Yeah, and a dog would certainly be able to tell the difference because a rabbit would have the smell and actions of "prey", while an IF, even if they look like one and have the same instincts, would smell completely different to a dog. And I doubt that scent would indicate "prey". Which is making me wonder something else- would an IF carry the scent of the human who created them, or do they have a scent all their own, like every other living animal? I'm thinking the latter, but since an IF is a "part" of their creator, maybe it's the prior.
The puppies and the big dog at the beginning of the episode certainly saw the IFs no differently than they did the humans, so to me it appears they already know that the IFs are more "alpha" than themselves. They didn't see the IFs as prey, or even playthings. They saw them just as they saw the humans- companions in the pack and someone who could feed them.
