Stories From Dog Owners Reveal That Memories Of Their Previous Owners Are Fur-Ever, Whether Good Or Bad

The stories started pouring in after an online user asked a community about how long it takes for dogs to forget previous owners.

May

• Published in Interesting
• March 1, 2024

It's heartwarming how our furry friends eagerly await our return, perched by the window, longing for the moment we walk through the door after a long day at work. Their anticipation speaks volumes about the depth of their affection and loyalty.

Despite not fully comprehending our daily departures, their joy knows no bounds when we finally reunite in the evening. As pet owners, we sometimes wonder if our absence causes them distress as if they feel abandoned each time we leave.

Yet, recent research from the Department of Ethology at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, Hungary, sheds light on the remarkable capabilities of dogs. According to this research, dogs possess an episodic-like memory, akin to humans, allowing them to recall past events and anticipate our return.

Episodic memory, defined as the recollection of personal experiences and moments in one's life, suggests a profound connection between memory and self-representation. And it's not just this study that proves that dogs can retain memory.

Stories brought by dog owners themselves can also serve as proof. Over at Quora, this question was asked:

How long does it take for a dog to completely forget about its owner?

Responses started pouring in, with owners agreeing that their dogs could remember their owners, whether they were good or bad.

Dog remembers the abuse and neglect.

I adopted one of my mom’s employee’s dog, Sugar. We’ll call her previous owner Rachel.

Rachel had recently rescued Sugar, but quickly found out she was deathly allergic. She spent thousands of dollars on air purifiers and hospital bills from going into anaphylactic shock, before she came to terms with re-homing Sugar.

I visited Sugar once, she was maybe 5 years old, a very undernourished blonde lab mix. She was very attached to Rachel and skittish.

She hid behind Rachel at every sound or slight movement. I was able to get some interaction from Sugar, and knew I was able to help her. I brought her home the next day.

It quickly became clear that Sugar had severe anxiety, was suffering a sort of PTSD, and was showing behaviors of an animal that was starved.

Rachel was constantly asking my mom questions about Sugar, checking in, mentioning some of her favorite things and cookies. Asking if her 11yo daughter could see Sugar, because she missed her dearly.

I was reluctant because I didn’t want to confuse Sugar. I had no plans of returning Sugar, she was in her forever home.

A few weeks later, after Sugar was acclimated to my house and schedule, I let them visit, in my yard only. Sugar was excited to see the daughter, but wasn’t so much to see Rachel.

After that visit, my mom started hearing all kinds of stories from Rachel about how they really treated Sugar. Rachel and her husband worked long hours and then the kids had sports after school, almost everyday, so Sugar was alone every day for 18 or more hours.

They had to take away her food when they left every day, because Rachel was finding piles of food hidden all over the house. Then they took away her water because she was peeing in the house.

No one ever stopped home to let her outside, give her water or feed her during the day. Every other weekend the kids had away games, they would leave Sugar home alone for two days straight, with only the neighbor to let Sugar go potty once a day.

For a dog they claimed to love some much, they didn’t seem to want to take care of her or make her part of their life. They neglected and abused Sugar.

It took a long time to build Sugar up again. To make her feel safe, confident that she would be fed and taken care of.

She did breakout of her shell, she’s only mildly anxious, occasionally. She has a huge personality and knows how to communicate her needs very well.

She’s about 13 years old now, and she couldn’t be happier or more spoiled.

We did run into Rachel and her daughter one more time, a few years after their first and only visit. The amount of attitude Sugar gave them and how much of a cold shoulder Rachel received, was palpable.

Sugar not only remembered her abusers, she wasn’t going to give them the time of day to retraumatize her.

I believe dogs always remember people who leave lasting impressions, good or bad.

Sug, my old girl. She doesn’t look quite so old in this photo from 2020.

According to the new owner, the dog has passed away.

October 5, 2023 Update: With a heavy heart I’m sad to say, Sug crossed the rainbow bridge today.

She was about 15 years old, she had been suffering for a while with pain in her hind legs, her hips and knees were grinding bone on bone. She was struggling too much to walk and was only living and looking forward to taking her pain meds.

It was time. I’m trying to take solace in that, she is no longer suffering in pain.

