A study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior in 2011 tested whether dogs are able to understand the concept of a mirror by conducting an experiment involving 40 dogs. The dogs were allowed to explore a room with a covered mirror, and then the mirror was uncovered. When the dogs saw their owners in the mirror, most of them approached it, while seven turned away to look back toward the actual location of their owners. Researchers concluded that these dogs seemed to grasp the concept of what a reflection is. However, the response was not unanimous.
Salad, a rescue dog from Kansas, had a hilarious reaction when he caught sight of his own reflection in his owner’s home. Salad was adopted at the humane society and was drawn to his owners by a sticker on his adoption forms that read “I am special.” He is described as a dog who loves attention and is very expressive. Salad lives with two cat friends but struggles with other dogs because he prefers being the center of attention. When Salad saw himself in the mirror, he appeared offended and began growling and barking at what he thought was another dog. However, his anger did not last long and his owner made a note to avoid mirrors when he is around.
Salad’s owner captured his reaction to seeing his own reflection in a video posted on TikTok under the handle @thedognamedsalad. The video captured Salad growling and barking at himself in the mirror, leading his owner to believe that he may have thought he was another dog or was in disbelief that it was himself. Viewers of the video had their own theories, with some suggesting that Salad may have seen his owner’s reflection holding another dog as far as he was concerned. Salad’s owner described him as having a childlike wonder and being very expressive, often telling his family how he feels.
Salad’s unique and humorous reaction to seeing himself in the mirror highlights the question of whether dogs truly understand the concept of a reflection. While the 2011 study suggested that dogs may have some grasp of what a reflection is, Salad’s behavior indicates that this understanding may not be universal among all dogs. Regardless, Salad’s reaction served as a source of amusement for his owner and viewers of the TikTok video. If you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet, you can share them with Newsweek for a chance to be featured in their Pet of the Week lineup. Newsweek aims to challenge conventional wisdom and find connections in the search for common ground.
