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Play style
Hi!
What are some observations and then interpretations on this video regarding the interactions.
All housemates. I am not going to give that much info right now as not to lead any interpretations. If you have specific questions, let me know and I will answer! Then I will give the full backstory. I also have questions regarding these types of interactions so, hoping to have a great discussion here! Thanks!
Tan and white dog; Barkley, neutered male, 10 months old, adopted into household at approx. 9 weeks
White dog; Cassie, spayed female, 7.5 years old
Black dog; Archie, neutered male, 4.5 years
0:35
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11 Replies
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Thanks for this practice!
Barkley is doing lots of vocalizing and jaw-sparring attempts. Both he and Cassie have nice fluid motions in their tails and bouncy body movements. It looks like Cassie would have played longer if Barkley didn’t walk over to Archie. Archie (can’t really see him in my view) seems to stay away from the action.
Hoping those are just observations and not interpretations!
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This is a great video for discussion, @Jenz – thanks for sharing. I like to focus in on each dog, one at a time. I watch the video multiple times and OBSERVE closely, first.
Doing that, I’m seeing Cassie look: tense, ears pulled back, stiff, fully aligned, tail at half-mast, retreating from Barkley’s pawing, then coming forward fully aligned. I see her licking her lips and “chomping”. Overall, I’m not seeing looseness. I’m hoping @Bernerlabreclectus will jump in again and point out where she looks loose?
Cassie’s the one I’m focusing on for now. What do you think of my observations?
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Here is a video of Barkley and Archie interact. What is one big difference between both videos?
@Catherine I agree with your observations!
Thanks @Bernerlabreclectus and @Catherine for jumping in on this conversation!
I think you will find the history and present interactions fascinating. I also hope to learn more about this behavior(s) myself through discussion.
0:38
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I agree with @programdev
Cassie seems to have somewhat stiff body movements. Ears pulled back. Some direct approaches and head held high above body line.
If you can notice how the tail wagging changes to loose swings when approaching parent and how stiff and barely wagging when playing with the pup. I also see at time where Cassie shows this still movements. Like freeze and move forward.
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@RADS
Are you all ready to interpret?
What are the differences you notice when he engages with Archie, (black dog in second video)
I will then reveal the backstory to why I think this is happening!
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Granted in these two clips, we are only seeing brief moments of time. It’s hard to get a full read of course, but my interpretation is that Barkley is much more soft and deferential with Archie than he is with Cassie. Cassie is clearly not having any of his goofiness and both dogs are tense about it. Archie is a lot more tolerant of the shenanigans.
And from interpretation to forecasting: With Archie, Barkley has more expectation that he will have an actual play session. With Cassie, I’d be wary that things could escalate quickly if Barkley keeps this up. He needs to leave her alone. Some of this may chill out with maturity as Barkley ages, but it is just as likely to become a problem.
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Thanks for your responses! Here is the backstory and what I think has happened and is happening.
(these 3 are my sister’s dog by the way)
Barkley started resource guarding at 11 weeks over the water bowl. Archie and Cassie did not do anything in response but stand quietly. Over time, the items Barkley guards is growing and seemingly random. I think Barkley has learned to be “rough” and “bossy” with her. Adding to this, Barkley has never shown any play bows, he has always gone right into biting of the face or leg etc. (inappropriate). Cassie has never made a correction. Again, I think he learned this “play” is acceptable. Archie on the other hand, growled twice at him early on for “biting without warning” and inappropriate engagement. Barkley and Archie kept their distance with Archie ignoring (but tolerating) him until recently. These videos are their true interactions and sudden engagements. Recently, Archie has been splitting Cassie and Barkley on rare occasions and I think trying to “teach” him. He has actually been a little better with Cassie but… Another thing to add to this mix, Cassie will play all out with him outside but, inside she does not want to play with him at all and never has. He always ignores all her cut-off signals. Still, Cassie will not correct him or escalate the issue. We usually split them up after a minute or so if they do not do it themselves. We try to re-direct Barkley but he is relentless. So often they are separated when they can not be supervised. Cassie is the “target” more so then Archie.
Barkley at approx. 16 weeks tried this behavior with my Titan. Titan growled at him. Barkly, taken by surprise, retreated. From that day forward, Barkley has only shown appeasement to Titan when close. They do go on walks together: in fact, Titan gives Barkley the confidence he needs to go on a walks, otherwise Barkley still shows fear on walks alone (still working on that since she got him). Early this morning was the first time Barkley offered Titan a play bow- both dogs were on leash and my sister and I were in the yard, walking them together. I will use this now as a training opportunity!
I am thinking Barkley has genetic guarding and genetic fear/anxiety. His mom is a street dog from Puerto Rico and he was born on and removed from streets). He gets mental and physical stimulation, enrichment, alone time to sleep and decompress etc..
In conclusion, I think this is a learned behavior due to no corrections on Cassie’s part and no consistent other interactions from older well-socialized dogs. (He did go to puppy social class for 5 weeks starting at 10 weeks, so he had interactions with age appropriate puppies. He also was socialized by us going to Lowes, friends’ houses etc. keeping experiences neutral to positive). I think when he resource guards, that aggressive display reinforces this behavior by giving him confidence and that Cassie will not respond- that he is in control. We are still working on things so, I am hoping it will all come together as he gets older myself.
Any feedback, thoughts, ideas or questions are welcomed!
Thanks so much!
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Thanks for the backstory on this video, @Jenz ! Yet another reminder that there is soooo much that goes into behavior – genetics, pre-natal stress, neonatal experiences, nutrition, early socialization, learning, environment, trauma, and on and on. Social relationships are never simple, are they? I think Cassie’s tolerance speaks well of her character -and I agree that preventing her need to escalate is key. I wondered whether you think the slippery floors have anything to do with her reticence to play in the house? Or is it simply that “we don’t do that in here?”
In any case, it’s great to hear about Barkley’s deference and play bow with Titan! That’s a great move in the right direction. Do keep us posted on his development and progress!
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Thank you for these videos and back story of these pups. I also agree with you on Barkleys relationships with the other two. From these clips I see Cassie is a little more stiff then Archie when she plays with Barkley. She keeps her head firm and ears back , seems like she’s keeping her stance and moves forward when Barkley keeps being vocal/ play biting her face. Barkley is super vocal which can make the arousal level up depending on the other dogs movements as well. The first play seemed tense and might of escalated. When Barkley plays with Archie I noticed both dogs with looser movements and barely any vocals, making the play soft and calm. I also saw some freezing from Barkley in the beginning of his play time with Cassie, subtle but still there. Interesting to watch thank you !
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Great observations, @BelleSeren !
When Barkley plays with Archie I noticed both dogs with looser movements and barely any vocals, making the play soft and calm. I also saw some freezing from Barkley in the beginning of his play time with Cassie, subtle but still there.
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Thanks for your feedback and thoughts!
Your thought about the floors being slippery and ” we don’t do that here” are great thoughts. My observations are, she has never shown any fear on the floors. She has been and is willing to solicit play from Archie.
However, I can see how the smaller space and her not being able to run away from him could be the why “we don’t do that here” .
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