I hope that I have given her as much as she’s given me in these last ten years. We did get to celebrate one last birthday (adoption day) with her this past weekend, she had a donut and some peanut butter ice cream.

A few months before the goob gurl passed away.

Give me the donut. 🍩 September 30, 2023

Rest in Peace, Sugar.

Dogs truly are loyal. They never forget the person who showed them love.

I don’t think dogs ever forget the people they loved who loved them back.

When I was a child our immediate neighbors got a Beagle mix puppy. They named her Audi, and we became best buddies.

I played with her everyday.

When I turned eleven, we moved away.

About twelve years later I went back to visit. I was an adult now and Audi was grey around the muzzle.

I could see the wheels turning. She didn’t fully recognize me, but she was comfortable with me.

I took her for a walk and played with her while visiting my old neighbors. After a few hours we left for our hotel.

When we went back the next day, it was an entirely different story. Audi barreled towards me overcome with joy. It was the most exuberant, joyous dog greeting ever. She was shaking so badly her fur was flying. It actually concerned me a little.

I have never seen a dog that excited.

Overnight, she had pieced together that the adult woman who came to visit was the little girl she used to play with. The recognition was there now.

I could see it in her eyes. She kept looking at me and talking to me and lovin’ on me like she was so relieved I came back, and she had not missed her chance for a proper reunion.

Best buddies reunited!

I don’t have a photo of her, but I found one on Pinterest that is close.

A special connection.

I have a hunch dogs remember past life relationships.

Why:

I was looking for a temp rental after wildfire evacuation. Found several that could work.

One place I went to, the husky met me at the door. I was told he wasn't always the best with strangers- keep my distance. Owners pulled him away from me as i entered.

But I had maybe 30 long seconds to look in his eyes and he into mine.

Somehow we "knew" each other.

Somehow, this user felt that they knew each other in the past.

He started wagging his tail and trying to talk. He freed himself from the owners and was all over me like a family member coming home. They commented that he never acts that way.

When I sat to do paperwork later to rent, he was leaning into me, wanting pets, ears and tummy rubs!

3–1/2 years later I still rent here. We have a special bond. The owner asked me "why rent here? What was the deciding reason?" I told her "Because when I met your dog, I knew him." There wasn't anything wrong with the other places.

There was just an instant "past" connection and we already knew each other.

She never forget those she loved and those who loved herm even after many years.

My children’s first dog, Lily, was a black lab/fox hound mix that a co-worker needed to give up, after his girls raised her from a puppy. His wife had MS and she could not handle and care for a big, hyper dog.

At a year old she was a super active lab, with a hunting dog’s instincts, i.e. would jump a six foot fence to track and chase coyotes, deer, couger, but loved my friend’s kids.

That dog loved my boys, hiked and walked with me and them daily, for the next eleven years, until she passed of cancer.

Her entire life, if that dog heard the voices of little girls, she checked. If a group was playing in the park, she sat and met them all. Twice in those years, we picnic’ed with my friends family and our dog was in heaven with all her kids around her.

Lily was a dog that never forgot the people that loved her, and those that she loved.

Lily at a year old, just before she moved in with us.

This doggo doesn't forget the tricks taught to him.

I think dogs remember their owners no matter how short a time they’ve spent together. When I adopted my dog Arthur as a puppy from a family friend who could no longer care for him, he spent a week with my parents.

During that time, my mom was his owner. She fed him, played with him, took him on walks, and taught him tricks—and I don’t think he’s ever forgotten that time.

He bonded with his special person, even if they only spent time with each other for a week.

He’s honestly not the friendliest dog in the world. He makes it really clear who his people are and while he’ll follow me to the ends of the earth, he pretty much disregards most other people.

Except for my mom, who is clearly really special to him, even though she was only his person for a week. It’s obvious even years later, now that he’s an old cantankerous dog.

Supported by both scientific evidence and the heartfelt experiences of dog owners, it's clear. Our beloved furry friends possess incredible cognitive skills and boundless affection.

Recognizing their episodic-like memory not only warms our hearts but also strengthens the beautiful connection between humans and dogs, bringing endless joy and companionship into our lives.

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