Dogs' conception of time

[carolynnl4]

When reading about crate training, I've frequently read that dogs have no conception of time, and just sleep in the crate while we're gone.

This is difficult for me to grasp, since there are certain behaviors Athena exhibits that makes me think she does now the difference between now, and later or 30 seconds and 3 minutes. (I.e. when we do her sit-stay exercises and she decides she's been sitting there long enough.)

Can anyone explain more clearly to me how dogs can't tell the difference between 1 hour and 3? (Or point me to a source?)

[Droid]

I think it all has to do with distractions & or something to do. When left alone in a crate (or just sleeping on the floor beside you) they have no concept of how long they have been doing that. So an hour alone/asleep in a crate would be the same to them as 3 hrs. Provided that they are comfortable in their "den".

I do however I think that once they awake in their crate & no one is around even 5 mins must seem like an eternity to them...it would to me ;)

Does this make any sense or ring true to the rest of you?

[Rott'nKids]

I think they don't know what Hours Minutes Seconds are, etc. since those are human-called "times". Based on my experience, I think they understand the "time" difference in how long they have to wait for something. I make a point of using the same phrases for how long I will be gone (all day, be right back, few hours, etc), and having done this consistently for the last 5 years, if I say "I'll be home at for lunch" and then I DON'T make it home in the middle of the day for lunch, and say, am gone 8 hours instead of 4, Carl won't look at me when I come home. He will sit in his corner and if he is not already facing the corner, he will turn his head to face the corner. He gets over it in a few minutes. Then there are other times when I will tell them, please wait XX minutes . . . and I swear they wait until the specified minute! So do they understand? Did I somehow teach them what this means? Or am I delusional? I don't know. It will be really interesting to see everyone's responses.

[LikeToRun]

I'm curious about this idea of "no concept of time." As all mammals, dogs have a demonstrable circadian rhythm, so their internal clocks certainly function to regulate their activities to the part of the day that they happen to be in. Perhaps this is not conscious...but it seems odd to state that they have "no concept."

I have read frequently the statement that a routine is extremely important in training, which would seem to indicate that the dogs are sensitive to changes in the timing of certain events.

Additionally, some dogs certainly know when "it's time" to do certain activities, even without cueing. I cite the example of a dog who paws at his bowl at 6:33 to remind his owners that he gets fed at 6:30, even if they're busy otherwise (seen it happen!)

Curious what the rest of you think!

--Trevor

[SABELLESMOM]

Originally Posted by Droid

I do however I think that once they awake in their crate & no one is around even 5 mins must seem like an eternity to them...it would to me ;)

Animals learn to "self soothe" or "calm themselves" just as small infants do when left alone to fall asleep. Babies who've mastered this may lay awake for a while playing with their fingers and cooing to themselves, but eventually they fall asleep.

Dogs can learn similarly, though it may be easier the younger you start. I was very fortunate to have a sympathetic Cocker Spaniel who slept next to puppy's crate the first few times. I'm sure she would have learned on her own but it may have taken longer. It's a wonderful skill to have if you encourage it.

As to "time?" I think they have a general idea of time. Dinner? Time for dad to come home? Kids getting in from school? I haven't had my walk today? I have to relieve myself? Things like that.

[Karyn]

Yep! All my dogs know when it is time to eat - 6:00p.m on the nose. Around 8p.m the all gather by the door - (this is walk time.) At fist I thought it was relative to the sun but this happens all year and always around 8p.m. They wake me up at 7:00 am every morning - winter or summer. I do believe they have an incredible sense of timing.

[Bruce Lanthier]

I do not think they know "incremental" time. Such as, "I have been in the crate for an hour, they need to let me out.". I am sure they know when time has passed, just not how much. To them 1 hour is essentially the same as 3 hours. They would not differentiate between being in the crate for 1 or 3 hours. Incremental time (minutes, hours, days, etc.) is a human thing, the "passage of time" would be recognized by animals. I think everyone's confusion is related to "incremental time" versus the "passage of time".

