How Good Is a Dog's Memory?

Making core memories with your loved ones is a treasured time, and that certainly includes your furry family members. But what about their memories of your time together?

You may wonder, “Does my pup remember that great day we had together at the park? Or when we rescued him from the shelter?”

A question often pondered but not fully understood is, “Do dogs have a good memory?” It’s understood that dogs bury their bones in the yard and then dig them up months later, implying that they remember where they are. But do they remember you?

Let's explore memory in dogs.

Do Dogs Have Memories?

Dogs’ ability to remember past events has been a topic of interest to scientists for many years. Studies have been done looking at short-term memory, episodic memory, memory related to chewing, and comparative memory of wolves versus dogs, among others.

The results of these studies indicate that, to a certain degree, dogs have a good memory and usually perform best when imitating human action.

While the memory capacity of dogs has been explored in various ways, interpreting the findings can be difficult.

How Good Is a Dog’s Memory?

Episodic memory has been studied in many non-human species, including dogs. Episodic memory involves recalling an event that happened in the past, even if you were not consciously trying to remember it at the time it occurred.

This ability was tested in dogs by training them to imitate a human action. Even after 24 hours, the dogs still remembered the action, thus demonstrating that they have a memory to be able to imitate. These dogs were then tested to see if they would remember a human action without allowing them to imitate the behavior right away. They were asked later to imitate the action—which they did.

This proved that dogs do have a good memory of about two minutes when it comes to imitation and training with people.

These studies show that certain actions that a dog does not practice regularly can still be retained and then repeated over 10 years later. When it comes to long-term memory in dogs, their ability to recall events is impressive.

A dog’s ability to respond to verbal commands is likely even a permanent memory. Long-term memories are also what helps your dog remember tricks such as rolling over or giving their paw.

What Do Dogs Remember?

One study showed that a dog’s short-term memory is not associated with remembering the event itself but is related to them storing information on how to survive. Dogs have an associative memory, meaning they remember people, places, and experiences based on the association they make with them.

A dog will remember that every time you grab the leash and put on your sneakers, they are going to go outside for a walk—but they don’t necessarily remember previous walks.

By training your dog, you are helping them build their associative memory.

When you have a house guest over, your dog might not remember the person, but they will remember an association they have made, such as giving them a treat or attention upon arrival. If your dog does something they shouldn’t and you reprimand them with a stern voice, they likely recognize that tone of voice with a negative consequence, and then they stop that behavior.

Dogs also associate certain times of the day with certain events, such as understanding that they get a long walk outside as soon as you get home from work at the same time every weekday.

Some pet parents worry when they go out of town for a long period of time, “Will my dog remember me when I get home?” Things like your scent and your voice will be associated with comfort, love, happiness, and food, thus them remembering who you are by associative memory.

Do Dogs Remember Puppyhood?

How long in their past a dog can remember has not been extensively studied. Dogs communicate with their environment using body language. This can vary depending on the dog’s breed or temperament, but there are still very specific behaviors a dog will exhibit to show their memory.

Things a dog remembers from puppyhood can be expressed in their mannerisms later in life. This may explain how dogs who have been abused early in life might be reactive toward people when they are older due to the association between an event and the pain they experienced. Knowing a dog’s body language will help you anticipate whether they are going to react in a positive or negative manner.

Other things that can cue a dog to remember an event or other dog from their early life might be the scent of a littermate or the sound of a mother dog’s bark or the closing of a gate.

Can Dogs Remember Good and Bad Memories?

It’s a common belief that dogs who lived in a negative environment will have anxiety and stress associated with these memories. Dogs who have been left alone for long periods or haven’t had social interaction with people will likely have separation anxiety later in life when apart from their family.

Conversely, good memories are associated with the people, places, and things that have created feelings of love and comfort in your pup’s heart and mind.

Can a Dog’s Memory Affect Their Behavior?

A dog’s ability to remember—whether good memories or bad—will affect their current and future behaviors.

Loud noises and other bothersome sounds, for instance, can jog a dog’s memory and cause them to react negatively. This is a common occurrence with items like the vacuum cleaner, where the loud noise of a machine that is “following them” can evoke a memory of being yelled at, chased, or otherwise treated negatively in the past.

This association may cause a dog to chase, try to bite, or even destroy the vacuum when you’re cleaning your home. You can help your dog to get past this negative association with desensitization training and counterconditioning techniques.

Desensitization training is when you gradually expose your pup to what they're fearful of in a calming way. Paired with desensitization training, counterconditioning introduces a positive experience to your dog. This includes offering your furry companion a treat when they encounter what frightens them.

Showing your dog the vacuum when it’s off and putting a treat on top of it can demonstrate to your dog that the vacuum isn’t something to fear. Over time you can try turning the vacuum on and giving your dog treats and lots of praise so that they associate positive outcomes with it and no longer fear it.

Although further research is needed to determine the full extent of your dog’s memory, it's understood that most dogs have enough memory to remember their favorite people, places, and things.

Since pets have such fond feelings for their human family members, rest assured they are making memories with you daily, and they treasure them as much as you do.

Keep in mind that even your daily training sessions with your new puppy or teaching your senior dog a new trick is likely something they will remember in the future.