A short action-filled dog video for my friends and fellow dog lovers - featuring my wolf dog Lovec and his lively friend the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Ziva! Filmed at the Ski Slope "Teknikbacken" in Arboga, Sweden on April 27, 2017.
Lots of running, playing, nipping, and wrestling!
Czechoslovakian Wolf Dog Lovec "Quaggy II" Od Úhoště was born on January 28, 2014, and was 3 years and 3 months old in this video. Staffordshire Bull Terrier Ziva was 1 year and 3.5 months old in this video.
Note: When playing, dogs inhibit their bites and sometimes voluntarily give their play partner a competitive advantage by, for example, rolling on their backs or letting themselves be caught during a chase — behaviors that would never happen during real fighting. Lovec does this a lot since he's self-assured and mentally strong – he’s not interested in showing off or to play in a dominant manner.
In addition to inhibited bites, open mouth play, and self-handicapping — dogs clearly demarcate play by employing signals, such as play bows (putting the head and chest to the ground while keeping the rear half up) and exaggerated, bouncy movements.
These exaggerated pattern, suggests that playing dogs recognize moments when their behavior can be misinterpreted as aggression or fighting and compensate by reminding their play partner that, “I’m friendly, I'm playing.”
Play fighting is the primary method used to form new relationships and develop lasting friendships between dogs. Although play is mostly for fun, it also offers serious opportunities to communicate with another dog. In this sense, play is a kind of language.
Research suggests that animals play to help form social bonds, enhance cognitive development, exercise and/or practice coping skills for life’s unexpected situations. All of these benefits, if real, are important to our dogs.
There is no fighting in this video, only natural dog vs dog play (and play fighting).
Music:
"Earth Not A Globe" performed by Amber Plaster. Written and Produced by ODD TV.
"Nemesis" by Swedish Synth-pop/Future-pop band Ashbury Heights from their self-released CDr/EP Promo "Parliament Of Rooks" (2006).
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