"Cave Canem" — "Beware of Dog!" warns an ancient floor mosaic of Pompeii (ca 100 AD), with an image of a bloodthirsty guard beast intended to scare off any would-be interlopers with the threat of extreme bodily harm. But let us hope that no invaders were fluent in dog language, because to me, this Pompeiian pup is clearly in play bow pose. He wants to frolic! "The classic play bow is the dog's invitation to play. The dog's tail and butt is in the air, and the front legs are lowered. The dog's ears are up and forward, his mouth is open in a "grin", and his eyes are relaxed." Barring rolling over and exposing the belly, there's no clearer signal that a dog is a non-threatening mode than the play bow... and unlike the submissive pose, it proposes mutually enjoyable social interaction and fun times. So strong is this body language that at least one trainer has hit upon the idea to actually train the play bow specifically as a way to ease socialization with new dogs or places, which is quite interesting. Here's a video of an owner teaching her toy Manchester Terrier to perform a play bow with clicker training:See inside for a visual comparison between Cave Canem dog and a contemporary fun seeker...
So, what do you think? How do we say "Beware! Playful doggies on premises!" in Latin?
Of course, showing teeth is generally considered threatening, but I know part of my dog's teeth do show when she "smiles," which she does when she initiates play -- similar to the dog in the photo above right.
Of course, showing teeth is generally considered threatening, but I know part of my dog's teeth do show when she "smiles," which she does when she initiates play -- similar to the dog in the photo above right.
