Have We Coddled the Survival Instinct Out of Our Dogs?

There are times when I’m out with my dogs, and they’re roaming around off-leash, and I start to wonder if they could ever survive in the wild. This, as they toddle along in their fleece jackets with well-fitted booties to protect from the elements. I mean, if they were left to fend for themselves, would they be one of those wonder dogs that show up years after becoming lost and having survived the wild, only to greet their families with a wagging tail?

When I have to lift them up into the car because the two-foot leap is just too much. Or brush burrs out of their fur because they’ll never be able to reach them, line their beds with a fleecy blanket or warm their toppers to encourage consumption, it makes me wonder if… Am I the only pet parent who worries that they’ve coddled the instinct to survive right out of their little guys?

Well, according to recent research, the answer is no, I haven’t exactly eradicated my dogs’ ability to survive. But it’s complicated.

You see, once upon a time, that fight-or-flight instinct was actually fight-flight-or-freeze. While the decision of whether to enter into a fight or to simply flee was a defensive reaction related to survival, that freeze aspect may be a new one for some of us. In essence, rather than the aforementioned actions, the animal chooses to stand stock still and pay close attention to what’s happening before deciding what to do. So, some strategizing is happening here.

And all three of those reactions still happen today. Think of dogs who are quick to square off and bare their teeth, possums who play dead and rabbits that freeze in place when perceiving danger.

Or cats that are quick to flee the instant they sense a threat. Of course, we’ve all seen our pets curl up into a tight ball to sleep. That’s about protecting their belly area and vital organs from predators while they’re off guard. And it dates back thousands of years.

So, yes, the desire for self-preservation is still a strong instinct in domesticated animals.

But here’s where it gets interesting. When your dog feels protected and cared for, they can become less inclined to act on their survival instincts. Makes sense, right? Described as a sort of “permanent juvenile” state, they’ve learned to rely on their pet parents to protect them, ensure they’re fed, and that they’re taken out on supervised potty breaks. Just like a toddler, with no hunter-gatherer behavior required here.

The upside is that if push came to shove, your pampered little pooch would almost certainly revert back to the self-surviving little scrapper if mom and dad weren’t around. And because they recognize you as their source of food and comfort, there is also a protective side to our pets that will naturally kick in with them prepared to do battle, should they feel you (or they) are under threat.

Meaning the short answer to all of this, yes, the survival instinct that influences any living being’s drive to avoid danger or harm is still intact, regardless of how much you coddle your dog or cat.