Up next in 10
Watching two dogs interact can be confusing or even awkward for pet owners. To understand the dog mating behavior helps you know what is normal and what is not.
This episode explains the natural steps dogs take during courtship and mating. You will also learn simple ways to keep your pets safe and calm during this time.
This piece also explains the common mating habits of dogs, focusing on the “flirting” and courtship rituals between males and females. It details how female dogs in heat release scents and act playful to attract a partner, while males become focused, possessive, and sometimes aggressive.
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:00
Welcome to another episode of the Bark
0:01
Brigade podcast by Dogazilla magazine.
0:05
Today we will talk about important topic
0:07
and offer you a guide to help all
0:08
families that owns a dog or other pet.
0:11
>> Thank you. I'm really excited to get
0:12
into this because wow, it's such a
0:14
complex area.
0:15
>> It really is. I mean, imagine just for a
0:17
second picking up a scent on the wind
0:19
from like three miles away.
0:21
>> Oh wow. Yeah.
0:22
>> And imagine that this smell is so
0:24
incredibly powerful that it instantly
0:26
rewrites your brain's operating system.
0:29
you completely forget to eat, you know,
0:31
or sleep or even protect yourself,
0:33
>> right? It just takes over completely.
0:34
>> Exactly. And that is the reality of the
0:36
canine mating bribe. So, today we are
0:40
doing a deep dive into the deeply
0:42
instinctual chemical and behavioral
0:44
world of dog courtship rituals,
0:47
>> which is a world that operates on a
0:48
frequency that is just um completely
0:51
alien to our own human experience.
0:53
>> Yeah, we really don't experience
0:54
anything like it. We don't. We look at
0:56
our dogs and because they, you know,
0:58
sleep on our couches and eat from bowls
1:00
in our kitchens, we assume we understand
1:02
their motivations,
1:02
>> right? We see them wag their tails. We
1:04
see them play.
1:05
>> Exactly.
1:06
>> But when reproductive instincts take
1:08
over, there's this entirely hidden layer
1:11
of communication that awakens and it is
1:15
happening right under our noses.
1:17
>> Which is exactly why we are framing this
1:19
deep dive directly for you, the
1:20
listener. Because whether you are a
1:22
responsible dog breeder trying to ensure
1:25
the absolute safest breeding practices
1:27
in like a a multi-dog facility
1:29
>> or even just a dedicated owner.
1:31
>> Yes. An owner who needs to monitor your
1:33
pet's health and maintain a secure
1:35
environment at the local park. You have
1:37
to understand these rituals.
1:38
>> You really do because misinterpreting
1:40
these signals is not just a matter of
1:43
harmless confusion, you know.
1:45
>> No, it can lead to some really bad
1:46
outcomes.
1:47
>> It can lead to extreme psychological
1:48
stress for the animals. Yeah. or severe
1:50
health issues and highly dangerous
1:53
aggressive situations.
1:55
>> It requires a shift, right, from simply
1:57
watching your dogs to actually
1:58
translating their physical and well
2:00
chemical vocabulary.
2:01
>> Precisely. Because mating behavior is
2:03
not merely the physical act itself. It's
2:05
not that simple. It is a highly
2:07
elaborate, intensely negotiated
2:09
sequence. It involves invisible chemical
2:12
alerts, physical posturing, dominance
2:15
displays, and um biological auditing.
2:19
>> Biological auditing, I like that term.
2:21
And if you are managing a kennel,
2:23
understanding the sequence step by step
2:25
is completely non-negotiable for the
2:27
physical and mental well-being of your
2:29
pack.
2:30
>> Absolutely non-negotiable.
2:31
>> So, our mission for this deep dive is to
2:33
decode that canine language of love. We
2:36
are going to explore the biological
2:38
mechanics of the chemical signals that
2:40
kickstart the process.
2:41
>> The physical displays of strength and
2:42
affection, too.
2:43
>> Yeah. And those subtle behavioral shifts
2:45
that act as red flags. By the time we
2:47
finish, you will be equipped to
2:49
definitively distinguish between normal
2:51
friendly social play, actual instinct
2:54
driven mating behaviors, and you know,
2:56
the kind of competition that can tear a
2:58
kennel apart. And making that
2:59
distinction is so critical because to
3:01
the untrained human eye, a friendly game
3:03
of tag and a highstakes testosterone
3:05
fueled courtship ritual could look
3:07
surprisingly similar.
