Photo by Monty Sloan

How would you describe this interaction between Renki and Woton (standing) two mid-ranking wolves? What is the significance of the wolves’ postures?

Photo © Marco De Kloet

Would you interrupt this interaction? Please explain your answer. How many behaviors can you describe in this dod to dog interaction?

Photo © Marco De Kloet

What type of interaction is this. What terms would you use to describe it? How many expressions, behaviors, actions, etc. do you see?

                                  Photo by Marco De Kloet

What terms would you use to describe the interaction between these four dogs?  If this is play, what type of play is it? How do you know? How many different behaviors can you describe?

              Photo ©Monty Sloan
On the DogRead list we have been discussing resource guarding. On a routine check of Monty Sloan’s Wolf Park’s Photo of the Day site, what should I find but this wonderful photograph of two wolves in conflict over a tomato! Here is Monty’s description of the interaction:

“I have an extensive garden once again with all kinds of vegetable plants. Among them are elongated purple eggplants and 24+ tomato plants of various varieties. I brought one of each. Wolfgang grabbed the eggplant and ran off to the woods and did not return until it was pretty much devoured. Tristan got the tomato but Ruedi managed to ‘convince’ him that it was better off in Ruedi’s possession than Tristan’s. Ruedi then successfully guarded it from even Wolfgang. For some reason Ruedi really wanted it. However, Ruedi did not really want to eat it either. He nibbled a bit, but eventually left much of the remains for Wolfgang and then Wotan to nibble upon. It was only much later when Renki discovered the smutched remains of a tomato that it was swallowed in one big gulp…”

© Barbara Handelman

Rosie, the Pitbull, and Bronte, the Airedale, engaged in rough play.  What behaviors/postures do you see from each of them that their intentions are still playful?

On a cue, both dogs “chill out”. ©Barbara Handelman

The video clip is an example of two dogs playing together roughly.  Both appear to enjoy playing together, but their rough play style could lend itself to one or the other getting hurt or annoyed.   Their play is always supervised by at least one person, who regularly intervenes. In this instance, the person is Dee Ganley, author of “Changing People, Changing Dogs”, demonstrating the “Chill Out Game”.  She cues them to stop playing, and “chill out”.  

Only after they have relaxed, are they allowed to resume playing.

For more information about the Chill Out game, and Dee’s other great techniques for managing difficult dogs, go to her website www.deesdogs.com and check out her book, Changing People, Changing Dogs.

rosie-and-bronte Click here to see video

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Bronte and Pan: Click here to view video clip

To view the videos you must have Quicktime Player, a free download:
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/player/

Pan is the Smooth Collie, Bronte is the Airedale.  They are both neutered males, approximately 18 months-old.

Photos ©Barbara Handelman

An agonistic pucker, also known as a warning snarl, is a distance increasing behavior.  It can be seen in young puppies, and in adult dogs.  They are a dog’s way of signaling displeasure and the desire to increase distance or stop interacting.  Failure to heed an agonistic pucker during a warning, could result in the escalation of threats and/or the initiation of a fight.

41 Day-Old Puppy Being Pinned Does an Agonistic Pucker to Express Her Displeasure and Desire for Greater Distance Between Herself and the Pup Who Has Her Pinned.

16 Month-Old Dog is Doing a Shoulder Roll/Play Bow. The Agonistic Pucker Definitely Suggests His Desire for Increased Distance, Even Though The Play Bow Says This Is Still Play.

Paw lifts can be either distance increasing behaviors or distance decreasing behaviors.  In both the examples below, the puppies are signaling peaceful intentions, thus the paw lifts are distance decreasing behaviors.

                        31 Day-Old Puppies

42 Day-Old Puppy Does a Shake Off

Shake offs are most often signals of mild stress occurring after some form of unwanted encounter, such as play that has been too rough.

Bows are an important element in play and ritualized aggression.  They are a form of metasignal with which dogs signal that they are “still just playing” even though, moments before they might have done something that could have appeared to be the initiation of a fight.

28 Day-Old Puppy Does a Play Bow

  16 Month-Old Adolescent Dog Does a Play Bow to Initiate Play with a Buddy