I recently was stricken by a cold that really took me down for a while. My dogs, as always were there by my side offering comfort the whole time.

I was also watching a friend's dog, a 9 year old male GSD. This dog immediately offered comforting behaviors to me as well.

By comforting behaviors, I mean offering snuggles and kisses- lying close to me... that kind of thing.

This got me thinking, where do they learn this behavior? Not all dogs do it.

Is the behavior dependant on the level of bond the handler has with the dog? Is it dependant on the empathic component of the dog's personality? Is it inherited?

Where do you all think this behavior comes from?

I have no idea but I like it.

Same thing happens with Bailey. Like any Mal, she has crazy energy and always wants to train, play or hike, but when my wife or I are laid up not feeling well or even just not feeling full of energy, she seems to sense it and is happy to just snuggle up with us and warm our feet. She definitely knows when to notch it down and just be a loving dog.

I'd like to think it comes from their bond with us but maybe it's just in their nature. I keep thinking maybe it's that same sense that has them know when to be gentle with very young children or puppies. They know when someone or something is vulnerable.

I too believe it comes from the bond established with our dog(s). My pup has already displayed comforting behaviours. Just to name one instance, 2 weeks ago I fell off of my roof while clearing snow. Landed on a railing 8 feet below on my back. I was unable to do much of anything for 3 days and still am unable to bend however I can walk again. For those three days my active always on the go pup layed with me, only moving to eat drink or go to the washroom. Very odd, as I believed those behaviors came with maturity, he is not yet 7 months old. So that only leaves his bond with myself, or as you stated just has those empathetic traits.

Interesting question. I was housesitting for the people I boarded my ottb with, they had several cats, two goldens, and were minding their daughters shar pei while her husband was stationed in Guam. As it happened I happened to break my shoulder while housesitting. When I came back from the hospital managed to get all horses, dogs, and cats fed I noticed the little shar pei watching me. I went to bed and she proceeded to come up on the bed with me, and seemed very concerned, the goldens and cats couldn't care less. Other than as someone who was on the property this dog didn't know me, didn't sleep with me before the accident but slept with me every night after the accident.
When I had a very nasty pneumonia my last dog positioned himself next to me in a position of alertness, he kept one paw on my chest. When I went to the hospital they said why are you breathing like that? I didn't realize my breathing was off but my dog did. This same dog would also attempt to help people up if they fell by putting his muzzle under them and trying to lift.
Amber heard a baby crying on the bikepath and was extremely distressed, so much so that she was beside herself. She seems to slowly be developing compassion but I would not consider her to have the compassion of the other dogs, yet.
I've had other dogs who were compassionate, others who were not. For me I think its probably a combo of bonding with their person but also some innate empathy some have. I think these are probably the dogs who would bring injured animals home, or nurse babies of different species, etc.

They think their food source is dying so they're waiting for a really BIG source of raw.

 Quote: Bob Scott

They think their food source is dying so they're waiting for a really BIG source of raw.

That's probably closer to the truth than all our schmaltzy stories.

From doing AC and rescue, you'd be surprised at how many animals resort to that.,

I'd be hard-pressed to say what the scientific explanation is for this kind of behavior (inherited, learned, a combination?), but from my own observations, I think some dogs are just born more empathetic than others (just like humans). I'm sure the bond with the owner can bring it out more, but that doesn't explain dogs who are concerned about strangers.

Of the dogs I've owned, some have had more compassion, others less. Of the two I have now, one is definitely more in tune to me, the other one not so much. (But then he's a highly distractible dog, in general.)

A dog I had before these two got me through some very tough times, health-wise, when I barely had the strength to get out of bed. She wasn't overly demonstrative with kissing and so on, but she seemed to know I needed her to be lying close to me, and that's where she stayed. I swear that dog and I could read each other's minds.

Definitely some dogs are really in tune to us. I have one now. I was told by a professional, because of this, and his steady nerves, he would make a good service dog

That's OK...he's MY service dog already!!

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