51.5k views
2 votes
2 puppies are playing. Puppy A bites too hard. Puppy B yelps and walks away. They begin playing again after a pause and puppy A is more careful. Puppy B__________

User Ekuusela
by
7.4k points

1 Answer

6 votes

Final answer:

The interaction between the two puppies is an example of socialization, where one puppy learns from the other's reaction to moderate its behavior, crucial for developing well-adjusted social skills.

Step-by-step explanation:

The scenario with the two puppies demonstrates a learning behavior known as socialization. Puppy A bites too hard, which results in Puppy B yelping and walking away. This interaction is a form of communication where Puppy B is essentially teaching Puppy A that the bite was too harsh. After a pause, they resume playing and this time Puppy A is more careful. This exchange is an example of how animals learn from one another what is acceptable behavior and what is not.

It is not a case of playing or fighting for dominance or over resources. Young animals, much like the lion cubs mentioned in the reference, often engage in play fighting to hone their skills for survival. For puppies, this behavior is crucial for learning bite inhibition and social cues from their peers, which prevents aggressive behavior in the future. This natural behavior is essential for puppies to grow into well-adjusted adult dogs. Without these interactions, like the LibreTexts™ reference suggests, a puppy may grow up with fear or aggression towards other dogs.

User Jeroen Moors
by
8.5k points