Do pets know other pets' names?

[Noah930]

I have a dog and several cats over the years. My dog knows her name. The cats know their names. But do these pets recognize when we call out other pets' names? If I call my dog, do my cats know I'm talking to the dog (and they just don't respond)? Or do they only pay attention when it's their name that gets called out? Things you ponder as you lay in bed, trying to fall asleep, next to your cat.

[pwd72s]

That is part of the mystery of having loved pets. They know the answer, but they're not telling...

[Bill Douglas]

My dogs know their names, eachother's names, my two cats names, the names of their puppy friends on the beach. The name of favorite walking places we regularly go too.

All the things that matter.

The cats know their and eachothers names. Anything else who knows. They intentionally don't give too many clues.

[wilnj]

Along the same lines, when animals communicate, do they speak the same language worldwide or do the vocalizations of a dog raised in the US mean something different if they were to attempt to communicate with a dog raised in Asia?


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[merlinfe]

Our dog knows my daughter and sons name. He also knows exactly when its time to eat nearly to the minute (without an alarm clock!). When it is time to eat and the bag of food comes out, I ask him what he wants and he pokes the bag with his snout, but only on the side with no dog picture.

He has also memorized the sound my phone make when the camera system senses motion. He will bark and go to the window to look outside. Clever thing.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by wilnj

Along the same lines, when animals communicate, do they speak the same language worldwide or do the vocalizations of a dog raised in the US mean something different if they were to attempt to communicate with a dog raised in Asia?


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From what I have heard and read, dogs and almost all the animals have very basic "language". Mostly it is the equivalent of alarm, or intruder, threat, welcome back. Primates like monkeys and apes have greeting sounds as do elephants.

Dogs communicate a LOT by body language, and smells. Sniffing the butt of another dog can tell them social order like are they dominate, or submissive. Ears up and tail up is a warning of full alert. Tail wagging and front legs down with the butt in the air is a full on "play signal"

So a dog from the other side of the planet would be able to communicate with a dog from anywhere else.

[VINMAN]

My dogs definitely know the others names.

.

[javadog]

Yes, they can have a pretty decent vocabulary.

One thing I’ve often pondered is how they can learn a vocabulary of say 20 or 30 words, give or take and we have difficulty distinguishing one bark from another.

We are supposed to be the smart ones, or so I thought.

[jhynesrockmtn]

My dog is a super sweet blonde mutt that looks like a mini golden retriever. She barely knows her own name. My stepson's dog is an ultra bright Aussie and not only knows his name but has a very large vocabulary and knows all of the families names.

[KFC911]

Oh yeah!

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by javadog

Yes, they can have a pretty decent vocabulary.

One thing I’ve often pondered is how they can learn a vocabulary of say 20 or 30 words, give or take and we have difficulty distinguishing one bark from another.

We are supposed to be the smart ones, or so I thought.

Humans developed extensive vocabularies to deal with infinitely complex issues.

I believe animals only convey state of being, I'm hot, I'm cold, scared, happy, danger, horney so the bark or vocalization itself has no actual translation, the meaning is in the inflection.

Did you know that the number of names for colors is culturally driven? There are some cultures still in existence who have no names for colors at all and only distinguish between light and dark.

[Bill Douglas]

One of my dogs sits in front of me wagging his tail and making some very strange noises when he wants treats. I think he is trying to speak human speak.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Humans developed extensive vocabularies to deal with infinitely complex issues.

I believe animals only convey state of being, I'm hot, I'm cold, scared, happy, danger, horney so the bark or vocalization itself has no actual translation, the meaning is in the inflection.

Did you know that the number of names for colors is culturally driven? There are some cultures still in existence who have no names for colors at all and only distinguish between light and dark.

Yeah, I knew that about colors. It seems like I watched a YouTube video on that recently.

I’ve only had one dog that was super vocal, I got to where I could interpret what he was wanting.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

My dog knows lots of names, different family names, different dog names, different food names but his favourite word is 'truck'

He's also very good at recognising different car engine sounds, even when we're out walking

Also good at giving back chat if he doesn't get his way too

[stevej37]

They recognize the owners inflection/tone of voice.
If you call your dog using a different name, but the same inflection/tone he will respond the same.

[herr_oberst]

I have to think that the fact these two know instinctively that they're both dogs, two dogs in the same household have enough in the ol' brainpan to pick out everyone's name, including all the pets. If they're indoor dogs, they probably even know all the versions of everyone's name.

"Donald Joseph Campbell, for the last time, I want these clothes off the living room floor!"
"Don, do you want garlic with your stuffed porkchops?"
"Donny, me and your mother are leaving for the weekend; you're in charge. No wild parties."

[fanaudical]

My cats certainly know their names, the names of each other, and provide the impression that they understand much more then they let on.

And then there is of course this:





My wife wants to get a set of buttons to train the cats to talk. I think they make themselves understood just fine in their native language...

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by merlinfe

Our dog knows my daughter and sons name. He also knows exactly when its time to eat nearly to the minute (without an alarm clock!). When it is time to eat and the bag of food comes out, I ask him what he wants and he pokes the bag with his snout, but only on the side with no dog picture.

He has also memorized the sound my phone make when the camera system senses motion. He will bark and go to the window to look outside. Clever thing.

My parents old Shepard knew the sound of the diesel my mother drives. She could hear that engine two blocks away and get excited.