Do you think dogs understand how cars work?

[jackleapp81 456]

Today, I needed to get some groceries from the store. As I was about to leave the house, my dog Bobo (a toy Australian Shepard, the cutest little thing on four legs) started bouncing up and down and wagging his tail, indicating to me that he'd really like to go on this car trip with me. I happily obliged, and we took off for the store. 

 

As I'm driving, I glance over and see him curl up in a little ball on the passenger seat and go to sleep. It's at this moment, that I think to myself:

 

Does he know that I'm driving this car? Does it occur to him in his tiny little mind that the human being next to him is actually controlling the vehicle? Or does he think it's just moving by itself?

 

This question has been nagging at the back of my mind for the entire day, and I'd like to get some answers/opinions from you guys. Do you think dogs register in their brains that humans are controlling cars? When they look outside, and see a car hurtling down the street, do they think to themselves, "A human is driving that.", or do they just not even think about it?

Edited November 26, 2013 by jackleapp81

[Scootalove 10,689]

Dogs do have a pretty complex psyche that we're still trying to figure out, so it could be possible for them to think about how cars work. Since, they tend to focus on a lot of things.

[Metemponychosis 1,262]

I think that he doesn't even come close to this kind of reasoning.

He knows that there is this thing that you take him to and he understands that this event has consequences.

And I guess that he understands that the car is moving.

 

But he may not realize that the other cars are the same thing as "that particular car". Just other things moving around, withou understanding that it's the same thing.

 

I mean... Do they understand that when we flip a light switch, the lights turn on? I think that they connect the two events, but they don't know why they are connected.

[Twiliscael 3,960]

I don't even think they realize what the hell's going on. I think they plop down in the car, dope around for a couple minutes, then just think magically appear somewhere else and get all excited-dog about it. I don't even think they comprehend what it is they're seeing when they look out or stick their heads out the window... it just looks cool and feels funny.

 

Edited November 26, 2013 by Twiliscael

[CT-1138 3,182]

They same some breeds have the intelligence of a 3yo, so I'd imagine hat hey can figure some features out. I had a dachshund that over going for car rides. She was a smart little sausage, too. First thing she'd do when she got in the car was wait for it to turn on. As soon as it was on, she'd put her paw on the window button and scroll it down to poke her head out.