do dogs know their names

Dogs do know their names in the sense that they recognize the sound and associate it with themselves, often responding when they hear it. They learn their names mainly through conditioning, where their name is consistently paired with attention, treats, or other positive experiences. Dogs don't understand names as an abstract concept like humans do but respond to their name as a cue that something important or rewarding is about to happen. This recognition develops typically within a few days to a week of consistent use. Dogs also use body language and tone to help distinguish their names from other words, and their mental ability to understand words is roughly comparable to that of a 2-year-old child. However, they may not always respond if they're distracted or if they've had negative associations with their name.