This might sound like a stupid question, but can a cat learn behavior from a dog?
Here's the situation: I have had spunky for 3 years. My parents have had Snickers, a miniature dachshund, for roughly the same time. For the first 2 1/2 years I've had Spunky, we lived several hours away, although we visited regularly. The two animals got along OK - a little wrestling, a little dancing, a lot of chasing.
Back in January, I moved back in with my parents, and Spunky and Snickers became "roommates." The get along fine -- the dog tries to play with her like a dog, and at first she was submissive. But after a couple of weeks Spunky started standing up for herself and they get along OK now. The dog is still a bit aggressive, but she doesn't take any crap from him -- Spunky even starts the games sometimes.
The dog exhibits typical dog behavior when we eat -- he begs, jumps, paws at us, etc. For this, of course he is rewarded. Spunky is very good, though, and just lays on the desk and watches us eat - and seems to have little or no interest in "people food", which is fine with us. Spunky would get her treats in my room, when I was watching TV or working on the computer.
Now, here's the weird part. Until about a week ago, she would walk into the room when I was at my desk, and sit there and look so cute (awwwww) and I would give her a few treats. But now, she walks in, sits there, and if I don't give her a treat within about 10 seconds, she raises up, hits my leg with her front paws, and keeps doing that until I give her treats.
I maintain that she learned this by watching Snickers beg and get food, but my parents (ugh - dog people!) don't think that she can reason out an action like that.
What do you fine folks think? Did she learn this from watching the dog, or is it a random action that I have reinforced with the treats?
Thanks for your opinions.
Larry
Here's the situation: I have had spunky for 3 years. My parents have had Snickers, a miniature dachshund, for roughly the same time. For the first 2 1/2 years I've had Spunky, we lived several hours away, although we visited regularly. The two animals got along OK - a little wrestling, a little dancing, a lot of chasing.
Back in January, I moved back in with my parents, and Spunky and Snickers became "roommates." The get along fine -- the dog tries to play with her like a dog, and at first she was submissive. But after a couple of weeks Spunky started standing up for herself and they get along OK now. The dog is still a bit aggressive, but she doesn't take any crap from him -- Spunky even starts the games sometimes.
The dog exhibits typical dog behavior when we eat -- he begs, jumps, paws at us, etc. For this, of course he is rewarded. Spunky is very good, though, and just lays on the desk and watches us eat - and seems to have little or no interest in "people food", which is fine with us. Spunky would get her treats in my room, when I was watching TV or working on the computer.
Now, here's the weird part. Until about a week ago, she would walk into the room when I was at my desk, and sit there and look so cute (awwwww) and I would give her a few treats. But now, she walks in, sits there, and if I don't give her a treat within about 10 seconds, she raises up, hits my leg with her front paws, and keeps doing that until I give her treats.
I maintain that she learned this by watching Snickers beg and get food, but my parents (ugh - dog people!) don't think that she can reason out an action like that.
What do you fine folks think? Did she learn this from watching the dog, or is it a random action that I have reinforced with the treats?
Thanks for your opinions.
Larry