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Canis lupus familiaris
dog communications
Introduction
Like other social species dogs use various means to communicate that include body positioning, head, ears and tail moving, expressive use of eyes, lips, and teeth. Vocal repertoire includes barking, howling, growling, grunting, and whimpering.
Many contexts of dog communications exist such as courtship, acquaintance with strangers, communication during cooperative hunting, communications between members of a pack, mother and pups communications, and social play.
Domestic dogs' outstanding communicative skills (sometimes rivaling that of chimpanzees) stem from their descending from wolves that are highly social canids unlike, for example, coyotes, as well as are result of domestication.
Social play
Social play combines most of the contexts of dog communications modes during their adult lives including elements of ritualized courtship behavior (mounting), aggressive displays (grunting, teeth baring, etc.), stereotyped acquainting sequences (extensive posturing, sniffing, etc.) and others in random manner.
Social play in canids and other social mammals has the following characteristics:
- Actions from various contexts (aggressive, sexual, hunting) are incorporated into unpredictable sequences and serve as attention-getters (invitations to play) and pleasurable play activities.
- A play bout is often preceded by a metacommunicative signal that indicates "what follows is play and not a war".
- Certain actions may be repeated and exaggerated.
- The activity appears "enjoyable" to the participants. Dog's "play face" is familiar to all dog owners: eyes are wide open, drawn back lips form "smile", ears are stiff, head is slightly tilted.
Play-signaling and attention-getting patterns in dogs' play (not ehxaustive list)
Exaggerated approach attention-getter
Exaggerated retreat attention-getter
Play-bow play signal
One of the most familiar playful postures: paws are firmly planted on the ground and spread apart slightly; rump is raised; tail is erect and wagging.
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Chase-me play signal
In-your-face attention-getter
Dog positions his body or face inches from other's face.
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Self-present attention-getter
Dog approaches or leaps up toward the other dog trying to make brief eye contact.
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Open-mouth play signal
Frontal display with lips and teeth showing, no biting; front legs stiff, head tilted, body oriented toward playmate. "Gleeful", excited and expectant expression is unmistakable.
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Paw (attenttion getter): paw at other's face or body
Photo credit: http://kotomatrix.ru/ - cool photos of animals
with funny descriptions (in Russian)
Bite at (attenttion getter): biting at air in the direction of , but not touching, other dog
Photo credit: http://kotomatrix.ru/ - cool photos of animals
with funny descriptions (in Russian)
Bite (attenttion getter): making firm mouth contact with other's body part
Photo credit: http://kotomatrix.ru/ - cool photos of animals
with funny descriptions (in Russian)
More about dogs at GeoChemBio
- Dog reproductive cycle (mating, estrous cycle)
- Dog development (from fertilization to adult)
- Dog taxonomy (full taxonomy of Canidae)
- Canine behavior (life with humans)
- Dog-to-dog communication (canine language illustrated)
- Dog phenotypes (genetics illustrated)
- Bibiography (research articles and reviews)
Dog dieseases at MetaPathogen
- Dog hookworm (Ancylostoma caninum)
- Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis)
- Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)
Various products with this design are available at GeoChemBio store
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