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Re:Are animals conscious? How new research is changing minds by mikestew on Tuesday June 18, 2024 @11:02AM (#40718616)
Oddly, I’ve found that pit bulls won’t wrap themselves around a tree. We’ve had several in our house that are/were walked daily, and we volunteer at a dog shelter where my wife and I walk other pit bulls on a regular basis. There are exceptions, but my experience is that the vast majority will not let anything (like a tree) between themselves and their handler if on leash. Just when I think “ah, ha! You’re going to do it…”, they will course correct and go around to avoid trouble. It’s the oddest thing. I have never come up with a plausible theory, but it sure is nice.

(And it is not our dog handling, as our control groups are happy to wrap circles around a tree.)

Re:Are animals conscious? How new research is changing minds by throwaway2037 on Wednesday June 19, 2024 @05:14AM (#40726415)
I am not an pet owner. Are you saying that other breeds do this, but pit bulls are exceptional in this manner? If yes, do you have any thoughts why?
Re:Are animals conscious? How new research is changing minds by mikestew on Friday June 21, 2024 @12:17AM (#40746094)
Yup, other breeds won’t pay attention, and get a signpost between themselves and their handler, and now the leash is stuck. And then they can’t figure out how to undo it. Pit bulls don’t do that. Why? I have no idea. I mean, I suppose you can breed for anything, but seems like a slightly odd feature to breed for.