Strange Pack Behavior, Can Anyone Explain?

Both Saturday and Sunday at the dog park I observed two almost identical events that elicited a behavior that I am wondering about. Both incidents involved very small dogs running in the big dog area. In both cases the small dog became intimidated by a larger dog causing it to scream out in terror. The small dog was picked up by it's owner but continued to scream bloody murder.
What was unusual is that every dog in that area of the park immediately ran over and started to try to jump up at the small dog. Everyone came running over to retrieve their dog and no harm was done to dog or person but what was the intent of this pack behavior? It was instantaneous and all encompassing with a pack of dogs that did not know each other. Every big dog in the area raced over.
Was it to help or hurt? Maybe it was similar to the human trait of slowing down to gawk at an accident.
Just another reason that people should not bring tiny dogs to "play" with the big guys. Every amenity in the large dog area is available in the small dog area so there is no need to mix.
Any theories to explain this behavior?

 

I know that dogs will atack (sp?) screaming babies sometimes because it sounds like an animal in the wild that they would've eaten or something like that. I've never really heard a dog scream, so maybe it was something like that, the predator came out in them?

 

cats will even do this....the rescue group I foster for sends a tape to new foster volunteers. In the tape they mention that in a multiple-cat environment when one cat is reacting all the cats will react the same.
And cats aren't generally pack animals. They respond to stress or distress when another cat triggers it.
I think people can do it too.
My own cats - if I step on a paw (now and then it happens) and that cat lets out a screech all the cats come running making noise. I think they expect something to be happening they must respond to.

 

I don't know, but I have seen many times that if someone picks up their dog, all the other dogs become very interested and start jumping up to see it. This is even without the screaming.

 

I know with both the dogs I have had if they had seen a dog get picked up they would instantly run over and jump up, sometime I would think maybe they don't like it that the dog is being held, sometimes, I really felt like they were trying to attack the dog becauseit was in a compromising position. I could never tell which was right?

 

Sounds like response to the distress call. All animals even human animals respond to distress calls. Babies crying, adults screaming in terror.
When ever one of my dogs cry out from an injury (like me stepping on a tail in the dark) the others will always come running and inspect the dog that cried out in distress. Dowser will even bring a cookie to Pepsi if he has an extra stashed somewhere when she is having a hard time.

 

I have seen tht happen, and I thought it was a response to them wanting to help and check it whats wrong

 

Ive seen a few different reactions with this. I think in the wild (excluding a dam protecting her pups) if a dog from the pack is screaming then 'survival of the fittest' mentality will step in and they would 'most likely' all attack the screaming dog. I believe in part to avoid attracting outside predators plus there general heiracheal drive. (just my opinion from watching videos/documentary and books Ive read). Obviously in the wild the dogs would know each other.

In domestic dogs though Ive seen a variety of reactions, theres the pack mentality were they would all attack the 'apparant' injured dog but Ive also seen dogs that would try and protect the screaming dog (this is in a house with multiple...more than 2 dogs), depends on the dog, sometimes there is just the 'confusion' issue which is a couple of dogs are upset by the screaming and will hang around not attacking nor protecting.

Like I said, just my opinion.