seems to me that domesticated animals, or pets i’ll call them, have an ability to recognize not only same type animals but other species that have a relationship with their masters i’ll call them (human/s).

like larry I can encourage him to chase the neighours’ chooks out of the yard, or the opposite disincline him. He seems receptive that way.

the pet sheep grew up with larry, but i’m thinking the neighbours’ dog instinctively senses our pet sheep has a relationship with us.

I haven’t taken the time to analyze it, or write and explain it well, but i’m wondering what instincts this might involve.

in a broad sense it involves nurturing instincts, I think that’s a certainty.

is it in domesticated animals to recognize cross-species nurturement?

and is it possible chooks can know a dog is restrained by a lead, as larry is always when outside? I think the chooks do know.

transition said:

seems to me that domesticated animals, or pets i’ll call them, have an ability to recognize not only same type animals but other species that have a relationship with their masters i’ll call them (human/s).

like larry I can encourage him to chase the neighours’ chooks out of the yard, or the opposite disincline him. He seems receptive that way.

the pet sheep grew up with larry, but i’m thinking the neighbours’ dog instinctively senses our pet sheep has a relationship with us.

I haven’t taken the time to analyze it, or write and explain it well, but i’m wondering what instincts this might involve.

in a broad sense it involves nurturing instincts, I think that’s a certainty.

is it in domesticated animals to recognize cross-species nurturement?

and is it possible chooks can know a dog is restrained by a lead, as larry is always when outside? I think the chooks do know.

Animals generally are a lot smarter than most people give them credit. If they are happy and want to stay, they recognise who they must respect (pack leader) in order to do so, that also includes his/her possessions, which the pet being a clan member also understands belong to the clan. I would think the pack member inheritance, plus the training of the owner would result in a similar outcome. So pack membership I would think is the main influencing factor.

transition said:

seems to me that domesticated animals, or pets i’ll call them, have an ability to recognize not only same type animals but other species that have a relationship with their masters i’ll call them (human/s).

like larry I can encourage him to chase the neighours’ chooks out of the yard, or the opposite disincline him. He seems receptive that way.

the pet sheep grew up with larry, but i’m thinking the neighbours’ dog instinctively senses our pet sheep has a relationship with us.

I haven’t taken the time to analyze it, or write and explain it well, but i’m wondering what instincts this might involve.

in a broad sense it involves nurturing instincts, I think that’s a certainty.

is it in domesticated animals to recognize cross-species nurturement?

and is it possible chooks can know a dog is restrained by a lead, as larry is always when outside? I think the chooks do know.

Animals generally are a lot smarter than most people give them credit. If they are happy and want to stay, they recognise who they must respect (pack leader) in order to do so, that also includes his/her possessions, which the pet being a clan member also understands belong to the clan. I would think the pack member inheritance, plus the training of the owner would result in a similar outcome. So pack membership I would think be the main influencing factor.

It doesn’t stop our cat from hunting our birds.

I had a book called “unlikely friendships” that had photographs and explanations of many (20?) case studies of this sort.

The strangest was this friendship between leopard and cow.

Let’s see if I can remember the story correctly, and the explanation. In a native village in Africa the villagers had become aware of a leopard that had been prowling around and were not surprisingly worried about predation on livestock. Searching at night they found that the leopard had bedded down with one of their cows. The cow was tethered so couldn’t run away, but hadn’t made any sound such as frightened cattle make.

On seeing the two together, the villages stopped worrying about predation and generally left the two friends alone.

The explanation given was that the leopard was a young adult that had been recently sent away by its family. The leopard was feeling lonely and turned to the cow for company. A few weeks later and the leopard had disappeared, presumably back into the nearby jungle to hunt and search for a mate.

Some others here.
https://www.boredpanda.com/unusual-animal-friendships-interspecies/

The second most memorable one is this.

“The tale of Shere Khan the tiger, Baloo the bear and Leo the lion is truly touching. The three of them were rescued together from a drug dealer who had abused them extensively. Baloo even needed surgery to remove a harness that had grown into his skin and caused deformities – the owner had never bothered to adjust it. Because of what they’ve suffered together, the three friends are now inseparable. They are under the care of the Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary in the U.S.”