6 ms·

Wild Dogs Sneeze When They Are Ready to Hunt

14 points by kompressor 9y ago

pavement 9y ago
It's probably glandular. Horomones can stimulate reflexes, and conditioned responses to the premise of hunting likely provoke not only an adrenaline response, but other secretions, as part of coordinated psychological and emotional activity at the begining of the fight-or-flight routine. Sneezing is a reflex, and there's probably some hereditary cross-over in the genetic mix that provides for the complex of neurological signaling. If there's some interplay with group activity, maybe it's demonstrative of a pattern of emergent evolution for a brand of pheremone to jump the air gap between peers, reinforcing a pattern of hunting success as part of a feedback loop, when combined with the canine sense of smell?
deleted 9y ago
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eridius 9y ago
> No other social animal has been reported to cast a vote, of sorts, by sneezing, although in humans sneezing may once have expressed a negative opinion, as in, “nothing to sneeze at.” Does the author really think humans used to sneeze on demand?
- damnfine 9y ago
  I can sneeze almost on demand by thinking of specific things. But I agree, even with my 'ability' it is unsuited for communication. Even a grunt would be easier and more nuanced. Edit: made myself sneeze, took about 7 seconds.
sml156 9y ago
If I was to make a guess I would say they sneeze to clear any odors that may be trapped in their nasal passages, Or to make sure that their passages are clear to sense prey better.
banku_brougham 9y ago
Clear out the sinuses to make ready for tracking game. Makes sense. I sneeze when the sun gets in my eyes. This may be one of those useless mutations though.
- malux85 9y ago
  This is quite common - and variations on that too; I have a friend who sneezes when she eats, and another friend who sneezes when he becomes aroused, I'd say these mutations are more useless :)
  - breakingcups 9y ago
    Sorry for going slightly off-topic, but that's a hilarious mental image.
SoMisanthrope 9y ago
I'm shocked that the article, which started out as an interesting and fact-based history of the genesis of health insurance, ran head-on into an opinionated rant about the social consequences of a private system. Actually, I'm not. This is why the Gray Lady is breathing its last gasps.... fiscally speaking. As a constitutionalist, it's offensive to me that the NYT feels the need to lecture me on what is good and what is bad. Manhattan and San Fran values do not represent the other 2/3rd's of our nation... but you cannot tell that, from the NYT.
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maxxxxx 9y ago
My dogs sneeze a lot when they are really excited or ready to play. I wonder if that's a related behavior.
- igitur 9y ago
  Mine too. In fact, I've taught her to do it on command.
- Ankaios 9y ago
  Same here. The snorting and rallying behavior in the article sounds identical to what our dogs do. (I initially confused it with sneezing, too, but they are clearly snorting sharply.)

14 points by kompressor 9y ago

It's probably glandular. Horomones can stimulate reflexes, and conditioned responses to the premise of hunting likely provoke not only an adrenaline response, but other secretions, as part of coordinated psychological and emotional activity at the begining of the fight-or-flight routine. Sneezing is a reflex, and there's probably some hereditary cross-over in the genetic mix that provides for the complex of neurological signaling. If there's some interplay with group activity, maybe it's demonstrative of a pattern of emergent evolution for a brand of pheremone to jump the air gap between peers, reinforcing a pattern of hunting success as part of a feedback loop, when combined with the canine sense of smell?

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]

eridius 9y ago

> No other social animal has been reported to cast a vote, of sorts, by sneezing, although in humans sneezing may once have expressed a negative opinion, as in, “nothing to sneeze at.” Does the author really think humans used to sneeze on demand?

damnfine 9y ago
I can sneeze almost on demand by thinking of specific things. But I agree, even with my 'ability' it is unsuited for communication. Even a grunt would be easier and more nuanced. Edit: made myself sneeze, took about 7 seconds.

sml156 9y ago

If I was to make a guess I would say they sneeze to clear any odors that may be trapped in their nasal passages, Or to make sure that their passages are clear to sense prey better.

banku_brougham 9y ago

Clear out the sinuses to make ready for tracking game. Makes sense. I sneeze when the sun gets in my eyes. This may be one of those useless mutations though.

malux85 9y ago
This is quite common - and variations on that too; I have a friend who sneezes when she eats, and another friend who sneezes when he becomes aroused, I'd say these mutations are more useless :)
- breakingcups 9y ago
  Sorry for going slightly off-topic, but that's a hilarious mental image.

SoMisanthrope 9y ago

I'm shocked that the article, which started out as an interesting and fact-based history of the genesis of health insurance, ran head-on into an opinionated rant about the social consequences of a private system. Actually, I'm not. This is why the Gray Lady is breathing its last gasps.... fiscally speaking. As a constitutionalist, it's offensive to me that the NYT feels the need to lecture me on what is good and what is bad. Manhattan and San Fran values do not represent the other 2/3rd's of our nation... but you cannot tell that, from the NYT.

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]

maxxxxx 9y ago

My dogs sneeze a lot when they are really excited or ready to play. I wonder if that's a related behavior.

igitur 9y ago
Mine too. In fact, I've taught her to do it on command.
Ankaios 9y ago
Same here. The snorting and rallying behavior in the article sounds identical to what our dogs do. (I initially confused it with sneezing, too, but they are clearly snorting sharply.)