Neotony
Neotony
means - the preservation
of the behavioral characteristics
of the young. When wolves
were first being domesticated,
humans unconsciously selected
dogs for breeding that were
playful, stayed close to the
human, and were easy to work
with. A wolf after puberty
is aggressive, uncooperative
and generally pretty nasty toward
people. The concept of neotony
explains how our pet dogs are
so much more fun to own than
real wolves.
How
We Are Like Dogs
Dogs
and people
show similar thoughts
and emotions.
Consider how you and your dog
respond to:
·
Food Treats
· Play
· Jealousy
· Fighting |
·
Safety
· Freedom
· Fun
· Fear |
·
Punishment
· Love
· Sex
· Friendship |
· Home
· Possessions
· Leadership |
How
We Are Different
|
People |
Dogs |
|
People
are Democratic |
Dogs
are Hierarchical |
|
People
use written and verbal communication |
Dogs
use Body Language |
| People
are bipedal without tails |
Dogs
are quadrapedal with tails |
Unusual
Behaviors Reflect The Species
Point Of View
Rolling in filth seems unthinkable
to humans. However, to dogs
it might mean:
-
A
means of Deception
(e.g., in hunting, covering
one's own scent)
-
A way to spread the News
(to those back at camp)
-
A form of scent Overindulgence
(perfume in the nose
of the beholder)
|
The
irony is that we humans unintentionally
fall right into subordinate
behavior, and give the dog the
incorrect message that the dog is
the leader and we are the follower.
|
Pack
Theory: Using The Wolf As Model
For Dog Pack Instinct 
The
"Pack Theory" is
referred to as a theory in the
same way as the "Theory
of Relativity" is a theory. All recognized behaviorists
agree that dogs are descendants
of wolves. It follows that studying wolves in their natural
setting helps us gain
some insight into
the instinctive portion of the
canine psyche.
Dogs have NOT retained all wolf
instincts.
The
Genetic Origin Of Dog Breeds
When
we call an animal a Working
Dog, it means
a specific behavior has been
selected from basic wolf instinct
to perform some task(s) for the
human leader.
Note
that in each case, through selective
breeding, only one characteristic
from the original pack behavior
is selected, and the instinct
to
kill the prey is
always avoided:
| Bloodhound |
Leads
the hunt by smell. |
Shepherd
|
Herds
by trying to
fan out in a circle and
direct the prey's
movements. |
| Sight
Hound |
Leads
the hunt by sight. |
Retriever |
Brings the food back to
camp. |
| Pointer |
Selects
a specific target. |
Terrier |
Digs
up prey escaping underground. |
| Setter |
Selects
a specific target. |
Pet |
Wants
to share the favored sleeping
spot, and follow the owner
(leader). |
Pack or Group
Leadership
One
of the most important concepts
in "Pack Theory" is "Pack Leadership".
If a pet dog gets the idea he
or she is the leader, it often
leads to behavior problems
because they are then conflicted
when we don't always allow it.
Here are some criteria to identify
the leader in a pack based on
observation of a wolf pack.
|
The
Leader |
The
Follower/Subordinate |
- Leads
others out to hunt.
- Selects
a specific target.
-
Eats first, choicest
parts of the kill.
-
Chooses favored sleeping
spot, where others sleep
nearby.
-
Controls and allows
grooming (and breeding)
|
-
Follows leader to hunt.
-
When prey is selected
by the leader, joins
other followers by fanning
out to circle the prey.
-
After the kill, gives
up choice food to leader,
then eats when permitted.
-
May carry food not consumed
at the site back to
camp (for puppies or
to eat later).
-
Grooms leader more than
the reverse.
|
Making
A Pet Dog
Status Aggressive
(VERY RARE)
With some
dogs if
we unintentionally tell the
dog we are a subordinate follower
(lower in status), the dog may
assume the leader position in
the family. In this situation,
it becomes the dog's "job"
to threaten or
control (bite)
lower pack members (family)
who might act in what the dog
considers an insubordinate way,
such as moving the dog off the
couch, hugging or kissing the
dog. This
is a dog who does not show
fear, or submissive body
language. It is a very
confident dog and it typically
doesn't present until 12-18
months of age.
|
Dogs
show abnormal behaviors as a
result of stress, as every creature
does. Overeating or not
eating, inappropriate urination
or defecation, aggression, etc.,
are often
stress-related. |
(For these
dogs) Humans
Unintentionally
Allowed Control
...
- Permit
dog to lead on walks and through
doors. (Leaders lead!)
-
Give up our food (either from
the dog food bag or worse,
from our plate).
-
Allow the dog up on our favored
resting spots, yet rarely
take over the dog bed.
- Pick
up the feces while he watches.
-
Follow orders such as, "Let
me out. Let me in. Pet me
now. Etc."
-
Allow dog to intentionally
block pathways, causing us
to move around dog
(who gives in?)
-
Freely and/or excessively
praise and stroke (subordinates
groom higher status dogs).
-
Play tug-of-war and allow
dog to win (leader controls
favored items).
Depending
on genetic tendency
("predisposition") ,
some dogs are more likely than others
to try to assume leader role,
causing
Status Related
Aggression . This
is most common in dogs bred
to be "guard dogs",
even so it is very rare.
If
this happens, it can be gradually
undone by following leadership
exercises which demonstrate
to the dog that the human is
the leader. For
example, the dog must sit or
lay down before dinner, or attention,
or coming inside, walks, etc.
|
The essence of leadership is
controlling the valuable
resources, and only allowing
access to those resources in
exchange for deference. |
Dog
Play Body Language 
Dogs
use a variety of body language
signals to display playfulness.
An individual dog may show any
combination of these play signals:
-
Play Bow
- slapping both front legs
on the ground with the rump
up in the air.
-
Exaggerated Looking
Away -
focusing on you while pretending
to look away
-
Raised Front Paw
- the solicitation
gesture that roughly means "Please."
-
Prancing SIG And Zag Leaps
- lots of energy and joy.
-
Chase Behavior
- canine equivalent of starting
a tag game
-
Play Facial Expression
- distinct once you start
looking for it.
-
Frequent Role
Reversal -
Pushy
dogs act submissive to signal
non-threatening play
