do you think that dogs know who their brothers or sisters are?

@allamgirl (2140)
Philippines
July 8, 2010 4:45am CST
so, my dog died today. his name is xander. he had a twin sister named willow. these two dogs are always together. even with our other dogs, they would sleep next to each other. most of our dogs are outside our house, so when we let one of them it, the other one keeps looking for the other one. i just looked on our backyard just now, and willow keeps circling around. i wonder if she's looking for her brother. do you think that she know and understands that xander is gone now?
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8 responses
• Philippines
10 Jul 10
I think she knows that your Xander has passed. I'm not exactly sure if she understands that Xander was her littermate, but she surely is aware that she has lost family. I'm so sorry for your loss... But I'm certain that he's over the rainbow bridge now.
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@allamgirl (2140)
• Philippines
11 Jul 10
thank you golden. yes, dogs are amazing that way. they're very loyal to those who love them. and those two do love each other even if we're not sure they know that they are brother and sister.
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• Philippines
10 Jul 10
I think willow is looking for xander.she probably doesn't know that xander is gone.she is still looking for xander.they know the members of their pack.when one is gone,they will be looking for that lost or gone member.
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@allamgirl (2140)
• Philippines
11 Jul 10
thank you coco. i think she was looking for him too. i hope she doesn't look for him for too long though. i know that she is sad too, just like me.
• Canada
9 Jul 10
When they are close like your dogs where some, just like people will stay close. When they are separated at 12 weeks ie. sold, they sometimes remember, some like to forget
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@allamgirl (2140)
• Philippines
11 Jul 10
yes, that's what i think too. if they stayed together with the same family in the same house, they would know and feel it. but say, if you give one puppy away and kept the other and when they're older, they see each other, they wouldn't.
• Pakistan
8 Jul 10
no they dont know, i have seen many dos mating with their mothers so you are wrong
@allamgirl (2140)
• Philippines
9 Jul 10
i don't mean mating. i meant about the togetherness of siblings.
@knewfy (82)
• United States
11 Jul 10
whether or not dogs mate has nothing to do with whether or not they are littermates..the "mating" is often a sign of dominance, that is how one dog will demonstrate that he/she is the "leader of the pack" , usually they do not actually "mate" unless the female is in season, and then they don't care if they are related. That is why females remain in season for at least a week and why the smell can be smelled by males over a mile away, so there will be diversity in the litter, it is possible for a female to make with several different males and have puppies in the same litter with different fathers.
• United Arab Emirates
8 Jul 10
If the dogs can recognise their masters then they can definately recognise their brothers, sisters and ofcourse mother.
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@allamgirl (2140)
• Philippines
9 Jul 10
yeah, that's what i think so too. thanks.
@jerikjames (1041)
• Philippines
8 Jul 10
Aren't their names from Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Hehe. Anyway, I think animals know who their brothers or sisters are. Our dogs, whenever a family member of theirs die, they also do what your dog did and howl and whimper.
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@allamgirl (2140)
• Philippines
8 Jul 10
xander and willow - xander's the one looking at the camera. see how sweet they are together?
yup, it's from buffy the vampire slayer. their mom's name is buffy. and we have another dog that's named spike. anyway, i put a picture of him and willow here. xander's the one looking at the camera. see how sweet they are with each other?
@o0jopak0o (6394)
• Philippines
8 Jul 10
well i think they forget after a while of being seperated.
@allamgirl (2140)
• Philippines
9 Jul 10
yup, i'm sure she would. but it's still sad that they're not together anymore.
@sjlskl (3382)
• Singapore
8 Jul 10
I think she is more likely to be looking for her companion more than her brother. I believe dogs won't know if another is their siblings. And since they have been together since birth, the first explanation is most probable.
@allamgirl (2140)
• Philippines
9 Jul 10
yeah, probably. but the sweet thing about them is that even with our other dogs, they seem to be closer with each other.