Reminds me of the play scene showing a dog and polar bear playing.

We all know how invigorating play is to our energy levels. Brain researchers are also finding that play helps keep our brains healthy. Play is a natural and needed part of life. Check out this incredible photo shoot narrated by Stuart Brown, a physician and clinical researcher who founded the National Institute for Play.

Yes, I've seen this slide show. It's wondrous.

Here's one link to it:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/425636/Polarbear-Husky

LCK

Dogs do have neocortices. All mammals have neocortices, in fact. They're not as evolved as those of humans, but they sure have them.

Right. That's why I said that dogs don't have a "highly-developed neo-cortex."

LCK

Your blog is very informative but I think you are over-analyzing your dog. Charley chasing Charlie in play and learning quickly about evasive action seems exactly what he would have learned by observing his mother hunting food for her litter. Have you watched a film on Animal Planet of a coyote chasing a zig-zagging rabbit? As a NYC dog who has probably always been fed from a dish (once weaned), his stalk-chase -kill-eat instincts are not needed and somewhat dormant. Although he isn't hungry, the hunt is still wild good fun just because that's what dogs like to do. I really doubt he learned anything in the park that day. He always knew.