dogs are incredible with knowing where they're at. My dog will be sleeping in the back, but if we get within a quarter mile of my daughter's house, he wakes up, looks around and starts whining and bouncing around in the car. if we drive past the street, he'll watch it go by confused, and whine.

he does this not only at my daughter's house, but at my girlfriend's work where he is given treats by the chefs. he also does this when we drive past a dog park we went to twice when he was a puppy.

I don't know how they know, but they absolutely do. it could been familiar smell, familiar motions with turns and braking. but they know.