Dogs are not pack animals??? - Page 3

Catu · 08-30-2010, 01:26 PM

Oh, don't worry, It is clear that that was your intention in the first place

AgileGSD · 08-30-2010, 06:51 PM

Does any one consider cats to be pack animals? If so, how should cat owners show that they are the "pack leader" or "alpha"?

Good_Karma · 08-30-2010, 07:12 PM

I can say with certainty that MY cats are not pack animals. They seem to tolerate my existence, and if it weren't for the food and water (plus the fact they don't have opposable thumbs to turn doorknobs) they would be outta here.

I read a book once about what would happen to the earth if humans dropped out of existence. When the author spoke about what would happen to the pets, he said that cats' lives would remain relatively unchanged as they are not so dissimilar in behavior from non-domesticated cats. They also do not have to rely on humans for anything and could manage just fine without us.

I believe the scientific community is of the opinion that cats are solitary creatures. Plus Rudyard Kipling said so, so it must be true.

**Samba** · 08-30-2010, 07:27 PM

Yes, it is always good to question the conventional wisdom, I think.

I think a lot of training can go on without any thought of pack leader. I never consider it when working with mine. I am not sure why this pack concept is seen as so integral to well trained and behaved dogs.

I also am not sure that getting together for some cooperative endeavor as feral dogs will do really constitutes a social pack society and hierarchy.

codmaster · 08-30-2010, 07:45 PM

All cats, with the exception of lions, are solitary animals except for mating and cubs with their mother. (At least according the the Animal Planet.

IllinoisNative · 08-30-2010, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jax08

My guess is this woman has never owned a German Shepherd or a Doberman. Had both...neither let me go to the bathroom without company.

Amen. If I left my dog (who is a GSD/Rottie mix) outside, know what he does? He whines at the door to get to me. He will not leave. He does not run away outside, I can have off leash anywhere, I can't pee by myself. And, yet, he doesn't have seperation anxiety. He whines a little when I leave but he settles...nothing destroyed...no panic. But he has no desire to leave me. So seperation anxiety isn't the reason he stays with me. On that point, the author is wrong.

I have no doubt that if we were strandard in the desert, he would not leave me. Ever.

Now, I have a chow mix who would leave me...LMAO. I swear he's part cat...which most chows are accused of being. He's perfectly content to live alone with minimal contact if I let him. He doesn't care to be pet, he doesn't run up to me when I come home...In fact, if it wasn't for the food that I provide him, I don't think he'd have much use for me at all. On that point, the author is correct. Not all dogs are pack animals. Although, he's IN LOVE with my other dog. I'm not sure he'd leave him...Heh.

I wonder if it comes down to breed.

AgileGSD · 08-30-2010, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codmaster

All cats, with the exception of lions, are solitary animals except for mating and cubs with their mother. (At least according the the Animal Planet.

But feral cats most certainly form groups. It could be that forming groups isn't sure evidence of pack animals.

**Samba** · 08-30-2010, 10:21 PM

My dogs that are the most human oriented ( what some would call high in pack drive) are also the ones least interested in any canine "pack" around.

doggiedad · 08-30-2010, 11:06 PM

dog packs, pack leader/alpha (human).
i've seen packs of dogs in Mexico.
i have a dog. he listens to me and i listen to him.

doggiedad · 08-30-2010, 11:10 PM

your questions are funny. i've had cats but i never
felt like i owned them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AgileGSD

Does any one consider cats to be pack animals? If so, how should cat owners show that they are the "pack leader" or "alpha"?

08-30-2010, 01:26 PM	#21 (permalink)
Catu Crowned Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Valdivia, Chile Posts: 4,103	Oh, don't worry, It is clear that that was your intention in the first place __________________ "The dog does not need to be deranked so much as the people need to learn to act like people worth listening to" Suzanne Clothier. Diabla, SchH A, RH-T A Akela, Work in Progress http://www.ksarchile.cl

08-30-2010, 07:12 PM	#23 (permalink)
Good_Karma Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Upstate, NY Posts: 3,658	I can say with certainty that MY cats are not pack animals. They seem to tolerate my existence, and if it weren't for the food and water (plus the fact they don't have opposable thumbs to turn doorknobs) they would be outta here. I read a book once about what would happen to the earth if humans dropped out of existence. When the author spoke about what would happen to the pets, he said that cats' lives would remain relatively unchanged as they are not so dissimilar in behavior from non-domesticated cats. They also do not have to rely on humans for anything and could manage just fine without us. I believe the scientific community is of the opinion that cats are solitary creatures. Plus Rudyard Kipling said so, so it must be true. __________________ I'm Leah. Niko: Chief stick chaser, Jolly Ball licker and food taster. Titled in Kissing, Jogging, and Pestering the cats. Rosa: Mistress of the house. Titled in Kissing, Picking up dropped food, and Snuggling.

08-30-2010, 11:06 PM	#29 (permalink)
doggiedad Crowned Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Jenkintown,Pa. Posts: 8,926	dog packs, pack leader/alpha (human). i've seen packs of dogs in Mexico. i have a dog. he listens to me and i listen to him. __________________ "Life Without A Dog Is A Life Unfulfilled"

08-30-2010, 06:51 PM	#22 (permalink)
AgileGSD Elite Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 1,579	Does any one consider cats to be pack animals? If so, how should cat owners show that they are the "pack leader" or "alpha"?

08-30-2010, 07:27 PM	#24 (permalink)
Samba Administrator Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: USA Posts: 6,338	Yes, it is always good to question the conventional wisdom, I think. I think a lot of training can go on without any thought of pack leader. I never consider it when working with mine. I am not sure why this pack concept is seen as so integral to well trained and behaved dogs. I also am not sure that getting together for some cooperative endeavor as feral dogs will do really constitutes a social pack society and hierarchy.

08-30-2010, 07:45 PM	#25 (permalink)
codmaster Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: California, US Posts: 4,124	All cats, with the exception of lions, are solitary animals except for mating and cubs with their mother. (At least according the the Animal Planet.

08-30-2010, 10:21 PM	#28 (permalink)
Samba Administrator Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: USA Posts: 6,338	My dogs that are the most human oriented ( what some would call high in pack drive) are also the ones least interested in any canine "pack" around.

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