When it comes to dogs playing, mimicking each other’s signals would mean that they are ready to play with each other. This kind of behavior has been observed in species-specific play like cats playing with cats. But is the same behavior demonstrated when it comes to different species playing with each other, like dogs playing with horses? Apparently it is, according to a study published in the journal Behavioural Process. Horses were shown to be mimicking dogs when playing with them.
Playing between humans and dogs has been the main interspecies play focus up until now, but researchers at the University of Pisa decided to examine how play occurred between horses and dogs. Looking at 20 videos of dog-horse social play, the team identified play behaviors that were exhibited by both species and those that were species-specific. They found that the playful tactics between the two species, such as mixing up movements and self-handicapping, were quite well balanced between the two animals.
More details about this over at IFL Science.
(Video Credit: Robert Bostick/ YouTube)