Have you ever heard of the theory that a dog has no 'episodic memory?' This means that he does not have the ability to 'remember' personally experienced events and situations in the past; he is 'stuck in time' living only in the present. The conjecture is that he gets 'used' to things but does not necessarily 'remember' them. In other words, your canine can know how to respond to the command 'sit' without having any 'memory' of the specific event in which he learned it.
I'm sure we've all heard of stories that espouse a pet's memory. When my father was a boy he had a wire fox terrier. Due to reasons that I have forgotten, their beloved pet was left a great distance away from their house. Albeit, it took two months but he finally did find his way back home! Did he not 'remember' where his cushy set-up was? Did he not 'remember' the scent of his own family? Was this due to pure conditioning and response only with no 'memory?'
Well, I'm no academic expert on animal behavior, but I'll tell you something, our dog Daniel sure could 'remember' personally experienced events in the past - and quite well, indeed!
He had the run of the outside stairs. There are three flights before our front door. He was a medium-sized, Heinz 57, but running up and down the stairs all day made him as strong as a bull! This mongrel loved to sit on the second landing and survey all of his territory, which he figured was as far as he could see!
We live about a block from a public school and at three o'clock the kids got out. Adolescents, being who they are, felt that it was their appointed duty to tease the dog as much as possible, without getting caught of course. We knew something was happening because my father found little cuts on Daniel's nose and face. We suspected that someone was throwing stones at him.
It was during summer holidays when my father was outside with our pooch. A boy of about 15 appeared. You know, that cocky-has-his-swagger-on type. He came strutting by our house like the only rooster in the hen house, when all of a sudden Daniel broke away and viciously dove at the kid. The dog knocked him to the ground and was growling and pawing at him. The boy was terrified! My father had to peel Daniel off of him!
When the dog was finally restrained and his victim brushed off from the dirt, my father asserted to the young man, "So, you're the kid who's been throwing stones at my dog!" The boy, although scared witless, denied it. My father kept pressing him about it but he stood firm in his refute! However, when the dog once again started snapping, lunging, clawing and growling... the kid finally owned up!
Daniel actually gave him a superficial cut on his face with his claws. My father cleaned it up, the lad apologized for his malicious behavior and my father promised not to tell his parents. He never threw anything at our dog again, never teased him again and as far as I know, he avoided passing by our way whenever he could!
Does a dog live only in the present or does he 'remember' personal experiences? Did Daniel 'remember' someone's attacks on him? Did he 'remember' it was that certain boy who threw the stones? You bet he did... and long after they occurred, too! Daniel always had a certain tone to his bark whenever that particular boy ever ventured by our house again, and it still scared him witless! Why do people think that animals are stupid?
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