# Do animals self identify with a name? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 16, 2017, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-self-identify-with-a-name/786709 "2017-05-16T01:51:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-self-identify-with-a-name/786709/1 "2017-05-16T01:51:30Z")
Hello Everyone, At the OBBN home we have 5 cats, 4 dogs, two houses and two mini donkeys. They of course each have a name and they will respond to their name by coming when called, looking in the direction of the name caller or meowing, neying, etc… So my question is, do animals consider their names “them” or just a particular sound they hear when they’re wanted? I personally doubt the latter because let’s say I call or house Journey. Heel look up and start walking towards me, but the other horse, Sterling, won’t flinch. I would think that I’d they considered names as just a generic call then both horses would pay attention when one or the other was called. The same holds true for the cats and dogs. Each one responds to their name. So do they consider their names as “self” or are they just hearing a familiar call? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-self-identify-with-a-name/786709/2 "2017-05-16T02:39:48Z")
> [@](#): > > So my question is, do animals consider their names “them” or just a particular sound they hear when they’re wanted? Is there a difference? If you call for Journey, then Journey knows you want his attention and not Sterling’s. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-self-identify-with-a-name/786709/3 "2017-05-16T02:52:45Z")
There’s that one about dolphins a while ago: > **[National Geographic](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/)** > > Explore National Geographic. A world leader in geography, cartography and exploration. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-self-identify-with-a-name/786709/4 "2017-05-16T02:54:23Z")
How could you distinguish between an animal’s reaction of “Thumper? That’s me!” and “Thumper? That’s the sound humans make when they summon me!”? ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-self-identify-with-a-name/786709/5 "2017-05-16T02:56:19Z")
Tangential: I remember a magazine article describing an experiment involving an otherwise intelligent dog. The dog was taught to retrieve the right toy based on what was called. The question was whether the dog understood the sounds he was hearing were the _name_ of the toy and not just a sound; the conclusion was, no. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-self-identify-with-a-name/786709/6 "2017-05-16T03:03:25Z")
Ask any dog owner who owns two or more dogs: Call for Fido, Spot will come. Call for Spot, Fido will come. They do this NOT because they have their names confused, but because, not only do they identify their own name, they are clearly able to identify others’ names. Which is why they will come in a fit of jealousy when the other dog’s name is called. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-self-identify-with-a-name/786709/7 "2017-05-16T03:05:06Z")
Our two standard poodles certainly knew that one of ‘Katie’ and ‘Sarah’ referred to them. That is if you said “Sarah, come” Sarah and not Katie would come. But a little more impressive. If I was only with Sarah and said “Katie” she would trot off and lead me to Katie. Katie would not do this though. So Sarah knew that “Katie” meant something about her sister. I don’t know how you’d prove she knew it was Katie’s name. I don’t know how you’d prove she even knew what a “name” was. But she clearly associated that word with her sister. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-self-identify-with-a-name/786709/8 "2017-05-16T03:22:35Z")
Growing up we had a dog named Missy (yes, that makes my stripper name Missy Foster) and her name morphed over the years - missy, mister, sister, girl, girdo, ferdo, ferdy, etc, etc, while she only ever responded to missy outside the family, she never once balked at any one of the four of us calling her just about anything. I believe she recognized that humans used the word missy to call her, but her family used whatever sound was convenient. Therefore, in this case at least, it seems that the name was just a name. fwiw. mc ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-self-identify-with-a-name/786709/9 "2017-05-16T03:44:52Z")
Tell me [these dogs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIB78p-Y5cE) don’t know their names. ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-self-identify-with-a-name/786709/10 "2017-05-16T03:54:54Z")
My apologies for all the typos. I’ve been good lately about previewing before I hit post, but I didn’t this time. Blame my old eyes and big fingers. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-self-identify-with-a-name/786709/11 "2017-05-16T03:57:11Z")
Off topic although slightly related is the mirror test, which I just learned about a few days ago and found very interesting. It’s an experiment ran on many different animals over the years on if they can ever learn that the image they see in a mirror is themselves. The conclusion? Only four animals can. Only four animals ever learned: Humans, dolphins, monkeys, and elephants. And the interesting way they proved it? The tape or mark test. They would put either a mark or piece of tape on the back of an animal and then put a mirror near them. Monkeys, dolphins, and elephants are the ONLY animals who ever used the mirror to then turn around and see what was put on them, on their backs (in the mirror) thus proving that they knew that the reflection was that of themselves. I always found that interesting. What that has to do with this question, though…well, it just reminded me of it. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-self-identify-with-a-name/786709/12 "2017-05-16T04:29:01Z")
