A rescue dog had a hilarious reaction when he saw his reflection for the first time.
Scientists have wondered if dogs understand mirrors. A study in 2011 tested 40 dogs’ reactions to mirrors to see if they grasped the concept of reflection.
The dogs were allowed to explore a room with a hidden mirror, then the mirror was uncovered. When the dogs noticed their owners’ reflections, most approached the mirror. Some, however, turned away.
Researchers found that most dogs seemed to grasp the concept of reflections, but not all reacted the same.
One such dog, Salad, from Kansas, had a confused reaction to his reflection. He was drawn to his owners by a sticker on his adoption forms that said, “I am special.” Indeed, Salad loves attention and enjoys herding his owners.
Salad loves being the center of attention and acts like a toddler. He’s expressive, talkative, and wants to be involved in everything.
When Salad saw himself in the mirror, he got defensive, growling and barking at his reflection. His owner found it amusing, thinking he might have mistaken his reflection for another dog.
On TikTok, viewers had their own theories about Salad’s reaction, with some suggesting he saw his owner’s reflection as holding another dog.
Despite Salad’s initial offense, his anger quickly subsided. His owner learned to avoid mirrors when Salad is around.