Do Dogs Really Only Live In The Moment?

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I keep reading that dogs only live in the moment, and they really don't remember what's happened in the past. I've often wondered about that. Here's a video of a dog welcoming home his soldier "Dad" from Afghanistan. Certainly appropriate for the day after Veterns Day. Clearly, this dog remembered! This video brought tears to my eyes. Here's the link....
http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/40324

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Our Nephew left last January 3rd for a year long deployment to Iraq. One of the things his wife worried about was if Tucker (their rescued mixed breed) would remember his daddy when he came home. Well, that was put to the test on October 15th, when after 10 months, he came home for his 2 weeks R&R .... Tucker apparently initially gave a little growl, but then all of a sudden realized it was daddy and it was just like old times. Daddy has now gone back to Iraq, but with any luck, fingers crossed, will be home for good (or at least until the next deployment) by Christmas! Thanks for posting these videos ..... I'm going to forward them on to my niece as I think she will enjoy them as well!

[Joyce & Wilson]

Oh they remember!! I used up a box of tissues..thank you for posting this and reminding us of what is important!! God bless our service men and keep them safe to come home to their families and dogs!!

[Adina P]

I'll have to watch this later...gotta run soon. But I agree that dogs 'live in the moment' -- I also agree they have memory--but that doesn't mean they remember things like we do where we can sit and reminisce and ponder the past. They do remember and some of it, I believe, is learned response to stuff they experienced (vs. something they think about heavily). So if a dog was hit with a belt in the past...they might be fearful of belts as a learned response...but I don't think they have these flashbacks to the past...I think they just have a learned response. Not sure if that made sense...?