It’s a known fact that we see ourselves whenever we stare at the framed reflective ponds we all call mirrors. Most find this as a vulnerable situation since they have no one else to look at but themselves. Some experts use mirrors as tools to test if a human is self-aware or not.
You’ll be surprised to know that dogs, like some animals, possess the ability of self-awareness. This explains why you often see them staring at themselves whenever they see a mirror. It usually starts with them being surprised at the sight of another dog, which is then followed by their countless attempts to tell the other dog, aka their reflection, to stop copying their every move.
The furriest of them all
Some scientists argue that there’s more to self-awareness than just a simple acknowledgment of one’s reflection on the mirror. It has to be something deeper for it to count as an indication that consciousness exists in a being.
While this remains to be an argument among experts, most dog owners have shared that they’re just happy to see how their pups react when they see a mirror. Some of them don’t seem to mind having their lookalike move the way they do. Others get surprised the moment they realize they’re “not alone.”
Getting to know you
It’s still debatable if dogs recognize themselves when they look at the mirror. On the one hand, it’s highly possible, that’s why they end up staring at the mirror for a good number of minutes. On the other hand, it’s also possible that they think of their reflection as another dog who could possibly steal the spotlight from them.
Whatever the reason may be, it’s still fun to watch how dogs behave in front of the mirror. This is something dog owners can agree too, especially since they uploaded photos of their pups eyeing the mirror and checking themselves out.
Credits to zp1012
