How long a dog remembers its owner when given will depend on how long they were together, as well as the type and relationship they built. There is no hard and fast rule for how many months or years he would remember the owners because there are so many variables. Remember that dogs socialize through their mouths and scents. Although they have poor eyesight, dogs know how to relate their sense of smell very well to the situations they have experienced, and it is these abilities that, if still present in their lives, will make the dog remember the owner indefinitely.
And it is precisely because of this olfactory and visual memory that the fact that the dog wags its tail after seeing the person who lived with it even years after separating from it is explained. Although recent research claims that dogs have short memories – and we would be talking about days to a few weeks – this applies to games and games, not dogs that have had long affectionate relationships with people.
How long does a dog remember the owner when it is donated?
Less than two months of relationship
Once a puppy is born, the longer it stays in its old home, obviously the longer it will remember its former owners. But if he left the house before he was 2 months old, forget it: he, now an adult, wags his tail because he wants to play, but not because he recognized the former owner. Now, if he stayed 6 months in the old home, and the relationship was of excellent quality, he will remember the old tutor for years. And if he is a dog descended from a breed known to have good memory, such as German Shepherd and Border Collie, this theory applies with more property, he can remember for many, many years.
More than a year of relationship
The closer to 2 years of relationship with a family, the more easily it is recognized by the former owners. Many dogs express extreme joy at being reunited with former owners even years after they have left. That goes for the people who hurt you too. Therefore, they may move away when they meet those for whom they do not have affection because they are not treated well by these individuals.
Recognition also depends on the number of stimuli that the former owner applies to his former dog. Kisses behind the ear? A keyword? A special cookie? The more stimuli, the more memories.
Recognition years after the donation of the dog
As a veterinarian, I have already helped many people to find new homes for their dogs, whether due to a change of address or the death of their owner. So, I witnessed reunions with the most varied behaviors to the point of drawing a conclusion. Dogs over 2 years old and who have had very close contact with their former owners, even separated by 3, 4, or 5 years, recognize their affections after smelling and hearing their voice minutes after the reunion. Yes, sometimes it's not right away. We can't forget that dogs don't have good eyesight and that explains why they don't immediately recognize their former and beloved owners. But as soon as they hear their voices and feel their hands, the conversation is different.
However, more mature animals, 4, 5 or 6 years old, will never forget their former owners. This, obviously, if we are talking about a very good owner. It should be noted, however, that an evil owner also becomes, in a certain way, unforgettable, but based on fear. Animals that nurtured affection for their guardians and for a long period of time will not forget them.
The less time spent together, the shorter the dog's memory
Once again, it is good to emphasize that we are talking about well-built relationships. Dogs can, yes, remember the former owners after being donated. But whether that will last for 3 years or 10 is a really difficult variable to predict. However, if the dog was one of those who stayed in the background, maybe he really doesn't remember you. At most he can have a vague recollection of its scent.
Good owners are never forgotten
Don't be so desperate to have to donate your dog feeling more pain than he does. Good owners will never be forgotten, and if that was your case, your dog may have developed an optimistic view of humans. If you, his human, are no longer by his side, that's okay: another much better one can come along. Astonished? Know that I've seen a lot of this happen while tutors cried with remorse having to walk away from their animals.
Of course, he might miss you, even more so if we're talking about dogs that sleep in the same bed with their owners, who take trips with them and with whom they spend a good part of the day. If so, you are unforgettable and humanity is good. And have no doubt that you are unforgettable as long as you are in possession of your mental health. Yeah, there's this one too. Older dogs, blind and with smell problems tend to have less manifestations of recognition of the former owner compared to younger animals. This does not mean that they do not recognize the former owners: they no longer have the skills to promote this recognition.