Can dogs see themselves in mirrors or in photographs? Sort of. But that doesn’t mean the image interests them at all.

Canine eyes are set further apart in their skulls than human eyes, and as a rule, they deviate approximately 20 degrees lateral to the midline. (In English, that means there’s an area directly in front of their faces that they can’t see.) Human eyes look straight ahead and have no such deviation. A dog’s total field of vision, however, is approximately 240 to 250 degrees, while homo sapiens only have a 180 degree view of the world. As a result, Fido sees more of the activity going on around him, not right in front of his (rather considerable) nose. They have trouble focusing forward, which is why they tend to cock their heads when you stand in front of them and talk or reach out to them.

Dogs also react more to scent than to visuals, so if that snapshot you’re showing them doesn’t smell like Alpo, they won’t be interested. Likewise he’s not threatened by that “other” dog in the mirror because it’s not giving off any stimulating aroma. Some owners are convinced that Rover can see and admire himself in those family albums, but his reaction is based on their own “oohing” and “awwwing” at the portraits. The pooch tunes in to those happy sounds and hears his name mentioned, and he thinks he’s doing something that pleases you. Cue the doggy smiles and waggy tail.