Body language

Question 1

Why is aggressive body language interpretation very tempting?

Answer 1

You can’t be easily proven wrong

Question 2

Why are body language observations contentious?

Answer 2

We don’t actually know whats going on. People can interpret in many different ways

Question 3

Should we be conservative or aggressive when interpreting body language?

Answer 3

Conservative

Question 4

Should you be afraid to say you don’t know?

Answer 4

No!

Question 5

What should we do when we make a body language observation?

Answer 5

We should qualify it

Question 6

What should we qualify body language observations with?

Answer 6

I’m really sure
I’m not so sure about this one

Question 7

What should we be thinking about when we qualify our observations?

3 points

Answer 7

1. Most dog people would go along with me
2. I have experience with this
3. Its well researched and has evidence behind it

MER

Question 8

Should we question if there are other possible interpretations?

Answer 8

Yes! There could be other reasons, are we ruling them in/out?

Question 9

How can we test our observation interpretations?

1 answer

Answer 9

Rule other reasons in or out
e.g. may be due to low light, anticipation of cookies, fear of a dog/person

Question 10

What is a replication of stimulus behaviour contingency?

Answer 10

Ruling in/out alternative explanations
e.g. replicate the A to see if the B is replicated.
E.g., pupils dilated may be in low light - replicate in higher light.

Question 11

What is JD favourite body language method?

Answer 11

Counting specific behaviours

Question 12

What is the value of counting body language behaviours?

Answer 12

It’s about trends. Is he doing more or less over time.

Question 13

What is the body language formula?

Answer 13

Interpret, bet, break down

Question 14

What is interpret?

Answer 14

What do you think is going on in the photo or video or live!

Question 15

What is bet?

Answer 15

How much confidence do you have in your interpretation? How much would you be willing to bet you’re right?

Question 16

What is break down?

Answer 16

How would you break it down for a novice owner?

Question 17

What is an artifact?

Answer 17

A result of a behaviour e.g. American Eskimo - tail up (Breed artifact)
Lip tuck (Chewing)

Question 18

What is the downside to a consent test

Answer 18

There are none!

Question 19

What are the upsides to a consent test?

Answer 19

Modelling for owners
Test your hypothesis

Question 20

What is a meta signal? (meta communication)

Answer 20

Behaviour that qualifies play intent of other behaviours it precedes and follows

Question 21

What is the problem with interpreting from photos?

Answer 21

They are a snapshot in time. We will look for

Question 22

Why do dogs bother with meta signals

Answer 22

Because it announces intent, so dogs know they are playing

Question 23

If we didn’t have meta signals what would the problem be?

Answer 23

Hunting, fighting, fleeing and reproduction –> it wouldn’t be clear to the dogs that they were playing not doing it for real

Question 24

How would you explain meta signals to a 10-year-old

Answer 24

When dogs play they practice behaviours they would in the wild, such as fighting, chasing and mating.

The dog will say to the other dog “hey this is just a game”. They are talking to each other and telling each other it’s not the real thing, it’s just playing.

Question 25

What makes play play?

Answer 25

The interspersing of meta communications (I Dunbar Atmosphere cues!) The content of play is the same as

Question 26

How would you explain meta communications to a 15 year old?

Answer 26

Play consists of fight, flight hunting and courtship behaviours and so dogs need to say I’m just playing! So that the other dog knows.

Question 27

What makes a dog dangerous?

Answer 27

Bites down causing injury

Question 28

Can you tell jaw pressure from a photo?

Answer 28

No

Question 29

What pro social behaviours do we count in body language

Answer 29

Lip lick, tongue flick
Ears high, rotated back
Play face
Play bow
Paw raise
Bouncy exaggerated movement
self handicapping
role reversal/activity shift

Question 30

What prosocial behaviours do we count in body language

8

Answer 30

Lip lick, tongue flick
Ears high, rotated back
Play face
Play bow
Paw raise
Bouncy exaggerated movement
self-handicapping
role reversal/activity shift

Question 31

what asocial/antisocial behaviours do we see

9

Answer 31

verticle lip retraction
growl (not in play)
snap
bite (not play bite)
freeze (cease consuming)
stiff waxy movements
pinning (not tolerating movement)
fighting
avoidance/flight/hiding

Question 32

what trend do we want to see in body language

Answer 32

more prosocial
less antisocial

Question 33

what is an artifact?

Answer 33

behaviour produced by non relevant or extraneous factors

Question 34

Name some artifacts

Answer 34

Breed artifact - tail position
curled lip - artifact of chewing
dilated pupils - artifact of low light
Looking away - artifact of wrangling

Question 35

what is local enhancement?

Answer 35

something in the environment making 2 dogs doing the same

Question 36

What does insidious mean?

Answer 36

something as being sneaky or being secretly dangerous or harmful

Question 37

What are the 4 FAPs seen in play

Answer 37

Fight
Fight/flee
Feeding
Reproduction

Question 38

What do we see in play fighting?

Answer 38

Wrestling, biting, pinning

Question 39

What do we see in play fleeing

Answer 39

Soliciting, chase, running away

Question 40

What do we see in play hunting?

Answer 40

Chasing, biting, grab/shake

Question 41

What do we see in play courtship?

Answer 41

Mounting & clasping

Question 42

How can we tell the real thing from play?

Answer 42

1) self-handicapping
2) role reversal
3) activity shifts
4) meta signals - bouncy inefficient movement, play face and play bow

Question 43

do dogs imitate people?

Answer 43

No more likely that owner is imitating dogs!