These "comforting" behaviors must be something that has evolved due to domestication, though, right? You don't see a wolf pack comforting a sick member of the pack- they generally run a sick or elderly member of the pack away.

It's not just when we are sick though. I was laying on the bed earlier reading a book. 4 of my 5 dogs were on the bed with me, touching me. We have a king sized bed, and there was plently of room for them to spread out so that they weren't touching me. They chose, however, to lie close and touch me.

It's the same when I am on the computer. I usually have at least one dog next to me on the floor. The bed is 10 feet away, a cushy dog bed is less than 3 feet, but they lay on the hardwood next to me.

Why? What do they have to gain by doing that? Why would this behavior have evolved?

The only thing I can think of for it to evolve is that during the beginning stages of domestication, the dog that formed the strongest bond with the human was more likely to live, more likely to reproduce. Maybe?

I don't know- it just got me thinking. Maybe that's not such a good thing....

And it certainly would be rare to find a wild animal caring for or nursing an infant of another species (sneaky cuckoos not withstanding). Most especially predators. There must be some underlying mammal 'programming' that extended domestication taps to make such relatively unusual behavior more likely.

I've heard different about wolves and coyotes, that they will care for an injured/ill member of the pack, bring them meat from a kill the same way they do the cubs.
Sensing weakness in an alpha member is a different scenario, I suppose an injured member has a different vibe than a weak member, and of course I'm one of those crazies who believes animals can communicate with one another, at least more than we give them credit for. But this is different than showing empathy for an injured/I'll member

" ... of course I'm one of those crazies who believes animals can communicate with one another, at least more than we give them credit for."


Me too. I'm willing to bet that human-speak is not even close to being a top contender in the communications category.

 Quote: Bob Scott

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

XD

 Quote: Bob Scott

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

While I wouldn't put it past my cat, I do like to think that my dogs are above such things....

 Quote: Kelly

 Quote: Bob Scott

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

While I wouldn't put it past my cat, I do like to think that my dogs are above such things....

You would be wrong! If they got hungry enough then you would do just fine.

 Quote: Bob Scott

 Quote: Kelly

 Quote: Bob Scott

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

While I wouldn't put it past my cat, I do like to think that my dogs are above such things....

You would be wrong! If they got hungry enough then you would do just fine.

My sister was so sure that this would happen to me when I got the Boerboels, but her conviction was they wouldn't wait until I was dead!!

I don't know if the Pointers would join in the feast, they are not at all inclined to eat raw

LOL Tracey.

If I died my dog would dig a hole a bury me...he likes to bury food.

 Quote: Bob Scott

 Quote: Kelly

 Quote: Bob Scott

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

While I wouldn't put it past my cat, I do like to think that my dogs are above such things....

You would be wrong! If they got hungry enough then you would do just fine.

I think so too, I think starving dogs would (and should) perceive dead meat as the way to stay alive, if, say they were locked inside with it.


Of course, this does veer off a bit from "comforting behaviors of dogs."