Emotional support dogs are invaluable companions for many individuals. These dogs are trained for the specific purpose of helping people get through tough times.
But did you know that a service dog can help more than just people? They are not only a man’s best friend, but they can be a cheetah’s friend too.
This is the story of how some zoos started recruiting service dogs, specifically for cheetahs. The fastest land animal on earth has a major issue regarding socialization. Since they are quite shy, zookeepers often have them mingle with other animals, like dogs, to get them to be more social.
Even though a cheetah looks like an intimidating animal, it is actually very timid. Aside from having difficulties forming friendships, their anxiety can also make it hard for them to mate—the more reason they need help and human intervention. Their population can dwindle over time if nothing is done.
Zookeepers have been pairing cheetahs with emotional support dogs for several years. It’s interesting to see how one species helped another one stay alive. Nervous cheetahs are often paired with dogs that have a dominant personality, allowing the big cats to be easily influenced.
When a cheetah and a dog get together, the cheetah mimics behavior. Cheetahs watch how dogs act, which gives them a point of reference. At first glance, this seems odd since they are different species. However, their difference doesn’t affect the learning process that much.
If the goal is to make an animal more confident, it doesn’t matter where that confidence is learned. The service dogs are qualified to inspire any animal to be calm and approachable. After all, these dogs underwent extensive training to be that way.
Eventually, more and more zoos use service dogs because they successfully get the job done. One would think that a smaller animal can hold no power over an apex predator. Yet time and time again, nature has proven that unlikely beneficial relationships can exist in the animal kingdom.
Source: Did You Know Animals via YouTube.