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Wild Dogs Vote by Sneezing

Shiranui117

Pronounced Shee-ra-noo-ee
Premium Member
Wild dogs in Africa engage in fascinating voting behavior

A species of endangered wild dogs in Africa votes on whether to hunt by 'sneezing'.

Discuss!
You know, whenever I ask if my dog wants to go outside (when I KNOW she REALLY wants to go outside), she always sneezes like that. I thought it was just her. And no, she's not an African Wild Dog. :D

Very interesting to learn that this kind of canine behavior can cross species lines! I wonder if wolves do the same thing or something similar?
 

Nous

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Oddly, I feel that interpreting the dogs' sneeze as a “vote” might be overly anthropomorphic. After all, among humans voting “yea” or “nay” on something (often) involves multiple deliberative processes and performing acts intended to bring about a desired outcome. I wonder if the dogs' sneeze might be interpreted as a physiological response in anticipation of a hunt or "collective movement". Of course, there isn't a big difference in those interpretations.

BTW, I've never noticed any of the many dogs I've owned to sneeze as a signal to another dog or group of dogs.
 
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