They must be thinking, "What is the creature that's no threat to us, isn't the least bit afraid of us, and just wants to play the games we like to play?"
Bears and dogs, by the way, are nearly kissing cousins. They both evolved from a creature that was about halfway between bear and dog. They diverged, and went two different directions.
Until one of them playfully hits him with a paw and breaks his neck.
Larger animals seem to know how much force to apply to smaller animals they think of as friends or family. For example, a mother bear will play with her cubs, but will be very careful how much force she applies.
I saw a video of polar bears showing up to a campsite and playing gently with the dogs on their chains. The dogs seemed to be okay with it. Not realizing the nature of being on a chain caused the bears to sometimes nearly break the dogs' necks, but I think it was unintentional. If they intended to hurt them, they could have just swatted or chomped on them.
I have some donkeys that act the same way around my wifes little yappy dog. The yappy dog will run out into the pasture, barking and snapping at those donkeys. The donkeys will jump and buck and could easily end that dogs life in a nanosecond if they chose. Instead, they purposefully jump to avoid the dog.
I guess in a non-food survival mode, stronger animals are able to show compassion to vulnerable animals.
I have some donkeys that act the same way around my wifes little yappy dog. The yappy dog will run out into the pasture, barking and snapping at those donkeys. The donkeys will jump and buck and could easily end that dogs life in a nanosecond if they chose. Instead, they purposefully jump to avoid the dog.
I guess in a non-food survival mode, stronger animals are able to show compassion to vulnerable animals.
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