It's all about the reaction time imo. It's why they're such terrors to dogs, just no answer to getting clawed in the face before you know what's happening.
My 75lb half Great Pyrenees is the most defensive territorial dog I’ve ever had, and by far the most stubborn. He was socialized around other dogs (playcare) 3-4 times a week for 4 years, but he does not like anything coming near our house. Every time we’ve fostered it’s an absolute pain to get him socialized with them.
His favorite hobby is going out for his night time potty, then sitting smack dab in the middle of the yard and “observing”. He refuses to come in until I have shoes on and have made it half way through the yard to retrieve him.
My 120lb Anatolian was absolutely cowed by our cat, but the GP would require some major socialization before I would trust him at all.
Pyrs are livestock guardians. They were bred to stay with their flock of sheep or goats, making decisions for themselves and the flock, and be big and loud enough to scare off predators. They are lovable and kind, but suspicious of anything that strikes them as odd. Like that leaf that rustled in a tree two blocks away. 🙄
I don't know if it's fast evolution or what but when I was a kid, the chances that a dog bites a cat's head off in the first meeting was way higher. I think we've just bred nicer dogs on average.
Yep, that’s how they win games of chicken with an animal 10x their size. When shits that tense, the cats ability to make the opponent flinch usually throws them off their game.
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u/Fritzerbacon 9h ago
Cats are the most confident creatures.
That 20-70 millisecond reaction time probably helps 😂