Jump to content
CairnTalk

Compassionate Cairn?


Hagar

Recommended Posts

We all know that our Cairns, as well as most other dogs will eat anything they can get into their mouth and swallow, with the exception of most dog food.

Yesterday I found an injured young bird in my back yard while mowing the lawn. It apparently had a broken wing and I managed to get it through the fence to the neighbors yard.

Renny was in the house while I did the lawn, but I brought him out as soon as I finished. I just knew that he'd kill and eat the bird if it had come back into my yard. The bird was back in my yard and I know Renny saw it, but he ignored it. Later when I took him out again, the bird was still there, and this time Renny ran straight toward the injured bird, and I thought "Well, this is it", snacktime. For some reason Renny didn't attack the bird, but only gave out a little "ruff" when he got close and went back to roaming the yard.

Did he sense some sort of disease in the bird and decided not to eat it out of self-preservation? Or did he decide to give the bird a break? You make the call.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Buffy has encountered injured birds from time to time and she, too, doesn't try to attack them. Maybe Cairns want a fair fight and it's not acceptable to attack an injured animal? I thought it might be maternal instinct but Renny isn't female and he's doing it too. :huh:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have come across a injured bird when out with Holly and she ignored it. She has also ignored dead birds/rabbits. Obviously second hand game is not favoured.

www.cairnterriertalk.co.uk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It seems that it has to be already dead for Demps. Demps just really isn't interested in killing anything. He barks, runs and struts like he is in charge of his domain but no real aggressiveness when he reaches the object that has him all riled up. So fun to watch - you would swear he is going to rip into whatever he is running like a wild bull after, but no. It's all show. It was cute yesterday morning when the salamander slapped Demps with it's tail. Spunky little salamander. Dempsy just didn't know what to think of that, he let her know that he wasn't happy with that response and pranced off. There was a baby bird that fell from a nest the other day - Demps sniffed and had no interest. I like that he doesn't kill things. I haven't seen him with a rodent yet though.

Elsie, Max, Meeko & Lori

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Idaho Cairns

Depends on the dog--I have seen Cairns that were relentless in their blood lust and others not so much. Our older dog as a youngster dispatched a couple of mice and voles but then quickly lost interest in killing them, she will dig the out now but leave them alone when exposed. The blood seemed to confuse her. However, my daughter's Cairn would dig up and kill every mouse she could and would absolutely slaughter them.

Instinctively I think Cairns like to prey on vermin but I'm not sure they all will terminate what they catch. My dogs will chase squirrels but are very careful not to catch them, they will actually hesitate if they get too close. I don't ascribe any compassion to their hesitation--just uncertainty. It may also be related to the fact that we domesticate our dogs--they are generally well fed with balanced diets and they simply don't need or want small prey animals as food.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree that cairns don't normally try to kill everything. Most will leave kittens alone. Redmon will chase squirrels and chipmunks, and I am sure would kill them if he could catch them, but he now leaves rabbits alone. I have pet rabbits and it is possible that he has tagged rabbits as creatures under my protection, or creatures that just aren't interesting any more. I think, reading the accounts above, that the presence of the owner may be determinative. The cairns could be picking up, from body language or tone of voice or Rupert Sheldrake-style telepathy, that in these instances the owners did not want the small creature in question to be harmed. So cairns might or might not be compassionate on their own, but the stories suggest that they can certainly pick up on the compassionate intentions of their owners.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

CairnTalk.net

  • A meeting place and
    online scrapbook for
    Cairn Terrier fanciers.

ctn-no-text-200.png

Disclaimers

  • All posts are the opinion and
    responsibility of the poster.
  • Post content © the author.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Site Guidelines | We put cookies on your device to help this website work better for you. You can adjust your cookie settings; otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.