What we know:
* Dogs are self-aware: Studies have shown that dogs recognize themselves in mirrors, a key indicator of self-awareness. They also show signs of self-recognition in other ways, like understanding that their reflection is not another dog.
* Dogs have a sense of "self": They understand their own physical limits, like knowing if they can fit through a narrow space.
* Dogs have individual personalities: Each dog is unique with its own preferences, temperament, and ways of interacting with the world. This suggests a level of individuality and internal experience.
What we don't know:
* Do dogs have a concept of their own species? While they recognize other dogs, we don't know if they have a higher-level understanding of being a "dog" in a general sense.
* Do dogs experience a "self" in the same way humans do? While they show signs of self-awareness, we can't know for sure if their internal experience of "self" is the same as ours.
Conclusion:
While we can't definitively say that dogs know they're dogs in the same way humans do, the evidence strongly suggests that they possess a sense of self, awareness, and individuality. It's likely that their understanding of "dogness" is different from ours, but it's a fascinating area of ongoing research.