Do BDs know who is who?

[KarenInCA]

So, yesterday while we were at the vet's office, my 9 year old daughter held Rin a little bit, but he seemed to get anxious on her shoulder. When I took him, he stayed still and seemed more calm.
When I let him down for the vet to examine him, he was very curious, and licked my hand several times, then moved over to the vet, and licked the vet one or two times.

My first question is, does he really know me vs my daughter, vs the vet? The vet said he does not think so, because they don't use their tongues like snakes to "sniff" people. My initial thought to that was, "I don't know if that's true" he seemed to know the difference between myself and my daughter. Perhaps he was picking up her energy of being a bit anxious with him in a new surrounding. Also, he licked me a LOT when he was in the exam room, and moved on to the vet to lick the vet's arm a couple times, but he licked mine the most.

Do you think BDs can really decide who you are by tasting you, and do they decide who is to be trusted more than someone else by that? I really don't know the answer and it's difficult to find info about it on the internet.
Most people will say that BDs can tell their surroundings by licking things, but that is too vague for me. I know that already. I want to know if they can understand WHO IS WHO by our taste. And if so, do they also know who they trust more by our scents/tastes?
OR is it just...more like, "You are human. Humans are good. You will feed me if I am hungry, human. I will accept you in my environment, human." Or is it a variant of trust, trusting the one human who feeds and takes care of him more than other humans, yet trusting all humans because they have not had a bad experience with any human before?

 

[KarenInCA]

Not sure if this post got lost in the mix, or if simply no one has an answer, but just wanted to bump this up, just in case someone might have some insight. Or even if you have a theory of your own.

 

[Elmontare]

When i first got my dragon she would lick my hand the few times i held her, now she doesnt. The first time she saw a q-tip she licked it, now she doesnt (there was shed in her nose). Whenever i added something or rearanged her cage a little she licked objects before climbing on them. Newly explored objects around the house she licks. The only other thing ive noticed is she doesnt seem to like new people, she runs right back to me, but after a few visits she warms up a little. These are just observations based on one dragon and 2 years experience.....

 

[KarenInCA]

My dragon licks things he likes still. He likes his log, and licks it almost every time I place him back into his viv, onto it, or when he gets to a certain point he likes. He likes his bed, and will lick it when he gets to it. He also likes his perch on the top of the couch, and licks that every time I place him there as well.
Ive noticed though, that he only licks me when he seems a bit like he is trying to figure out who is who in the house, or if Ive annoyed him and he wants to go further on the couch and my hand stops him from doing so.

He also fights being brought back into the house if he hasn't had enough time outside. He backs up in my hand, or forward. The other day, he almost fell forward off of my hand as we were walking in....like if he could, he would hold on to the threshold and make me pull him inside. He knows where that threshold is, and right before it is where he starts to squirm. He has also backed up as far as he can on my wrist if I try to put him back into the viv when he has not had enough time out yet.
Funny, I never thought about the temper tantrums till you started saying what yours licks. But, he really DOES throw a lot of tantrums. Guess I just have not listened to them. :lol:

 

[DivergentKyle]

In my experience of owning different types of animals, and my own intuition and opinion, I most certainly do believe any animal is capable (and sometimes prone) to picking favorites. Considering bearded dragons form bonds with us, I think this definitely applies here. Bearded dragons have great senses including excellent scent and sight (minus depth perception) and are intelligent enough to differentiate between person A and person B. They do use their tongues to smell and feel.

Even a friendly animal who likes anyone and everyone can still have favorites. Such as the common dog who loves attention from anyone, but you can tell he knows who his owner his and follows commands by this one person most and walks by this persons side the most.

But getting past the facts, I do think some dragons pick favorites. I believe animals build trusts with us, they're not always there from the start. I do not have much personal examples due to the fact I live a solitary life at the moment, but I have a few examples of my dragon. When he sees strangers approaching (such as when we are outside or at a public park) he will hide in my sweatshirt or under my legs showing his trust in me. Same goes for when the cats are bothering him or a vacuum is going off.

I also remember spending time with a friend and I placed my dragon on this friends lap. While my dragon was not frightened, and allowed my friend to pet him, he kept an eye on me the whole time totally disregarding my friend as if to make sure I wasn't leaving him with a stranger or as if to say "I want Dad's lap." I also think my dragon watches me more than he does others. It seems that he watches others to detect their intentions while watching me more out of curiosity, taking an interest in my whereabouts. It seems as though he's always watching me from his tank when not out with me.

I do not think these things would occur if bearded dragons had no preferences or a special bond with someone. I think animals in general have their "best friend".

 

[Brezzy99]

In my opinion, absolutely! Ember makes a mad dash for me if anyone else tries to take her from me. If I place her on my bed she will explore and walk all around. When I put her on my sons bed she makes a beeline for me with the wild look in her eye!

 

[KarenInCA]

It seems that he watches others to detect their intentions while watching me more out of curiosity, taking an interest in my whereabouts. It seems as though he's always watching me from his tank when not out with me.

I do not think these things would occur if bearded dragons had no preferences or a special bond with someone. I think animals in general have their "best friend".

Interesting that you say this, because Rin's head does move up when he sees me from a distance, and seems to watch me out of curiosity. That's a good way to describe it.

 

[KarenInCA]

In my opinion, absolutely! Ember makes a mad dash for me if anyone else tries to take her from me. If I place her on my bed she will explore and walk all around. When I put her on my sons bed she makes a beeline for me with the wild look in her eye!

So far, my guy has not shown as much of a preference. He did climb onto me in the dr office. But some of the stories I am reading is definitely protective moves. Rin just sorta IS. LOL

Ill have to see what he does if I put him on my daughter's bed. Although, he doesn't go on anyones bed normally, so maybe he will just think it's awesome new exploration time!

 

[sue09]

I'm sure they know the difference in people. Mine is cosy and relaxed when I handle him he will even snuggle and go to sleep,but if my hubby has him he runs him ragged running all over and trying to escape and not settling at all. So yes I believe they do.

 

[Taterbug]

I would put money on them being able to tell people apart by their taste/smell, and to recognize individuals by it. I wouldn't be surprised if they can tell there is a difference in gender or even mood.

Not sure what your vet is meaning about them not "sniffing" like snakes. While not as highly developed as a snake's, dragons still posses vermoronasal organs (Jacobson's organs) and engage is tongue flicking behavior to similar effect. When they touch something with their tongue it's to "taste" it, and when it just flicks at the air they are gathering chemicals (not just smells) to transfer to the vno in the roof of their mouth.

Humans have kinda weak senses comparatively.