Do Dogs Have a Sense of Time? 

Routine is a huge part of a dog’s life. Time is a significant factor when it comes to establishing a routine. With this said, you may wonder if our four-legged friends have a sense of time. Our research concludes that many behaviorists link time and memories. However, this concept may be more complicated than you’d think. Let’s take a deeper look.

The answer to the question is yes and no. We cannot determine a dog’s perception of time because we cannot ask them directly. However, dogs can gauge time, and that is obvious. Regardless, it does not mean that dogs perceive time the same as humans. This is where it gets a little tricky. There are two types of human memory which include semantic and episodic. Semantic involves the general knowledge we have accumulated throughout the years, including facts, meanings, and ideas. Episodic involves our recollection of experiences and events throughout life.

Research shows that dogs have semantic memory. This is because they can recall verbal commands and body language. How does this have something to do with the ability of dogs to tell time? For example, your dog wakes you up at 7:00 am every morning. Do they realize that it is 7:00 am? Probably not. However, they have picked a series of events, meaning it is time to wake up. They may have heard the birds chirping or see the sunrise.

We think a dog’s sense of time and ability may be stronger than people think. Of course, there is a lot that we do not know because we cannot explore the minds of dogs. Instead, we can form opinions on actions and behaviors. Dogs may be unable to read the numbers on a clock, but their routines speak volumes.