fighting
combat
either
defender
block access
target
attacker
gain access
target
Such combat
alsobeen
reported
noncanid species
mammals
during play
acts
submission
wouldexpect
triggered
behavior
overtly
aggressive
causes
detectable
discomfort
pain
performed
predominantly
partners
disadvantaged
being smaller
weaker
supine
position
willbe sustained
thereby
inhibiting
aggressionof the other animal. If, on the other hand, they are executed tacti-cally, for combat purposes, then they should (i) be triggered by anattack and (ii) serve to block it or (iii) lead to an immediate attack orcounter-attack. They are therefore either likely (iv) to be performedby either partner or (v) by the larger animal in the context of solicit-ing play. They will therefore (v) not inhibit the continuation of play.Finally, if used for playful solicitation, rather than inhibiting attack,rollovers should elicit playful attack by the nearby partner. To testthese predictions, we analyzed two sets of videotaped footage ofthe play bouts of adult dogs.