Dominance in domestic dogs: a quantitative analysis of its behavioural measures

摘要: A dominance hierarchy is an important feature of the social organisation group living animals. Although formal and/or agonistic has been found in captive wolves and free-ranging dogs, applicability concept domestic dogs highly debated, quantitative data are scarce. Therefore, we investigated 7 body postures 24 behaviours a for their suitability as status indicators. The results showed that high posture, displayed most dyadic relationships, muzzle bite, exclusively by highest ranking qualified best submission indicator was tail wag, covering two low postures, two-thirds relationships. In addition, both mouth lick, included Schenkel's active submission, pass under head indicators but were shown almost towards dogs. Furthermore, assessment based on changes posture displays, i.e., lowering (LoP) into half-low, low, low-on-back or on-back, relationships it good coverage (91% dyads), nearly linear (h' = 0.94, p<0.003) strong unidirectionality (DCI 0.97). associated steepness 0.79 (p<0.0001) indicated tolerant style this dog group. No significant correlations rank with age weight found. Strong co-variation between LoP, wag justified use intervening variable. Our line previous findings linearity not aggression. They indicate ethogram redefined distinguishing from behavioural activities. insight hierarchies its will be helpful properly interpreting dog-dog diagnosing problem behaviour