According to popular internet memes, capybaras seem to be sociable and friendly with every species on Earth. However, this isn’t the reality. Capybaras, being prey animals at the lower end of the food chain, often escape predation due to their large size. Meanwhile, dogs are natural predators. Nonetheless, when dogs are raised with capybaras, a mutual respect develops, benefiting the capybara. JoeJoe, for instance, adored his canine companions, even the puppies, despite the challenges they posed.
Cheesecake is perhaps the best-known capysitter for puppies. She’s been highlighted in an Animal Planet video. Despite never having had baby capybaras of her own, she has always been more than willing to nurture needy puppies.
- Cheesecake the capybara, so patient, so gentle. (photo credit- Janice Wolf)
- Cheesecake is nine years old, an elder among captive capybaras. She’s seen it all. (photo credit- Janice Wolf)
Observe Cheesecake in action.
- Cheesecake the capybara has spent most of her life at Rocky Ridge Refuge. (photo credit- Janice Wolf)
- Cheesecake and Cobbler share capysitting duties. (photo credit- Janice Wolf)
- Cobbler just turned six years old. He came to Rocky Ridge Refuge as a rescue when he was one month old. (photo credit- Janice Wolf)
Is it true that all capybaras like dogs? No, not at all! For instance, Hibby was terrified of them, mainly because of their barking. Here‘s a blog post detailing an injury he sustained when startled by a visiting dog.
Poor Hibby. Mortally wounded by a flower pot after a chance encounter with a barking dog. Where did that dog come from, anyway? (It was invited, but whatever.)
JoeJoe, unlike Hibby, wasn’t afraid of dogs. In fact, he genuinely loved them.
Garibaldi ROUS was the kindest and most gentle capybara I have ever encountered. He interacted well with certain dog visitors but didn’t get along with all of them. He eventually became fond of playing with some Boston Terriers after a few visits (there’s a video in the linked blog post).
Here’s another video of JoeJoe. In it, JoeJoe the Carpincho (another word for capybara) is seen eagerly trying to engage his dog friends in play.
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Photos and videos of Cheesecake and Cobbler, the capybaras, were used without permission from Rocky Ridge Refuge, a 501c3 non-profit animal rescue organization in Arkansas. Given our decade-long relationship, I’m sure Janice won’t mind.
A big thank you to Cody Kennedy for providing photos and videos. Visit Cody’s shop, Crazy Cody’s Creatures YouTube channel, and Patreon to see more.
Garibaldi ROUS was originally featured on Melanie Typaldos’s Capybara Madness website. You can support capybaras by donating to The ROUS Fund for Capybara Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M.
Also, remember to check out Georgia Dee’s Gift Shop and consider making a donation to Stacy’s Funny Farm, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
