[Thracian]

I adopted Cupid from the local Humane Society in November. Last week, we went to the first week of training classes . . . held at the Humane Society. The instant I opened the outside door, he backed away and was very reluctant to enter. I coaxed him inside, but he was pretty shy during the class. Not too surprising, as he is shy in unfamiliar situations. The same thing happened when we went to class last night.

It made me curious—do you think rescued dogs remember the shelters? Obviously there’s no real way to know. I’m just curious about what you think.

He did better during the class this week, by the way. He is getting a little more comfortable. And we’re both doing great with the commands. He enjoys practicing at home without all the pressure where he feels free to be himself.

 

[Marsh Muppet]

Nobody really knows, but I have doubts about dogs' ability to remember specific events, places, and people. They can and do associate certain smells and sounds with unpleasant emotions. The smell of someone they used to know may trigger memories of that person, or it may just trigger a previously conditioned emotional response. I suppose it may work differently for different dogs.

The dogs ain't talking, so we can only surmise.

 

[Darkmoon]

I know Nubs does. He'll see the building and start going nuts. He runs to the BACK door that the staff uses I have to pull him to the front door, and he always tries to go to his old kennel. He still remembers where the treat containers are, and where his old bed use to be in the Animal Admins office (that is no longer there)

He LOVED the shelter when he was there but he was also given so much love, so many treats and was treated special that why wouldn't he remember it? He was a special dog to them.

 

[Ganondorf]

My dogs were not from a shelter, but were from my grandma. She breeds dogs.

I do think that dogs remember things like that. When Rinoa was a puppy, my mom gave her a bath in the sink. Now when I'm holding her and I walk towards the sink, she turns away from it and kind of clings to me.

 

[Lolas_Dad]

Nobody really knows, but I have doubts about dogs' ability to remember specific events, places, and people. They can and do associate certain smells and sounds with unpleasant emotions. The smell of someone they used to know may trigger memories of that person, or it may just trigger a previously conditioned emotional response. I suppose it may work differently for different dogs.

The dogs ain't talking, so we can only surmise.

Actually I think that dogs do remember different people and events. One example is I know someone who had a dog that was a shepard husky mix. The dog either hated you or loved you. If you did not go over the house for 6 months or longer and that dog liked you, he remembered exactly who you are. If he did not like you from the beginning he would remember that also and would be the same way towards you.

I actually wasn't at there house for 6 months and this dog knew who I was and would act the same way as he did 6 months prior. I was one of the people he liked a lot.

 

[Inga]

I know Nubs does. He'll see the building and start going nuts. He runs to the BACK door that the staff uses I have to pull him to the front door, and he always tries to go to his old kennel. He still remembers where the treat containers are, and where his old bed use to be in the Animal Admins office (that is no longer there)

He LOVED the shelter when he was there but he was also given so much love, so many treats and was treated special that why wouldn't he remember it? He was a special dog to them.

People laugh at me when I say that Pit bulls tend to do better in shelter settings then most other breeds. I think this says a lot.

I think dogs remember some things. I also think that smells and sounds that we cannot smell or hear are obvious to our dogs and those things can freak them out as well.