3:08
>> Oh, for sure. The vocabulary of play and
3:10
the vocabulary of mating overlap in ways
3:12
that frequently confuse owners.
3:14
>> They do.
3:15
>> Mhm.
3:15
>> But to the dogs involved, the context is
3:18
everything and the stakes quite
3:21
literally dictate their genetic future.
3:24
>> Let's start at the absolute beginning
3:26
then. Before there is any physical
3:28
flirting, before a single tail wags or a
3:31
playbo is offered, the courtship process
3:33
actually begins with a completely
3:35
invisible language.
3:37
>> A chemical language,
3:38
>> right? To understand this, we have to
3:39
look at how dogs communicate their
3:41
readiness from a distance. It is all
3:43
driven by pherommones and scent marking.
3:45
>> It is. Yeah.
3:46
>> But I really want to dig into the
3:47
biology here. When a female dog goes
3:50
into heat, what is actually happening on
3:52
a chemical level? Well, it is a massive
3:54
physiological transformation. As she
3:56
enters the proestrus and estrus phases
3:58
of her cycle, her endocrine system
4:00
orchestrates this huge surge of hormone,
4:03
>> namely estrogen. Right.
4:04
>> Yes. Particularly estrogen and then
4:06
followed by a rise in progesterone. And
4:08
this hormonal shift changes her entire
4:10
body chemistry.
4:11
>> Wow.
4:11
>> She begins to synthesize and release
4:14
specific highly volatile chemical
4:16
compounds. Those are the pherommones.
4:18
And these aren't just pleasant scents.
4:19
>> No, they're active signals.
4:21
>> Exactly. They're are complex chemical
4:23
messengers and they're designed to
4:25
trigger a specific unlearned behavioral
4:28
response in another member of the same
4:30
species.
4:31
>> And these pherommones are heavily
4:33
concentrated in her urine, right, and
4:35
vaginal secretions. So, she is actively
4:38
leaving a chemical broadcast out in the
4:40
world wherever she goes.
4:42
>> She is essentially painting the
4:43
environment with her reproductive
4:45
status. But what is truly extraordinary
4:48
is the male dog's equipment for reading
4:50
this broadcast.
4:51
>> Because it's not normal smelling, is it?
4:53
>> Not at all. We often talk about how
4:55
great a dog's sense of smell is, but for
4:57
pherommones, they actually use an
4:59
entirely different biological system.
5:00
It's called the vomal organ
5:02
>> or the Jacobson's organ, right?
5:04
>> Yes. Exactly.
5:04
>> Wait, so they aren't smelling these
5:06
pherommones the same way they smell,
5:07
like a piece of bacon dropping on the
5:09
floor.
5:09
>> Now, completely different mechanism.
5:11
When a male dog smells bacon, the scent
5:13
molecules hit the olfactory receptors in
5:15
the nasal cavity and the signal goes
5:18
straight to the olfactory cortex
5:19
>> where the brain identifies it as food.
5:22
>> Right? But pherommones are heavy
5:24
moisture-born molecules. When a male
5:27
encounters them, he uses a specific
5:29
breathing technique. You'll often see
5:32
this characterized by chattering teeth
5:34
or rapid shallow panting.
5:35
>> Oh, I've seen that. They look almost
5:36
like they're shivering their jaw.
5:38
>> Yes, that's it. That motion pulls those
5:41
heavy molecules up through a tiny duct
5:43
located just behind his incizers on the
5:45
roof of his mouth.
5:46
>> Wow. So it goes through the mouth, not
5:48
just the nose.
5:49
>> Exactly. This directs the phmones
5:51
straight into the vomo nasal organ.
5:53
>> And this organ is wired differently in
5:55
the brain, right? I read that it
5:57
bypasses a lot of the standard
5:59
processing
6:00
>> completely differently. The Jacobson's
6:02
organ bypasses the cognitive thinking
6:04
part of the brain almost entirely.
6:06
>> That's incredible. It is wired directly
6:08
into the amydala and the hypothalamus.
6:10
Those are the ancient deep brain centers
6:11
that control raw emotion, aggression,
6:14
and sexual behavior.