Which species of monkey? Chimps, I’m guessing, or did any other primates pass the test? ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-self-identify-with-a-name/786709/13 "2017-05-16T04:40:50Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > I always found that interesting. What that has to do with this question, though…well, it just reminded me of it. So, just idle thoughts? I’m also curious about which kind of primate it was. It would be surprising if monkeys could do it but not bonobos. Can dogs go to particular humans when told something like “Go to John”? ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-self-identify-with-a-name/786709/14 "2017-05-16T05:03:19Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > So, just idle thoughts? > > I’m also curious about which kind of primate it was. It would be surprising if monkeys could do it but not bonobos. > > Can dogs go to particular humans when told something like “Go to John”? When I was a kid, my mom would tell our dog: “Go wake **Grrr** up!” (For school) and that dog would come running in my room, jump on my bed, and lick my face till I got up. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-self-identify-with-a-name/786709/15 "2017-05-16T05:07:38Z")
IIRC crows also pass the “mirror test”. The deal with the dogs is, while there is no question they can distinguish dozens of different words, it is not clear they can apply the same sort of linguistic abstractions a young human can. For instance, even after they learned a name for a certain toy, they would fail to bring back one of a different size or color. It is not clear that even intelligent dogs are capable of understanding human language. So, while they may recognize their own and other dogs’ names, that does not necessarily mean they understand the concept of names. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-self-identify-with-a-name/786709/16 "2017-05-16T06:48:15Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > Can dogs go to particular humans when told something like “Go to John”? Mum had a devoted silky terrier. If the dog was asleep when Mum went into the garden, we horrible children would wake her up and say “Where’s Mum? Where’s Mum?”. The dog would jump up and do a frantic search for her. (Eventually the dog just started checking her handbag. If it was in its usual place and her keys were in it, the dog would keep searching for her. If the bag was gone or the keys weren’t in it, she’d return to her nap.) Anyway, that dog knew the name for each member of the family and could be sent to an individual. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-self-identify-with-a-name/786709/17 "2017-05-16T07:00:03Z")
Been waiting with these: [![](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/5e/6b/2e/5e6b2e28f3a4f3149e5c8e2d480c6e1d.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/5e/6b/2e/5e6b2e28f3a4f3149e5c8e2d480c6e1d.jpg) [![](https://politicalmonkey2010.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/gary-larson-what-we-say-to-dogs-what-dogs-hear.jpg) ](https://politicalmonkey2010.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/gary-larson-what-we-say-to-dogs-what-dogs-hear.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-self-identify-with-a-name/786709/18 "2017-05-16T07:25:46Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > IIRC crows also pass the “mirror test”. > > The deal with the dogs is, while there is no question they can distinguish dozens of different words, it is not clear they can apply the same sort of linguistic abstractions a young human can. For instance, even after they learned a name for a certain toy, they would fail to bring back one of a different size or color. It is not clear that even intelligent dogs are capable of understanding human language. So, while they may recognize their own and other dogs’ names, that does not necessarily mean they understand the concept of names. That’s been my experience too - dogs seem to have borderline comprehension - my little dog had a rubber pig that we called Kevin\* - on instruction, she will pick out one of quite a few named toys (ball, duck, screaming-man, gingy, rabbit). She eventually destroyed the pig and I replaced it with one that was quite different in design - she immediately understood that this pig was a Kevin, but ‘ball’ only means the small rubber ball - we’ve tried associating other sizes and types of ball with the word, but if we ask her to fetch the ball, she will hunt for the small rubber ball, even if the tennis ball is in plain sight. (\*bacon) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-self-identify-with-a-name/786709/19 "2017-05-16T07:44:28Z")
We’ve had similar threads before, and I’ve told this: We had this dog once, Arrow, that I tried an experiment with. While he dozed, I called several names with no reaction. When I finally threw in the name Arrow, he perked right up. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-self-identify-with-a-name/786709/20 "2017-05-16T07:50:29Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > Our two standard poodles certainly knew that one of ‘Katie’ and ‘Sarah’ referred to them. That is if you said “Sarah, come” Sarah and not Katie would come. > > But a little more impressive. If I was only with Sarah and said “Katie” she would trot off and lead me to Katie. Katie would not do this though. So Sarah knew that “Katie” meant something about her sister. > > I don’t know how you’d prove she knew it was Katie’s name. I don’t know how you’d prove she even knew what a “name” was. But she clearly associated that word with her sister. We’ve had dogs who’ve known everyone in the family. If I told our black lab Sandy to go find Dad, Mom or my brother, he would lead me to them. And he would also do this for the other animals in the family. So he at least had some understanding of attaching acoustical labels to other individuals, as well as their toys. Then there’s [the dog who knows 1000 words](https://youtu.be/_6479QAJuz8), as well as deductive logic, apparently. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-self-identify-with-a-name/786709.md?page=2)