2007-02-11 10:02:53 · 10 answers · asked by Madison 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Well, for one, dogs do not have the mental capacity to process that it their reflection, although I'm sure you knew that. Secondly, I believe it has something to do with their distance perception, and that mirrors throw it off. And thirdly, I think dogs rarely look at what we want them to, and we just notice it more when we try to get them to look in a mirror, because we are focusing on it.
2007-02-11 10:07:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm not sure about your dog but my dogs do. I raise Chihuahuas and they will look into a mirror and play as if they are playing with another dog. Especially when they are pups. The mirror could possible scare dog, thinking "it is" another dog.
There's an "old wife's tale" that says you shouldn't let a pup see themself in a mirror for some reason, to which I cannot remember at the moment. . . but I've never been one to follow such tales.
2007-02-11 18:10:45 · answer #2 · answered by vicki_r2005 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A dog doesn't see its reflection as itself, it sees it as another dog. Some dogs will look at their reflection and start to bark, this is because the "other dog" is staring at them. In the dog world staring directly into another dogs eyes is considered a threat. The dog barks at its reflection to say Hey, this is my space! Back off.
The situation you describe is similar. Only instead of wanting to protect their territory a dog that won't look in the mirror, is trying to avoid a fight with the "other dog". The dog won't make direct eye contact with its reflection in order to show the "other dog" its no threat to it.
2007-02-11 19:55:29 · answer #3 · answered by Bindi *dogtrainingbyjess.com* 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
ah but they do as last night i put my dog in front of the mirror and he started barking at himself tdogs really only see a out line of them selfs
2007-02-11 18:06:54 · answer #4 · answered by dd 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have 7 dogs--they all bark at themselves in a mirror or any glass they can see themselves in!
2007-02-11 19:09:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I've wondered the same thing. Cats are the same way. I would guess the way the light comes off the mirror isn't intelligible to them the way it is to us.
2007-02-11 18:06:57 · answer #6 · answered by the Boss 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
because their brain cant read 2 dimension object as pictures and reflections. Their brain only reads 3 dimension objects.
2007-02-11 18:10:37 · answer #7 · answered by Kitty 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
a dog has no conscious thought of self, it would not recognise a reflection as its own, its a dog
2007-02-11 18:12:46 · answer #8 · answered by hmmm 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Mine does and barks at himself too. My other two don't.
2007-02-11 18:06:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
because they think they're too fat
2007-02-11 18:11:47 · answer #10 · answered by IgotDaAnswersRightHere 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