6:15
>> So that explains why the male's reaction
6:17
is so immediate and involuntary. He
6:20
doesn't smell the pheromone and you know
6:21
think about his response,
6:22
>> right? There is no conscious thought
6:24
process going on.
6:25
>> The chemical physically throws a switch
6:27
in his nervous system
6:28
>> which totally explains the intense
6:30
physical reactions you see. It's not
6:32
just a wagging tail. His body
6:35
mechanically prepares for pursuit. You
6:37
actually see his nostrils visibly flare.
6:40
>> Yes, the nostril flaring is key. By
6:43
flaring, he is changing the aerodynamics
6:45
of his nose
6:46
>> to funnel as many of those heavy
6:48
molecules into his system as possible.
6:50
>> This is a mechanical optimization. Yeah.
6:52
And alongside the flared nostrils, you
6:54
will see his pupils dilate massively.
6:57
>> Oh, wow. Really?
6:58
>> Oh, yeah. Pupil dilation is a classic
7:00
sign of the sympathetic nervous system
7:02
kicking into high gear. the fight
7:04
orflight or in this case the
7:05
reproductive drive response.
7:07
>> So his whole body goes on alert.
7:09
>> His heart rate elevates, his blood
7:10
pressure changes and his resting state
7:12
is entirely shattered. He is now in a
7:14
state of intense hyperfocused arousal.
7:17
>> I want to look at how this plays out
7:18
geographically because this is where it
7:20
gets crazy. If a male can detect these
7:23
specific phommones from incredible
7:25
distances, we aren't just talking about
7:27
a dog sniffing a patch of grass in his
7:29
own backyard.
7:30
>> No, we are not. We are talking about
7:32
scent molecules carried on the wind from
7:34
miles away. I mean, it's basically like
7:36
an invisible neighborhoodwide group text
7:38
alert that just completely hijacks every
7:41
male dog's attention. It overrides all
7:43
other software in their brains.
7:45
>> That is a perfect analogy. The
7:47
sensitivity is just staggering. A male
7:49
dog's vomal system can detect these
7:52
pherommones in parts per trillion.
7:55
>> Parts per trillion. That is hard to even
7:56
fathom.
7:57
>> It is. If the wind is right, a male dog
8:00
can easily be alerted to a female in
8:02
heat several miles away. And once that
8:04
alert hits his amydala, he begins
8:06
communicating back.
8:07
>> He doesn't just passively track the
8:08
scent.
8:09
>> No, he actively engages in scent
8:10
marking.
8:11
>> He starts urinating on vertical objects
8:13
to mark his territory. But wait, if the
8:14
female is miles away, who is he talking
8:16
to with this urine?
8:17
>> He is talking to his local competition.
8:19
>> Ah, the other males.
8:21
>> Exactly. Scent marking is a highly
8:24
complex layered communication system.
8:27
By lifting his leg and urinating as high
8:29
as possible on a tree or a fence post,
8:32
he's doing two things.
8:33
>> Getting it up in the air,
8:34
>> right? First, placing the scent higher
8:37
up allows the wind to catch it and carry
8:39
his own chemical signature further.
8:41
Second, he is broadcasting his own
8:43
availability and dominance to any other
8:46
males in the vicinity.
8:47
>> So, he's saying, "I'm here. Back off."
8:50
>> Basically, yes, he is laying down a
8:52
chemical perimeter that says, "I am
8:54
here. I am pursuing the scent and I am
8:56
claiming this territory.
8:57
>> If we translate this incredible
8:59
long-distance chemical hijacking to a
9:01
modern breeders facility, the
9:03
implications are massive for you guys
9:05
listening. Let's look at a day in the
9:07
life of a kennel manager. If you have a
9:09
state-of-the-art facility with, say,
9:11
five intact males in one wing and a
9:13
female goes into a heat cycle in another
9:15
wing, simply putting a solid door
9:17
between them isn't going to do anything,
9:18
is it?
9:18
>> A solid door is completely useless
9:20
against volatile organic compounds.
9:22
>> That makes sense. If you are not
9:24
actively managing the air flow, those
9:26
pherommones will travel through the HVAC
9:29
system, slip under door gaps, and
9:31
completely saturate the male wing of the
9:34
kennel.
