the "far" side away from the bedrooms where they spend most of their time! Yet by the time I get out of the car to unlock the gate, Humphrey is there. The front bedroom has a big window which allows them to look out from the bed, but unless he was specifically looking for me he wouldn't consistently spot my car sneaking into the driveway on the other side of the house. What I'm trying to say is that he must have a "sense of time" in the sense that "its 6 o'clock, Mom will be home soon." (It doesn't matter if the furnace or AC is on so I'm sure he can't hear the car--anyway, if he were asleep, he wouldn't.)

Rose

MH
Posts:362

08/09/2012 6:18 PM
So far, I have been unsuccessful in teaching the concept of "tomorrow" . Although I do believe they have an understanding of time, or the time things happen through association. Dogs live in the moment, this is why I love them.

weerubbertummy User is Offline

Ayrshire, Scotland

MH
Posts:726

08/10/2012 4:13 AM
Posted By Rose on 08/09/2012 6:18 PM So far, I have been unsuccessful in teaching the concept of "tomorrow" " align="absMiddle" src="/DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/blue/emoticons/wink.gif" />. Although I do believe they have an understanding of time, or the time things happen through association. Dogs live in the moment, this is why I love them. Yep, they've definately taught me to try to live in the present and stop treating life like a dress rehearsal I think as Texas Belle says they dont reflect on the past or worry about the future, but i think they have a built-in clock like we do, and through conditioning they learn routines. Having said all that i think they are driven by their emotions in everything they do (including their emotions being influenced by ours) and are always in the present without "worrying" about consequences as such. How nice would it be to go through life like that?

Miss you forever Kintra baby xxx

Max2

Oneonta NY

MH
Posts:1111

08/10/2012 5:08 AM
I bet they don't even think about time at all & just think about life & living. We feel bad when we may have to leave them for an extended period of time. When we do this we are looking at it from a human perspective. On the days when I can't take max to work with me & I arrive home I am usually greeted with a big stretch & yawn & a look of " ok what are we going to do now ? "

Chris

High5Hanna User is Offline

MH
Posts:112

08/12/2012 2:40 PM
I get into hyperfocus and loose track of time when I work. Hanna like clock work begins to bark around six or seven almost as if to remind me "hey time to wrap it up and go play! " It amazes me.

Splat

Illinois (Northern)

MH
Posts:3136

08/13/2012 7:11 AM
mine know within about an hour or so of when it is time to feed them... other than that they just live life!

JasonC88

Milton, Fl

JH
Posts:33

08/15/2012 7:11 AM
Bowden will consistently wake up within 5 minutes of 5:30 every morning and let me know know that it is time to get up. I definitely think they are aware of time. Every night around 9:00 he also gets into the bed and is ready to wind down.

singltrak

Las Cruces, NM

MH
Posts:1149

08/15/2012 7:57 AM
Kind of like Scarlett O'Hara....hmmmm, maybe a name for a puppy? I do have to tell one funny story tho and then I promise to quit (for now-LOL!). In my backyard I have a play "castle", with a tower and terrace walking area. Found it at a garage sale for my puppies. Its a little big, but they love to play around the bottom and sometimes climb up and leap off the "terrace". Hailey (my 6 year old-mom of Ollie and Marcia's Striker), is disdainful of anything that would require her to "play" or get her paws dirty and totally ignores the castle. One day I was walking around the side of the house and as I turned the corner there was "the princesse Hailey", sitting calmly in the midst of the terrace. I swear she was surveying her kingdom (aka-dirt and grass in the yard and the other dogs). I must have coughed or moved or something, cause she turned and saw me. There was a total look of embarassment on her face and she ljumped off and totally ignored me as if she didn't want me advertising that she might have been playing. I love these guys for their creativity... Phyllis and the Singltrak Furtribe

Look to the Past, Breed for the Future

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