AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Aggression, or the expression of it, is so much more complicated than a lip curl or a paw placed on another dog’s back. In dog language, that lip curl is actually a signal of peace because the dog is hoping the other dog understands it wants to be left alone. The intention of that lip curl is not to create violence.

Detailed explanation-2: -A great question I get from clients regularly is: “His hackles went up. What does that mean?” When the hair on a dog’s back goes up (technically called piloerection), it’s usually a sign that the dog is aroused, fearful, startled, stimulated, or excited in some way.

Detailed explanation-3: -They may flick their tongue and often hold their tail low or between the legs. They may wag their tail but will often stop wagging or freeze when touched. These postures are often described as “appeasement” behaviors because they communicate a desire for the threat to stop and no desire for confrontation.

Detailed explanation-4: -What do Raised Hackles Mean? While it is common to associate raised hackles with aggression, there are other common causes. For instance, Farricelli writes that the most common causes for raised hackles are “…fear, arousal, surprise, insecurity, excitement, nervousness, or defensive behaviors” (Farricelli, 2018).