9:34
>> And because the vomasal organ triggers
9:36
an involuntary hormonal cascade, you're
9:39
going to have five male dogs whose
9:41
brains are screaming at them to pursue a
9:44
female they cannot reach.
9:46
>> And that leads to the behavioral
9:47
overrides we see. The drive is so strong
9:49
that they literally forget basic
9:51
survival functions
9:52
>> like eating. They just stop eating.
9:54
>> They will completely refuse food. They
9:56
will pace their enclosures obsessively.
9:59
Sometimes to the point of wearing their
10:00
paw pads raw.
10:01
>> Oh, that's terrible.
10:03
>> It is. They won't sleep. The ambient
10:05
cortisol and adrenaline levels in that
10:07
room will skyrocket. This isn't just an
10:09
annoyance for the breeder. It is a
10:11
profound animal welfare issue
10:13
>> because they're under so much physical
10:14
stress.
10:15
>> Exactly. A male dog locked in that state
10:17
of frustrated drive will drop weight.
10:19
His immune system will be compromised
10:21
from lack of sleep and the frustration
10:23
frequently boils over into displaced
10:25
aggression toward the other males in the
10:26
room.
10:27
>> So, as a responsible breeder, you have
10:30
to engineer your facility almost like a
10:32
clean room. You need to understand
10:34
negative and positive air pressure.
10:36
>> Yes, HVAC management is crucial. You
10:39
need to ensure the exhaust from the
10:41
female's quarantine area is expelled
10:43
completely outside and downwind from the
10:45
male enclosures.
10:46
>> You also have to manage yourself. This
10:48
is a big one. Breeders can easily become
10:50
fomites.
10:51
>> Foommites meaning objects that carry the
10:53
scent.
10:54
>> Exactly. If you go into the female's run
10:56
to check on her, pet her, and then walk
10:58
directly into the male kennel wearing
10:59
the same boots in the same jacket, you
11:02
have just walked a concentrated dose of
11:04
pherommones right into their living
11:06
space.
11:06
>> You essentially became the group text
11:08
alert. You did. You have to change
11:10
clothes, wash your hands, and use foot
11:12
baths. Managing the invisible
11:14
architecture of scent is the first and
11:16
most critical line of defense in kennel
11:18
management.
11:19
>> That is fascinating. Okay, so let's
11:21
assume the breeder is managing the
11:23
environment perfectly or we are looking
11:26
at a controlled intentional mating
11:28
scenario. The male has picked up the
11:30
chemical signal. He has followed the
11:32
trail and he is now physically in the
11:34
presence of the female. The invisible
11:36
language has done its job.
11:37
>> Right.
11:38
>> Now we transition to the physical
11:39
flirtation
11:41
because the female has to confirm she is
11:43
actually ready. Right.
11:44
>> Exactly. The firommones act as the wide
11:47
broadcast invitation. But the physical
11:49
body language is the localized
11:51
confirmation. Just because a female
11:53
smells like she is in heat does not mean
11:55
she is biologically ready to accept a
11:57
male.
11:57
>> Wait, really? The smell doesn't mean
11:59
she's ready right that second?
12:00
>> No, not at all. The heat cycle has
12:02
distinct phases, and she will
12:04
aggressively reject a male if he
12:07
approaches during the proestrus phase
12:08
before she's actually ovulating,
12:10
>> which means she has to display very
12:12
specific physical flirting behaviors to
12:14
signal that she has entered estrus and
12:15
is, you know, receptive. Let's break
12:17
down those mechanics. The most
12:18
definitive sign is when she exposes and
12:21
raises her rear toward the male and
12:22
moves her tail completely out of the
12:24
way.
12:24
>> In veterinarian breeding terms, this is
12:26
called flagging.
12:27
>> Flagging. Got it. It is a very
12:29
deliberate mechanical postural shift.
12:32
She will stand firm, brace her hind legs
12:35
to support the weight of the male, arch
12:37
her back slightly, and rigidly pull her
12:40
tail to one side.
12:40
>> Oh, so she's physically locking into
12:42
place.
