Cincinnati Zoo retires three dogs from serving as ‘surrogate siblings' to cheetah cubs
Updated: 7:31 PM EDT Sep 29, 2024
The Cincinnati Zoo has announced that it will be retiring three of its cheetah companion dogs.Moose, Remus and Daisy had worked for several years in the past to serve as what the zoo calls “surrogate siblings” to their cheetah cubs.”Most cheetahs that come be to a part of the Cat Ambassador Program are single cubs.” Andrea Haugen, a senior trainer with the Cincinnati Zoo's Cat Ambassador Program, explains in an article on the zoo's website. “Often these cubs come from a cheetah mother who did not have the most successful litter. Cheetahs can have upwards of six cubs in a litter at a time and they will stay with their mothers for up to nearly two years. When a cheetah mom has only one or two cubs survive in her litter, often she will abandon those cubs and even stop producing milk for them.”That is where the dogs come in.”The main reason we pair cheetah ambassadors with a dog is for companionship.” Haugen continues. “It gives the cheetah a surrogate ‘sibling' to grow up with and experience the world together. There is a lot of training that goes into shaping a successful cheetah ambassador. The dog helps with this as well. We start from a young age with the cheetah to teach it an acceptable way to interact with her trainers. For example, we do not want her jumping up on us, biting etc. While it may be cute when Kris (a former cheetah cub at the zoo) is this little, it’s not very cute when she is full grown! That is another reason why Kris will have Remus, to allow her to do all that fun jumping and play behavior that she wants to but cannot do with her trainers. Dogs can communicate with cheetahs in a way that we as humans simply cannot. As it turns out, dog play is pretty comparable to cheetah play. There are definitely a few differences, but after some time, the pair learn how to play together. The new fun play activity this week was chase. Remus loves to be chased! And Kris will run after him nonstop.”According to the zoo, Moose is a chocolate Labrador, while Remus and Daisy are both mixed-breed dogs.All three have served as best friends to cheetahs in their lives, and Moose and Remus were even featured in the Disney+ series “It's a Dog's Life” for their work. As for what they will be doing now, it will include more of the same, according to the zoo. However, instead of cheetahs, their best friends will be swapped out with loving humans. “Each of our three current dogs will be adopted this year to live a retired life as a pet in a zoo staff member’s home,” the zoo said in an announcement celebrating the trio's retirement. “They have all been great with their cheetahs but are ready to live that relaxing retired life.”
The Cincinnati Zoo has announced that it will be retiring three of its cheetah companion dogs.
Moose, Remus and Daisy had worked for several years in the past to serve as what the zoo calls “surrogate siblings” to their cheetah cubs.
“Most cheetahs that come be to a part of the Cat Ambassador Program are single cubs.” Andrea Haugen, a senior trainer with the Cincinnati Zoo's Cat Ambassador Program, explains in an article on the zoo's website. “Often these cubs come from a cheetah mother who did not have the most successful litter. Cheetahs can have upwards of six cubs in a litter at a time and they will stay with their mothers for up to nearly two years. When a cheetah mom has only one or two cubs survive in her litter, often she will abandon those cubs and even stop producing milk for them.”
That is where the dogs come in.
“The main reason we pair cheetah ambassadors with a dog is for companionship.” Haugen continues. “It gives the cheetah a surrogate ‘sibling' to grow up with and experience the world together. There is a lot of training that goes into shaping a successful cheetah ambassador. The dog helps with this as well. We start from a young age with the cheetah to teach it an acceptable way to interact with her trainers. For example, we do not want her jumping up on us, biting etc. While it may be cute when Kris (a former cheetah cub at the zoo) is this little, it’s not very cute when she is full grown! That is another reason why Kris will have Remus, to allow her to do all that fun jumping and play behavior that she wants to but cannot do with her trainers. Dogs can communicate with cheetahs in a way that we as humans simply cannot. As it turns out, dog play is pretty comparable to cheetah play. There are definitely a few differences, but after some time, the pair learn how to play together. The new fun play activity this week was chase. Remus loves to be chased! And Kris will run after him nonstop.”
According to the zoo, Moose is a chocolate Labrador, while Remus and Daisy are both mixed-breed dogs.
All three have served as best friends to cheetahs in their lives, and Moose and Remus were even featured in the Disney+ series “It's a Dog's Life” for their work.
As for what they will be doing now, it will include more of the same, according to the zoo. However, instead of cheetahs, their best friends will be swapped out with loving humans.
“Each of our three current dogs will be adopted this year to live a retired life as a pet in a zoo staff member’s home,” the zoo said in an announcement celebrating the trio's retirement. “They have all been great with their cheetahs but are ready to live that relaxing retired life.”
