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Pets

70sEraVet

(5,249 posts)

2. We had a small mutt that was WILD about tennis balls

Reply to douglas9 (Original post)

Fri Jan 9, 2026, 09:33 AM

Yesterday

I set a mirror on the floor leaning against the wall, and sat down facing the mirror with the dog in front of me, also facing the mirror. Suddenly I pulled a tennis ball out from behind me, so the dog could see it in the mirror. The dog IMMEDIATELY turned around to grab the tennis ball! The dog thoroughly understood that it was seeing a reflection.
The odd part is, after I stood up, the dog set the tennis ball down in front of the mirror, then took a quick look BEHIND the mirror. Was he just checking, to be sure there wasn't really another ball back there? Or was he thinking "How DOES that thing work?"

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EverHopeful

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Highlight:

These clever dogs rival toddlers when it comes to learning words [View all] douglas9 Yesterday OP

Once just answered that I'd left something in the car EverHopeful Yesterday #1

We had a small mutt that was WILD about tennis balls 70sEraVet Yesterday #2

I had a cat, Spot, who could count and another, CJ, that apparently picked it up watching him. Phoenix61 Yesterday #3