12:43
>> Yes. This exposes the vulva and provides
12:46
clear, unobstructed access. It is the
12:49
ultimate green light. But usually there
12:51
is a whole sequence of social posturing
12:53
that happens before she flags,
12:55
>> right? Like playbows. She will use
12:56
playbows to engage him. She will drop
12:58
her front elbows to the ground, keep her
13:00
rear end high, and stare at him.
13:02
>> And that direct eye contact is a vital
13:04
piece of the puzzle. In normal everyday
13:07
dog communication, prolonged direct eye
13:09
contact is often perceived as a
13:10
challenge. Right.
13:11
>> Yeah. A threat or a sign of dominance.
13:13
It can easily trigger a fight.
13:14
>> Exactly. But in the context of
13:16
courtship, coupled with the relaxed,
13:18
lowheld head and a sweeping tail wag,
13:21
that intense eye contact becomes a tool
13:23
of engagement. She is holding his
13:25
attention, assessing his confidence, and
13:27
drawing him in.
13:28
>> And if his attention wanders, she might
13:30
even use vocalizations, right? Like
13:32
whining, crying, or sharp little barks
13:34
to pull his focus back to her.
13:36
>> She will. Yes.
13:37
>> But there is another behavior that is
13:39
incredibly important for breeders and
13:41
owners to monitor, and that is excessive
13:43
genital licking. During a heat cycle,
13:46
the female will groom her private areas
13:48
intensely.
13:49
>> She will, and it's a very noticeable
13:51
behavior shift. Now, I want to ask a
13:53
biological question here. If the whole
13:55
point of her being in heat is to
13:56
broadcast those pherommones to attract a
13:59
mate, why would she obsessively lick
14:01
away the very discharge that contains
14:03
the chemical signal? Doesn't that kind
14:05
of defeat the purpose?
14:07
>> That is a brilliant question and it
14:08
speaks to how complex this behavior
14:10
really is. When she is licking, she is
14:13
not actually removing the scent to hide
14:15
it. She's doing two things.
14:16
>> Okay, what's the first?
14:17
>> First, she is spreading the discharge
14:19
across the fur of her hind quarters. M
14:21
>> by moving the fluid from a concentrated
14:23
source and spreading it over a larger
14:25
surface area of hair, she is actually
14:28
increasing the rate of evaporation.
14:29
>> Oh wow.
14:30
>> Which pushes more of the volatile
14:31
pherommones into the air. She is
14:34
amplifying the broadcast.
14:35
>> Oh, that makes perfect sense. It's like
14:37
spreading perfume on your wrists and
14:38
neck rather than just leaving it in the
14:40
bottle.
14:40
>> Exactly. It maximizes the surface area.
14:43
>> Yeah.
14:43
>> The second reason is purely
14:44
physiological. The hormonal surge causes
14:48
a massive increase in blood flow to the
14:50
vulva leading to significant swelling,
14:53
tissue engorgment, and stretching,
14:55
>> which sounds painful or at least
14:56
uncomfortable.
14:57
>> It is highly uncomfortable. It causes
15:00
localized itching and a feeling of
15:01
pressure. The licking is a mechanical
15:03
way to relieve that discomfort.
15:05
>> And there's a psychological layer to
15:06
this as well, isn't there? Because going
15:08
into heat is a stressful, chaotic time
15:11
for a dog's body.
15:12
>> It is incredibly stressful. Her hormones
15:15
are fluctuating wildly. The repetitive
15:17
rhythmic motion of grooming acts as a
15:19
profound self soothing mechanism.
15:21
>> Like a nervous habit almost.
15:23
>> Exactly. The physical act of licking
15:25
stimulates the release of endorphins,
15:27
the body's natural painkillers and mood
15:29
elevators in her brain. It helps lower
15:32
her anxiety and brings her baseline
15:33
stress levels down.
15:35
>> But this natural soothing behavior is
15:37
precisely where we have to issue a
15:38
massive health warning for owners and
15:41
breeders. Because while some licking is
15:43
hygienic and soothing, excessive licking
15:46
is a major glaring red flag.
15:48
>> It is one of the biggest warning signs
15:50
you can look for.
15:50
>> And telling the difference between a dog
15:52
who is just keeping herself clean and a
15:54
dog who is signaling a serious
15:56
potentially life-threatening medical
15:58
issue requires serious observation.
16:01
So, let me ask you this.
