Dog Sees “Intruder” in the Mirror and Decides It’s Time to Attack

Are you familiar with the expression, “You are your own worst enemy”? Well, apparently Tuto, a mixed breed dog who lives in Maranhão, takes that saying very seriously.

Recently, Tuto was caught having a little ‘heart-to-heart’ with himself in front of the mirror.

The funny moment was shared on social media by his owner, Danielly Silva.

The tense moment reaches its peak when he decides to attack the reflection, trying to bite the supposed opponent without success.

When sharing the moment with Amo Meu Pet (our Brazilian website about pet news), Danielly Silva revealed that this reaction is nothing new for Tuto.

“He always does this, hahahaha! He never got used to mirrors,” she said.

It seems that the idea of facing an imaginary “rival” in the mirror is something that intrigues Tuto more and more every time.

The owner also explains that Tuto’s territorial nature could be behind this behavior.

For Tuto, his reflection feels like more than just an image; it’s a potential adversary that needs to be growled at and fought with, even though it’s just an illusion.

Besides that quirk, Tuto has an unusual love for a specific ball, which Danielly describes as “the mortal remains of a ball.”

Even though there’s barely anything left of it, Tuto refuses to abandon his favorite ball.

Danielly says she has tried buying similar balls, but in different colors. However, Tuto displays unparalleled loyalty to his beloved ball.

Tuto and his quirks are simply adorable. Check out the video:

Do Dogs Recognize Themselves in the Mirror?

The Mirror Test is a classic (and controversial) experiment used to assess animal self-awareness.

In this experiment, an animal’s body part is marked with ink or something else, without the animal knowing.

Next, the researchers put these animals in front of a mirror, allowing them to see the mark.

If the animal investigates the mark, it’s a sign that it recognizes itself in the mirror—indicating self-awareness.

According to the American Kennel Club, many animals—like gorillas, dolphins, and elephants—have passed the test. But not dogs.

That’s why some dogs try to befriend their reflection—or, in Tuto’s case, try to fight it.

However, not recognizing their reflection doesn’t mean dogs lack self-awareness.

Another study presented on the site showed that dogs can recognize their own scent.

Despite this evidence, the jury was still out on the question of self-awareness.

That’s why scientists at Eötvös Loránd University decided to take a different approach: body awareness.

In the test, the dogs had to lift a toy while standing on it—making their own weight the obstacle.

Surprisingly, the dogs understood the challenge and solved the “puzzle.”