Empathy

Question
Hello,

Recently, I made a discovery about my Labrador-Newfie-cross puppy (4 mos.) and I am wondering if you have ever heard of anything like it before. It is said, empathy is unique to humans--but it at least seems that I may have evidence of empathy in dogs.

Whereas "Molly" is well protected against fleas, occasionally some determined insects (evidently clothed in some form of flea bio-protection suit!) remain. Molly still scratches, a bit. When I see this happening--in particular when I see her trying to get at a difficult spot, I try to bond with her by scratching the spot for her--and what does she do?  You know, of course, the distinctive way in which a dog will "nibble" at a flea. Well, when I scratch a flea for Mollile, she then proceeds to "nibble" away at some convenient spot on my own body, in return!

Do you suppose this is "empathy"--or what?

Regards,
Dan O'Hanlon

Answer
I am trying to remember what I have seen of dogs grooming one another.  Mutual grooming is a real primate thing.  I recently read The Other End of the Leash by Patricia McConnell.  Much of the book contrasts primate and canine behavior.  Mostly what I can think of with dogs is licking ears.  The other thing it could be is trying to conform to the strange behavior of the rest of the pack.  Dogs are trying to to be the best little wolves they can in the wrong world.  So they try to get along with the rest of the pack no matter how weird they are.