16:03
If every dog has its own style and some
16:06
females skip the obvious flirting
16:08
entirely, how does a breeder objectively
16:10
tell the difference between a dog just
16:12
keeping herself clean and a dog
16:14
signaling a serious medical issue like a
16:16
UTI?
16:17
>> That is the million-dollar question, and
16:19
this is where a breeder's experience and
16:20
documentation come into play.
16:22
>> A female in heat is highly susceptible
16:24
to infections because the cervix is
16:26
open, allowing bacteria from the
16:28
environment to enter the reproductive
16:29
tract.
16:29
>> Right? Excessive frantic licking is
16:32
often the first and only symptom of a
16:34
urinary tract infection or a UTI or
16:36
vaginitis.
16:37
>> And if left untreated, that bacteria can
16:40
travel up into the uterus and cause
16:41
pyometra, which is a life-threatening
16:43
emergency. So, how do we define
16:46
excessive? If I'm watching my dog, what
16:49
is the boundary line between normal
16:50
hygiene and a medical crisis?
16:52
>> The boundary line is defined by the
16:54
disruption of normal life patterns.
16:56
Normal hygienic licking is episodic.
16:59
What do you mean by episodic?
17:00
>> A female will clean herself after she
17:03
urinates or after she wakes up from a
17:05
nap. It's a clear beginning and end.
17:07
Once she is clean, she will go back to
17:09
sleeping. She will eat her food or she
17:11
will engage with you.
17:12
>> It's a chore on her to-do list and she
17:14
checks it off.
17:14
>> Exactly. Pathological licking driven by
17:17
a UTI or vaginitis is frantic and
17:20
unrelenting. The dog is not trying to
17:21
clean herself. She's desperately trying
17:23
to alleviate the sensation of burning,
17:25
sharp pain, or severe irritation.
17:27
>> So, it interrupts her day. Yes, if she's
17:29
interrupting her meals to lick, if she
17:32
cannot sleep because she is constantly
17:33
waking up to groom, or if she is walking
17:35
a few steps suddenly sitting down to
17:37
lick and repeating this over and over,
17:39
you've crossed into a medical emergency.
17:41
>> You also have to look at the physical
17:43
tissue, right? If she is licking so
17:45
aggressively that the area becomes raw
17:47
or angry red,
17:48
>> yes, visual inspection is key, right?
17:50
>> Or if there is a sudden foul smelling
17:53
odor that is distinctly different from
17:55
the normal metallic scent of a heat
17:57
cycle. If you notice any of that, you
17:59
need to get to a vet immediately.
18:01
>> And isn't there also a risk of something
18:03
like OCD?
18:04
>> There is. Yes. Obsessivecompulsive
18:07
disorder can occur where the anxiety of
18:09
the heat cycle causes the dog to
18:10
hyperfixate on grooming until she
18:13
creates open sores known as hot spots.
18:15
>> And the vets's role here is critical. A
18:17
breeder cannot diagnose a UTI just by
18:19
looking at the dog. The vet will need to
18:21
perform a urinalysis or a swab to check
18:23
for elevated white blood cells and
18:26
specific bacteria. Absolutely.
18:27
>> And if the vet clears the dog of
18:29
infection and determines the licking is
18:31
purely behavioral or a mild localized
18:34
irritation, they might recommend
18:36
strategies to break the compulsive
18:37
cycle. Things like vet approved
18:39
deterrent sprays or bitter substances.
18:42
But you have to be incredibly careful
18:43
with those, right? You can't just spray
18:45
chemicals on sensitive swollen tissue.
18:47
>> Absolutely not. You never apply a
18:50
deterrent spray directly to the mucosal
18:52
tissue of the vulva. It will burn, cause
18:55
excruciating pain, and make the
18:57
inflammation infinitely worse.
18:59
>> That sounds awful.
19:00
>> It is. If recommended by a vet, these
19:02
bitter substances are applied to the fur
19:05
around the area to create an unpleasant
19:07
taste barrier. It discourages the tongue
19:10
without irritating the sensitive
19:11
anatomy. But again, this is only after a
19:14
vet has absolutely ruled out an
19:15
infection.
19:16
>> Right? Safety first. Okay, so let's
19:18
shift our focus back to the courtship.