[damp]

I don’t believe dogs know about days, hours etc.

My dog goes to door about 15 min. before hobby is home to welcome him… every day. Does he know about time? No!
But we have an “public” mail box outside our house and his reaction is triggered by the car coming every day at the same time to empty the mailbox…about 15 min. before hubby is home. Now and then hubby works on Sundays…the mailbox is not emptied on Sundays and he first goes to the door, when he hears the car or the bike.

Some will think my dog knows when it's weekend. He doesn’t. Our routines are different in weekends, e.g. no alarm bell and I don’t grope my way to the shower, half asleep as the first thing in the morning.

Years ago when my daughter lived home, and I came home at different times every day, the trigger was, my daughter made coffee and the dog went to the door to wait and welcome.

Dogs are very good to catch our actions and doings and “determine” what “time” it is!

Just think about how difficult it is for even a 4 -6 years child old to understand time. We tell them: You are going to sleep 3 times more before grand mom comes! Or how long 15 min. in the dentist waiting room feels for adults.
Time is very relative even for humans even we have a watch!!!

[Soulworx]

Yea i think they do have a perception of time... my goldfish can tell when its lunchtime.

If you believe einstein who said "time is only relative to the observer", then question is now, is their perception of time the same as ours or is it in some way related to their size. Some believe that it is, and that smaller animals percieve an hour or a day to be longer than we would. We tend to look at time relative to our own lifespan, so if that is the case then the lifespan of a moth is a lifetime to it.

Another way of looking at it is to stand in the middle of the room. Then time yourself in how long it takes you to go and switch on the tv. Then stand in the middle of the room again and imagine that the room is growing around you and that it is so vast that you cannot see the walls, so that you respectively, are the size of a speck of dust. Now think about how long it would take you to turn on that TV a million relative miles away!!

A second is born, it lives, it dies, and every moment in time has the potential of that time, which can be scaled up to a week, a year, or a life time, all according to the way we view it.

Do u not remember the summers when you were kids that lasted a lifetime, or how long the week felt until christmas!!

Its kind of a nice thought that our dog's 8-15 years to them might feel like our 70-80 years feels to us. Still too flippin short if u ask me


Sorry i think i went off on one there!

[Skip]

I think a dog's "sense" of time is more related to bodily functions/needs. If a dog is used to being fed at certain times, it's bodily function (hanger pangs) will kick in more around those times and you will see the dog demonstrate some "timed" behaviors..scratching at the bowl...etc.. If a dog is used to being let outside at certain times, it's bodily functions (the need to go to the bathroom) will eventually schedule themselves around these times and you will see "timed" reactions such as waking you up in the morning or scratching at the door at regular "times".

[Burnsway]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lanthier

I do not think they know "incremental" time. Such as, "I have been in the crate for an hour, they need to let me out.". I am sure they know when time has passed, just not how much. To them 1 hour is essentially the same as 3 hours. They would not differentiate between being in the crate for 1 or 3 hours. Incremental time (minutes, hours, days, etc.) is a human thing, the "passage of time" would be recognized by animals. I think everyone's confusion is related to "incremental time" versus the "passage of time".

I agree with this and what damp said also. Dogs are routine animals so I believe they live by routine and when it changes they act different. Such as I don't believe they mourn for a lost animal or human but routine is different and the may question pack order too. Just as with time. Sure if they are in the crate 5 hours they will think something is up if usually it is only 1 hour then play time. Routine changed........

Last few weeks with Nicki dieing and my daughter gone Psyche has acted different but it isn't mourning Nicki or wondering why its been 3 weeks and no Rachel but more of the thought of not tip toeing around Nicki and getting tennis balls thrown after dinner by my daughter........

Just like everybody thinks Psyche knows it is Sunday because she gets all chipper and paces the front window. The truth is every Sunday I clean house real good because my InLaws come over with their dog. Psyche in her mind says.......Human is cleaning real good and other Human is sparking up grill......lol and then she starts to run to the window looking for my In laws and their dog........