The symbiotic bond between dogs and humans is a well-known story. Dogs may have physically demanding duties like herding and hunting. But dogs also frequently serve as assistance, therapy, and emotional support dogs.
Additionally, you may even read of dogs assisting other animals. And that is mainly when emotionally supporting their fellow mammals. Still, a dog’s empathy appears beyond people and can spread to other animals, especially their iconic rivals — cats.
Raising young cheetahs with a canine friend has become a popular method, and this is a common way of calming the notoriously agitated cats at several zoos.
What are support dogs?
You may find emotional support dogs to be essential companions. These canines have been specifically trained to assist individuals in overcoming adversity. But did you know that a service dog may help animals as well as people? They are not just a man’s best friend but also a cheetah’s best buddy.
Emotional support dogs have traditionally assisted people in dealing with complex mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and phobias. They can also aid in the reduction of stress and loneliness.
Ultimately, human-dog partnerships have repeatedly demonstrated that dogs can improve someone’s quality of life. Not only that, but emotional support dogs also increase the quality of life in cheetahs. So with that, dogs are indeed the best support that cheetahs need.
Why does a cheetah need a support dog?
You may already know that cheetahs are big cats considered the fastest animal on Earth. But did you know that cheetahs are quite sensitive animals? That is because, in nature, cheetahs are lonesome animals. Therefore, they usually spend most of their time in the wild alone.
Male cheetahs occasionally associate with other males, forming small groups of friends. These kinships with other cheetahs offer the cheetahs support and an added degree of protection. However, due to their territorial nature, cheetahs in captivity may not get along well with other cheetahs.
Cheetahs in captivity typically display extreme anxiety symptoms, which can harm their quality of life. In addition, since cheetahs are created for “flight before fight” in nature, they might be prone to high stress in situations with limited escape options. Giving a cheetah a canine companion makes the cheetah feel comfortable and enjoy the company of a trusted pet for emotional support, reducing stress.
Seeing that cheetahs need some assistance, for years now, zookeepers have been assigning these animals their very own emotional support dogs. “It’s a love story of one species helping another species survive,” said Jack Grisham, vice president of animal collections at the St. Louis Zoo and species survival plan coordinator for cheetahs in North America.
“A dominant dog is beneficial because the African animals are quite shy instinctively, and you can’t breed that out of them,” explains Janet Rose-Hinostroza, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park animal training supervisor. “When you pair a cheetah cub with a guide dog, the cat looks to the dog for cues and learns to model their behavior. It’s about getting them to read that calm, happy-go-lucky vibe from the cheetah support dog” — and that helps them be more confident and willing to get it on.
Their unusual relationship explained
The keepers’ professional guidance and the dogs’ great personality made this pairing possible. Generally, the keepers carefully identify the support dogs that can be paired with cheetahs. Then, for your information, the keepers will briefly introduce the cheetah and dog slowly when they are both still very young.
That’s how the keepers properly handle this pairing process. Aside from that, the support dog’s personality is another factor that helps this relationship work. Dogs are generally known to be patient and lenient enough with how rough the cheetahs play with them. Therefore, the dogs give cheetahs a calming feeling, which helps them relax.
Perks of this paring
Pairing a cheetah and a dog may seem surprising and unusual, but did you know it has various benefits? The primary purpose or goal of this pairing is to help cheetahs be confident at all times. And this is possible with the help of the dogs’ playful and cheerful personalities.
Aside from that, young cheetahs also learn from dogs. For example, kittens usually acquire familiar social cues from their siblings and parents. And as they know how to socialize and stay calm, the cheetahs will be able to interact with others.
Considering that, the chances of procreation, or breeding, will increase. That is crucial to discuss, given how cheetahs have become extremely close to extinction. And that is something you need to consider when thinking about this pairing.
The bond between canines and cheetahs may seem unusual and fascinating to you. But it is also founded on research and animal behavior. For example, little did you know that many cheetahs benefit from having a dog because it helps them navigate their surroundings with less stress and fear. And it is also an excellent technique for offering the cheetah adequate socialization and secure companionship.
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