19:20
The female has signaled she is healthy
19:22
and receptive. The pherommones are in
19:24
the air. The flagging has occurred. Now
19:26
the male has to step up. And this is
19:29
fascinating because it is not just a
19:30
chaotic free-for-all.
19:31
>> No, it's very structured.
19:32
>> There is an elaborate, deeply ingrained
19:34
set of like gentlemanly rituals the male
19:37
must perform to prove he is a whly mate.
19:39
>> The male's approach is highly ritualized
19:41
because he has to carefully navigate the
19:43
female's defenses. Even if she is
19:46
receptive, a clumsy, overly aggressive,
19:48
or startling approach can cause her to
19:50
snap, bite, and reject him instantly. So
19:53
he begins with a baseline of polite
19:55
posturing. He will approach with his
19:57
head slightly lowered, right?
19:59
>> Yes. Lowering the head is a universal
20:02
mamlian appeasement signal. He is making
20:04
himself look smaller and communicating,
20:06
"I am not a threat. I am not here to
20:08
challenge you for dominance."
20:10
>> And his tail will be wagging, but it's
20:11
often a very specific wag, like a stiff,
20:14
fast cadence that indicates high
20:16
arousal, but cautious optimism.
20:18
>> Right? It's not a relaxed, sweeping wag.
20:21
It's very focused and he will make
20:23
vocalizations but not loud barks, low
20:26
rhythmic sounds, grumbles, soft whines,
20:29
almost like a humming sound.
20:30
>> It's almost cute.
20:31
>> It is. These low vocalizations are
20:33
pacifying. They're meant to keep the
20:35
female calm as he closes the distance.
20:37
And once he is close, he performs the
20:39
ultimate verification step,
20:40
>> which is
20:41
>> a meticulous close quarters olfactory
20:43
inspection of her private area.
20:45
>> Now, wait a minute. We just spent a
20:46
massive amount of time talking about how
20:48
his vulmerasal organ can detect her
20:50
pherommones from miles away. Why does he
20:52
need to bury his nose in her hind
20:53
quarters to verify anything? Doesn't he
20:55
already know?
20:56
>> He knows a female is in heat in the
20:57
vicinity, but he needs to verify the
21:01
concentration gradient.
21:02
>> The concentration gradient.
21:03
>> Yes, the pherommones are strongest
21:05
directly at the source. By sniffing her
21:08
directly, he is confirming that this
21:11
specific female is the one emitting the
21:13
signal and he is assessing the exact
21:16
microscopic chemical breakdown of her
21:18
discharge to ensure she has fully
21:20
entered the ovulatory phase of estrus.
21:22
>> Oh,
21:23
>> there's a difference between smelling a
21:24
bakery from down the street and actually
21:26
looking into the oven to see if the
21:28
bread is baked.
21:28
>> Oh, that is a great way to put it. That
21:30
makes perfect sense. Now, not all of his
21:32
vocalizations are soft grumbles. When he
21:34
is not right next to her, he uses a
21:36
completely different acoustic strategy.
21:38
Howling. He will sing these canine love
21:41
songs to the wind.
21:42
>> Howling serves a dual evolutionary
21:44
purpose in courtship. First, it is a
21:46
display of vitality. A deep, resonant,
21:48
sustained howl requires immense lung
21:51
capacity, chest strength, and energy.
21:53
>> So, he's showing off
21:54
>> basically.
21:55
>> He is essentially broadcasting his
21:56
physical fitness to the female over long
21:58
distances. Listen to the power of my
22:00
lungs. I am strong. But he is also
22:03
talking to the competition again, isn't
22:05
he?
22:05
>> He absolutely is. The howl acts as an
22:07
auditory fence. He is laying claim to
22:10
the female and warning other males in
22:12
the territory.
22:13
>> It is a long-distance threat that says,
22:15
"A dominant suitor is already here. If
22:17
you approach, you will have to deal with
22:19
me."
22:20
>> It's a way to handle things without
22:21
actually fighting.
22:22
>> Exactly. It is a way to intimidate
22:24
rivals without having to expend the
22:26
energy of a physical fight. Speaking of
22:28
energy, this next behavior completely
22:30
blew my mind when I read the source
22:32
material. Courtship feeding.
22:34
>> Ah, yes.
