Do Dogs Remember Their Siblings?

A pet is not only a bundle of joy as pet parents are often left wondering about various aspects concerning pets; some are amusing and some make us explore in search of answers. One of the top questions in the minds of pet parents would be "Do dogs remember their siblings?" Research suggests dogs can recognize familiar individuals using scent memory even after long gaps.

How Dogs Recognize Each Other?

Dogs depend more on smell than sight. Studies on canine recognition prove that dogs can identify familiar individuals through scent even if years have passed in between.

As far as puppies are concerned, the possibility of a puppy recognizing her siblings mainly depends on how long she has lived with them after birth. If puppies live together for about 8 to 12 weeks after birth, they form early social bonds. These early memories are stored mainly through smell and behaviour patterns. Studies also say that the scent memory is strongest if they have lived together for 16 weeks.

What Happens When Siblings Meet Again

Siblings meet may not be the same with all dogs. When reunited, some dogs will have a relaxed body language. They also will show:

• excitement
• friendly behavior
• reduced fear

Reaction differs in some dogs. Memory of their sibling depends on factors including:

• how long they lived together
• quality of their early interactions
• how much time has since passed

If puppies were separated very early, they may not recognize each other later.

Scientific Findings

A research conducted in the year 2016 on canine memory showed that dogs can distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar smells. This supports the idea that sibling recognition is possible through scent.

Even when dogs remember their siblings, they do not remember them in the emotional way humans do. They do not think, "This is my brother". But they recognize the smell as familiar and respond with comfort or curiosity or discomfort depending on the type of interaction they had in the past.

Here is how Chezhi's meeting with her Sibling went:

Recognizing sibling is possible but emotional attachment varies between individuals. Early social experiences play a key role in how dogs relate to others later in life.