PHOTO 1
Welcome to the first “FUN OR FIGHT?” Quiz! (If you missed the Introduction to these quizzes, you can read it here.)
These quizzes are going to test your understanding of dog behavior and communication. Below is a photo taken at a dog park. Decide whether the dogs are playing or fighting (or thinking about playing or fighting), and identify the clues you used to come to this conclusion. You can enter your responses in the Comments box below the post, and you can also comment on other posts (maybe you disagree and why). Everybody is welcome – the pet owner as well as the professional trainer. The more people participating, the more we can learn.
I’m hoping there will be some lively discussion and a useful learning experience. After a few days for comments, I can also post additional photos from a particular interaction if necessary to provide more information.
Have fun!
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To see the followup, click here.
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15 comments
Fight!
Thanks, Catherine. Okay, there’s one vote for FIGHT! What do the rest of you think?
I´d say these dogs are playing. The reason I think this is how their bodies bodies are positioned, sort of off balance. If they were in a fight mode they would put more weight to the front part of their bodies. Also the big open mouth of the smaller dog while its throat is completely unprotected is a sign that this is not serious. The bigger dog shows no sign of being worried either – its face has no aggression.
I love this quiz by the way, it is so fun to be challenged like this!
One vote for fight, one vote for play. What about all those teeth??!!!
I think they are playing. Their body postures, particularly that of the larger dog, look like play to me and their tails do not look frightened or aggressive.
Play, their bodies don’t appear to be aggressive.
I have to agree with play. The smaller brown dog (maybe pit mix) isn’t snarling. Though the teeth are bared, the face is relaxed and it’s tail looks to be wagging. Also the Dane doesn’t have it’s teeth bared and has left itself wide open for a vicious bite. It’s not in a defensive or take flight stance. They’re bouncing and bounding at play.
fun. neither looks aggressive or defensive
I think they are playing, but only cos I have been watching my 8 month old English springer spaniel dog play with an 18 month old ESS bitch in a very similar way those morning. A lot of ‘mouthing’ going on. When my older ESS dog (the dad / pack leader) has had enough of the play he growls at the two younger dogs, they immedately drop to the floor and go very still. The older dog is actually smaller than the other two and is still wagging his tail even when he tells the younger ones to pipe down with the noise. It does all look like rough child’s play sometimes and just like children, as soon as the boss dog’s back is turned, the play starts up again.
definitely fun if it was truly a fight the other dog would have teeth bared too, also bodies postured side to front mean they are ok feeling vulnerable in a fight they wouldnt do that!
I’d have to agree with the majority – it’s play, but if I did not know that brown dog, and the Dane was mine, I’d watch closely, as it looks like the brown dog could be indicating he’s had enough by baring his teeth, possibly snapping at the Dane, which is why it could be the Dane is suddenly pulling away, at least in one scenario. I’d also be thinking of stepping in if the Brown dog was mine, since I’ve learned from experience, you can’t rely on other dog owners to be on top of their dogs. And a big, goofy, “he’s only playing” dog can just as easily start a dog fight as the next dog.
Great idea this quiz! We all can use help in developing skills to read dog behavior better — especially if you live in a big city and deal with all kinds of dogs all day long! OH – and the photos are stunning!
[...] Redeaux 6 January 2012 There were some great comments to the photo in Quiz 1 (you can read them here). Most people thought the dogs were playing based on body position and balance, tail carriage, [...]
Definitely playing. Their bodies are actually relaxed and almost in some form of dancing. The muscles don’t carry any tension of a real fight
Most definitely Fun – final answer! That Great Dane is a playful pup! The Dane is showing some taunting and respect at the same time. In a fight – both dogs go head to head – teeth to teeth with violence and ears back
plus…I think you rarely capture fight on your lens as it happens so quickly and draws the camera away from your face…as humans we are quick to interrupt the fight… not preserve the moment
It’s play – at least for the Dane. I absolutely love the ridiculous look on the face of the Dane – he actually looks a bit surprised at the ferocity or perhaps the speed or angle or body contact of the smaller dog.
The Danes flews are loose, which means his lips and his jaw are relatively relaxed during this interaction.
While it is definitely not a fight and is occurring in the context of playing, My guess is that the smaller dog is also bringing a bit of frustration into the game…maybe because the smaller dog cannot control that large Dane to the extent he/she would like to.
Often play takes on a little bit deeper meaning for canines and sometimes they are also using play to define who gets to be in charge of other things – like the first drinker at the water bowl today.
The rather relaxed shape of the smaller dogs commissure is also a hint that this is not a serious altercation. You can see the lips are not brought forward into a tight “C” shape, which is more what you would expect if this dog were serious.
But, even if you didn’t know the intent of the smaller dog exactly, it is okay. You can read the intention from the reaction of the Dane, who is not too worried!