quote:

ORIGINAL: CuriousLord

So, what's your claim?  It's instinctive, or about dominance, or related to a hunting instinct..?

At what point do these things differ from recreation?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Owner59

quote:

ORIGINAL: CuriousLord

So, what's your claim?  It's instinctive, or about dominance, or related to a hunting instinct..?

At what point do these things differ from recreation?

If I`m not mistaken,sex is instinctual in most all animals.

We can chose not to have sex(yes, some people do that),put it off,refuse it,"save" it,think about it,jerk it,with "lefty",have other kinds of sex other than intercourse(also called fornication),prolong pleasure,manipulate things and be kinky,and a zillion other things that critters don`t do.

quote:

ORIGINAL: dcnovice

quote:

Almost all species of animals will not attack, or kill it`s own.

It does happen, though. Jane Goodall found, for instance, that the chimps at Gombe waged what appeared to be war with one another. And cannibalism is not unknown among animals.

quote:

ORIGINAL: kiaslyn

I know. What separates us from animals. Thumbs! It's just that simple.

quote:

ORIGINAL: CuriousLord

quote:

ORIGINAL: Owner59

quote:

ORIGINAL: CuriousLord

So, what's your claim?  It's instinctive, or about dominance, or related to a hunting instinct..?

At what point do these things differ from recreation?

If I`m not mistaken,sex is instinctual in most all animals.

We can chose not to have sex(yes, some people do that),put it off,refuse it,"save" it,think about it,jerk it,with "lefty",have other kinds of sex other than intercourse(also called fornication),prolong pleasure,manipulate things and be kinky,and a zillion other things that critters don`t do.

So you're telling me that these instincts are sexual?  Would this, perhaps, suggest that a female Jack Russel humping, say, someone's leg, or a chair's leg, perhaps be less functional and more pleasurable?  And how does this work with your claim that it wasn't sexual at all, but about dominance?

quote:

ORIGINAL: CuriousLord

So a female dog is showing dominance over a chair when she's humping it?  Does it not strike you as slightly more plausible that she enjoys the stimulation?

A dog sleeping at its owner's feet in a bed is dominant behavior..?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Owner59

quote:

ORIGINAL: dcnovice

quote:

Almost all species of animals will not attack, or kill it`s own.

It does happen, though. Jane Goodall found, for instance, that the chimps at Gombe waged what appeared to be war with one another. And cannibalism is not unknown among animals.

I remember that.It was chilling.

Jealousy/hate, would be a sign of higher intelligence.Chimps are fairly high on the intelligence scale.I once saw a chip trained to use sign language.Maybe 30 simple signs in all.It was fascinating to see the communication.

It`s possible that the chimps also go insane or do desperate things,I guess.

I`ve learned that most animals have evolved a "don`t kill your own" instinct,as a survival technique.Makes sense.

Why haven`t we grown out of our lust for killing other people?

quote:

ORIGINAL: CuriousLord

I think you've taken the extreme dog-training junk too far.  It's entirely possible to beat a dog into a fearful submission, where it will trail behind its owner and hide under the furnature instead of finding comfort at its master's feet on a soft comforter or pillow.. but doesn't that strike you as just torturing the poor animal into fear to simulate submission?

If the dog wants to eat a human's food, it's probably because that dry stuff that people tend to pour into their bowls isn't quite as yummy as real meat and other things that our own taste buds like.  If a dog sleeps in the bed, isn't it at all possible the bed's just softer and it may, strangely enough, just enjoy being near another create with which it shares a bond?  You know, like a creature the feeds it and pets it?

And, I don't know what your experiences may be, but when I walk my dog, it runs ahead as far as it can on the leash.  Or it runs back.  It's quite aware that it can't move me.. it's a small dog.. but it's also a puppy and likes to chase things.  It'd do the same thing if it weren't on the leash, only it would almost certainly go further since the leash wouldn't be constraining it.  Or are you suggesting that the dog is actually trying to control me, instead of it simply being interested in chasing down squirrels?  (And birds, leaves in the wind, cars, moving blades of grass... really, anything that moves, has an odor, or otherwise is interesting.)

In short, isn't it possible that dogs like to sleep in warm, comfortable places with its family, eat real food, and chase things since, by contrast, humans tend to walk slowly?  Isn't it possible that what dog trainers do is just beat the poor animals into a fearful state that they're afraid to simply be near their owner or do the various things that they're beaten for?

quote:

ORIGINAL: CuriousLord

Just make sure the dog's not abused.  They can be quite precious animals.