The time it takes for a dog to recognize its second owner depends on the age of the dog, the breed of the dog, the process of raising the dog by the new owner, and the degree of dependence of the dog on the previous owner.

The older the dog, the longer and more difficult it will be to recognize its second owner. Generally speaking, dogs will become dependent on their owners in about three months after they are born. Dogs over six months old will find it difficult to forget their previous owners. Different breeds of dogs have different loyalties, such as Tibetan Mastiffs and German Shepherds. Dogs such as the Caucasian and the Caucasus will only recognize one owner in their lives; the dog's dependence on the owner depends in most cases on the owner's investment in the dog. The more care the owner gives to the dog, the greater the dog's sense of security. The more the dog knows, the shorter the time it takes to recognize the second owner; the higher the dog's dependence on the previous owner, the longer it takes to accept the second owner.