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How do dogs recognise that another animal is also a dog when there is such a vast array of canine shapes and sizes? (continued)

John Dobson
Allendale, Northumberland, UK

Both my current and most recent previous dogs were labradors and both behave(d) in the same way when meeting a chihuahua. The initial response was sniffing. In both cases, my dogs immediately lost interest, as if to say: 鈥淟ooks like a dog, but doesn鈥檛 smell like a dog, so it鈥檚 not a dog.鈥�

So, smell probably has a lot to do with mutual recognition.

Blaise Bullimore
Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, UK

The picture above is possibly an extension, rather than an answer, to the question.

This is my golden retriever Cai, who has clearly recognised the skeleto-canine for what it represents, and is exhibiting the appropriate investigatory behaviour!

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