August 18, How Would You Describe This Interaction?
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?
agilitycgc said,
August 20, 2008 @ 12:24 am
I wish I could see the face and tail of the black dog…
I would try to interrupt this group and see how quickly the dogs responded and whether they calmed themselves down. If the dogs weren’t able to be interrupted I would become concerned about the interaction.
Anne said,
August 21, 2008 @ 10:34 pm
looks like the three dogs are ganging up on the black dog - would definitely put a stop to this or very closely control it - looks like it could escalate quickly
thorn72 said,
August 25, 2008 @ 8:23 am
this is play - for now.
the black-dog is prey, and the other 3 are hunters.
only the cream Lab concerns me - his face shows tension-ridges, he is in a hard-stare at Wicked, his weight is forward + braced, with his body out at elbow. he’s much too-intent for play!
the victim is obviously relaxed in body-language, Wicked is open-faced + body relaxed, and the red Dobe pup in the rear is also loose + happy.
if the biscuit Lab did not relax very shortly, i would split the group with a walk-thru or interrupt play for a short chill-out, to see if he could unwind.
the Lab is also in a momentary freeze, combined with his stare -
his body is rigid and muscles are tense. too much arousal for play, and odds are it will spill-over into a quarrel soon.
- terry pride, apdt#1827, IPDTA, TDF, CVA
Wicked said,
September 9, 2008 @ 12:30 pm
Thorn 72 spotted well. Boris “the large black dog “always play the victim and he likes it. He is wearing 3 collars nowadays on his friday afternoon meeting with these guys to protect his neck. I do interrupt sometimes. Just calling one or two dogs with a friendly voice is enough most of the times. The biscuit Lab ( Odi ) is pushing it sometimes. Boris is such a nice target. The red dope pup is actually a Podenco. She is heroic as long she is near Wicked or me. She is afraid of dogs when she walks with her own owner. sad.