11 Dec 07
Originally posted by TyrannosauruschexI'm taking a wild guess here but common sense would suggest that evolution would favour a dog that did this over a dog that didn't give a sh;t about holding onto his bones. The selfish one would be better fed...
What is it with dogs and their bones? I might have a gnaw on a bone just to see what it tasted like but I certainly wouldnt guard it like my life depended on it the same way that dogs do.
Can anybody explain this strange canine behavior to me?
11 Dec 07
Originally posted by TyrannosauruschexWhat is it with people and their money.........
What is it with dogs and their bones? I might have a gnaw on a bone just to see what it tasted like but I certainly wouldnt guard it like my life depended on it the same way that dogs do.
Can anybody explain this strange canine behavior to me?
11 Dec 07
Originally posted by MarinkatombBut it is bone though. You cant really eat a bone - dogs seem to just like to chew on them for some reason - if it was actual food then it would be more sensible to hang onto it but what good is a bone. It is like when dogs get a stick and dont want to let it go, they cant eat the stick either...
I'm taking a wild guess here but common sense would suggest that evolution would favour a dog that did this over a dog that didn't give a sh;t about holding onto his bones. The selfish one would be better fed...
11 Dec 07
Originally posted by TyrannosauruschexCalcium.
But it is bone though. You cant really eat a bone - dogs seem to just like to chew on them for some reason - if it was actual food then it would be more sensible to hang onto it but what good is a bone. It is like when dogs get a stick and dont want to let it go, they cant eat the stick either...
11 Dec 07
Originally posted by TyrannosauruschexThis is a remaining from the time the dogs still lived in packs. As long as the dog wasn't 6 months old the other dogs were allowed to take everything the pups found or what the elderly dogs gave to them. Once they reached their 6 months, other dogs weren't allowed to take something away from young dog that another dog had given him, so he protected whatever he got, burried it and when another dog tried to take it they did fight for it and learned that way the techniques of fighting. There is a huge respect amongst dogs. When another dog tried to take something from another dog (older than 6 months) that behavior would be seen as abnormal.
What is it with dogs and their bones? I might have a gnaw on a bone just to see what it tasted like but I certainly wouldnt guard it like my life depended on it the same way that dogs do.
Can anybody explain this strange canine behavior to me?
11 Dec 07
But dogs are supposed to see their owners as the boss dog (I think the technical name is the alpha dog, but I dont like the way the greeks have sneaked their words into so much of the biological world) and the boss dog is supposed to be able to take what he likes from the other dogs without arguement.
11 Dec 07
Originally posted by lionessSo dogs can count up to six months then? Do they have a six months birthday and all join in on the bone? 😛
This is a remaining from the time the dogs still lived in packs. As long as the dog wasn't 6 months old the other dogs were allowed to take everything the pups found or what the elderly dogs gave to them. Once they reached their 6 months, other dogs weren't allowed to take something away from young dog that another dog had given him, so he protected whatev ...[text shortened]... take something from another dog (older than 6 months) that behavior would be seen as abnormal.
11 Dec 07
Originally posted by Tyrannosauruschexyes you are right. The boss always has to be the alpha dog and when you've got yourself an alpha dog too, you've got a hell of a job to train him. In fact when you want to take something away from your dog, you always have to give him something in return. If he plays with something dangerous, present him a toy he likes to play with. When he takes the toy you take the bone or whatever he was chewing on. We had an alpha dog (German Shepherd). It took us 4 years school and one year dogs psychology to know how to handle an alpha dog. I think that all dog owners should follow that dog psychology lesson. There would be much less accidents.
But dogs are supposed to see their owners as the boss dog (I think the technical name is the alpha dog, but I dont like the way the greeks have sneaked their words into so much of the biological world) and the boss dog is supposed to be able to take what he likes from the other dogs without arguement.
11 Dec 07
Originally posted by mikelomDogs can count, but not their birthdays. Dogs can see the age of an other dog by his appearance and behaviour. Maybe they were celebrating their birthdays when they were still living in packs, but I've never seen a dogs birthday party here in our neighborhood 🙂
So dogs can count up to six months then? Do they have a six months birthday and all join in on the bone? 😛
11 Dec 07
Originally posted by lionessTo quote Stephen Fry "anyone that thinks dogs can't count, pick up 3 treats, let your dog see them, put them in your pocket and try and give him just 2 of them (although I think they can probably smell the remaining treat).
Dogs can count, but not their birthdays. Dogs can see the age of an other dog by his appearance and behaviour. Maybe they were celebrating their birthdays when they were still living in packs, but I've never seen a dogs birthday party here in our neighborhood 🙂
I used to get annoyed that our dog (who is a rescue dog so we didn't bring him up from being a puppy) who snarls like mad when you go near him when he has a treat. Now I actually find it amusing, although I leave him in peace to eat it, but when I am trying a new chew for him I can tell how much he likes it by the intensity of the snarling. That's why I know pigs ears are very much appreciated and a huge hit. Unfortunately he is on a diet at the moment but he will get some pigs ears at xmas.