Dog Language
by Roger Abrantes
This article was taken from the book Dog Language by Roger Abrantes
which is no longer in print. However it still provides useful insights
into canine behaviour.
Abnormal behaviour
Abnormal behaviour is all behaviour that quantitatively differs from
the average behaviour of a certain species, breed and population, in
a certain geographic region and in a certain period of time.
The difference between abnormal and pathological behaviour is that the
latter involves greater qualitative differences, while abnormal behaviour
is an exaggeration of the norm. For example, if a dog shows extreme aggression
every time it sees another dog of the same sex, it is showing abnormal
behaviour. However, this behaviour is not likely to be pathological unless
it is due to hormonal or organic changes in the brain.
Normal behaviour, Pathological Behaviour
Aggression
The word aggression often carries negative connotations. The word is
usually associated with struggle and violence. Yet according to some
scientists, aggression is what makes personal relationships possible-it's
the basis for friendship and love.
Aggression is a drive-purposeful energy-which is aroused by meeting
with a conspecific. Conspecifics compete over vital resources like food,
territory and sexual partners. It is of great importance for animals
to have certain mechanisms with which they can control others. Aggression
is the drive behind the initial desire of one individual to kill another,
or preferably chase it away. Encounters between individuals of many species
occur in this way. For example, a tiger cub's worst enemy, besides a
human, is an adult male tiger, which may even be their own father.
However, other animals have realised that they need help from conspecifics
to survive. This is not a product of an individual's consciousness, but
occurs at a species level-the fittest under specific circumstances is
the survivor. For example, it is difficult for a lone wolf to get food
for itself, but if there are two of them they significantly increase
the chance of acquiring food, if there are three they can begin hunting
systematically. In some species, selection favours those individuals
who are best at inhibiting their aggression and co-operate instead. This
does not mean aggression disappears, rather it assumes other forms through
ritualised behaviour: greeting ceremonies, pacifying behaviour and rank
ordering. Instead of killing each other, the animals engage in ritualised
behaviour where they display some of the original aggression without
damaging each other.
Animals which have learned to ritualise their aggression still have
a need for it though, such as when they meet strangers. A wolf pack cannot
grow unreservedly. While members of a small group have a better chance
of acquiring food than a lone wolf, a huge pack would contradict its
own interests. This means that wolves are very keen to chase non-pack
members away.
Very aggressive animals need to know each other individually. For example,
it could be a fatal mistake to attack a superior conspecific more than
once. The rituals that two individuals perform are unique to both, and
thus they come to know each other. Other animals that live in groups,
like rats, do not know each other individually - they only know whether
or not they belong to the same group. Rats lack the rituals we see among
other animals such as wolves, dogs, geese, chimpanzees and humans.
Aggression does not only lead to agonistic behaviour; it is the reason
for the bond between individuals. How aggressive a species or population
is, is determined by selection. In a society where all individuals are
aggressive, a peaceful mutant will have greater chances of survival since
it will not fight with others as often as aggressive individuals. In
a population of peaceful individuals, an aggressive mutant will have
a better chance, since it will win all the fights it has. The quantity
or the lack of aggression in a population is a result of many factors,
all concerned with self-preservation. No animal is only aggressive and
no animal is totally devoid of aggression. Aggression is a quantitative
trait, depending on the benefits for that individual under specific circumstances.
The individual that has the greatest chance of survival also has the
greatest chance to mate successfully and have offspring that will inherit
50 per cent of its traits.
The aggressive dog bares its teeth. If it is dominant as well, i.e.
self-confident, it will have raised ears, curled lips, a well-defined
stop, staring
eyes and will make its body appear large and stiff. If it is submissive,
i.e. insecure, it will flatten its ears, draw back its lips, flatten
its forehead and narrow its eyes. It will crouch to make its body
appear as small as possible and may creep along the ground. How obvious
these
signals are and when they are shown together depends on circumstances,
rank order and so on.
Aggression is not a disease, but it can be the cause of pathological
behaviour. If an individual shows aggression, which has qualitative and/or
quantitative differences from the average for that species and population
in a certain period of time, it can be considered abnormal behaviour.
Certain dogs show exaggerated aggression in situations where other dogs
would be unresponsive. If we don't treat this behaviour in good time
it can develop into pathological behaviour. Aggression may then be elicited
by factors, which wouldn't normally result in such behaviour.
Aggression varies in intensity and this can be seen clearly in the dog's
facial and bodily expressions.
AGONISTIC BEHAVIOUR, FEAR, DOMINANCE, SUBMISSION, DRIVE, RITUALS, SOCIAL
ANIMALS, GREETING, SELECTION, PATHOLOGICAL BEHAVIOUR.
Allelomimetic behaviour
Allelomimetic behaviour is contagious behaviour, i.e. behaviour which
influences another to do the same.
Dogs commonly show allelomimetic behaviour. It is often advantageous
for social animals to display this sort of behaviour. In prey animals
like deer, zebra or wildebeest, one individual has the ability to trigger
the whole herd to flee. This trait is so important for self-preservation
that farm animals like sheep, cows and horses still retain it. Social
predators show these traits for hunting purposes. If one member of the
pack suddenly runs after possible prey it is likely to trigger the same
response in the whole pack. The wolf's howl may also be considered allelomimetic.
When one wolf begins howling, the whole pack joins in, in chorus, especially
if a high-ranking wolf has initiated it.
Dogs clearly show allelomimetic behaviour when they bark because the
neighbour's dog is barking, or when they run after playing children.
Copyright: Roger Abrantes
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