Can Dogs Remember Yesterday?

Dogs can't even remember what happened 15 minutes ago according to one professor of Psychology who wrote a fascinating article for Psychology Today.

Dr. Hyman posits animals (and young children) lack 'episodic memory' which requires a certain set of cognitive skills. When your dog barks at himself in the mirror thinking it's a strange dog, it's because he has no self awareness.

Being able to recognize oneself isn't the only cognitive skill required, he says. The ability to mentally time travel is required to understand that yesterday is different than today. Hyman summarizes with: 'Episodic remembering hinges on the conscious experience of the self in some other time and place. Episodic memory is thus hard to demonstrate without the verbal ability to describe conscious experience.'

I'm on the fence. I don't know if Petey can remember yesterday but I do know he remembers that time I put medicine on his hot spot because I've been unable to treat him since. Whenever I bring out the small white bottle containing the medicinal powder, he eases out of his doggie door and stays gone for hours.

What do you think? Are dogs capable of episodic memory? Answer the poll below and Madison and Shepherd will share the results tomorrow.