22:35
>> We all know that dogs are instinctively
22:37
resource guarders. They protect their
22:38
food. But a male dog in the throws of
22:41
courtship will actively bring food to
22:44
the female, drop it at her feet, or even
22:46
gently offer it directly from his mouth.
22:48
>> It's remarkable to watch.
22:50
>> Well, wait. I have to push back on this
22:51
because it seems totally
22:52
counterintuitive. We just said that the
22:54
mating drive makes him so obsessive he
22:56
forgets to eat. If he finally has food,
22:59
how is an evolutionary drive so strong
23:01
that it overrides his basic survival
23:03
greed, making him voluntarily give his
23:06
meal away?
23:07
>> It is one of the most stunning
23:08
behavioral overrides in the animal
23:10
kingdom. And to understand it, we have
23:12
to look back at the evolutionary history
23:14
of the dog back to their wild ancestors.
23:17
>> Okay, set the scene for us.
23:19
>> In a harsh wild environment,
23:21
successfully raising a litter of puppies
23:23
requires a massive caloric investment. A
23:27
pregnant or nursing female is incredibly
23:29
vulnerable and cannot hunt effectively
23:32
for herself.
23:33
>> So the male's value isn't just in his
23:35
genes, it's in his ability to be a
23:37
provider.
23:38
>> Precisely. Courtship feeding is like a
23:40
resume submission. By willingly
23:42
forfeiting high-V value nutrition, the
23:44
male is proving two vital things to the
23:46
female. First, he is proving he is a
23:49
skilled enough hunter or forager to
23:51
secure excess resources. Oh,
23:52
>> I'm so good at finding food. I have
23:53
extra.
23:54
>> Right. And second, he is demonstrating
23:56
the behavioral willingness to share
23:58
those resources with her. It is an
24:00
evolutionary promise that if she mates
24:02
with him, he will stick around and help
24:04
sustain her and her offspring.
24:05
>> Wow.
24:06
>> The drive to prove his viability as a
24:08
long-term provider temporarily overrides
24:11
his own immediate hunger.
24:12
>> It is a tangible physical proof of
24:14
fitness. And he backs that up with
24:17
displays of sheer stamina, too. The male
24:19
will start running in wide circles,
24:21
jumping, and playing aggressively hard
24:23
around the female.
24:24
>> This ties into a concept in evolutionary
24:27
biology known as the handicap principle.
24:29
>> The idea that I am so fit I can afford
24:32
to waste energy.
24:33
>> Exactly. Courtship, especially when
24:35
fasting and stressed, is physically
24:37
exhausting. By engaging in high energy,
24:39
demanding physical feats, sprinting,
24:42
leaping, wrestling, the male is showing
24:45
off his genetic quality.
24:46
>> He's flexing.
24:47
>> He is. He is saying, "Look at the excess
24:49
energy I have. Look at my agility and my
24:51
cardiovascular health. I am so
24:53
genetically robust that I can afford to
24:55
waste calories performing these
24:57
gymnastics for you."
24:58
>> And for the female, that's what she won,
25:00
>> right? For a female whose biological
25:01
imperative is to secure the strongest
25:03
possible genes for her puppies, a male
25:06
with boundless, seemingly inexhaustible
25:08
energy is the prime candidate.
25:10
>> But this performance, this athletic and
25:12
vocal audition, it does not happen in a
25:14
vacuum. A male dog will act very
25:17
differently depending on his environment
25:19
and who else is watching. The context
25:21
shapes everything.
25:23
>> Context is huge.
25:24
>> We have to look at the impact of
25:25
environment and pack hierarchy on these
25:27
courtship rituals.
25:29
>> Context is the invisible hand guiding
25:31
all of this behavior. The physical
25:33
environment and the social density
25:35
dictate the intensity, the urgency, and
25:38
the aggression levels of the courtship
25:39
display.
25:40
>> Let's compare an urban environment to a
25:42
rural one. In an urban area like a dense
25:45
city neighborhood or a large crowded dog
25:47
park, you have a high concentration of
25:49
dogs in a small geographic footprint.
25:52
This leads to highly competitive,
25:54
aggressive, and assertive mating
25:55
displays.
25:56
>> It does.
25:56
>> It makes me think of like a high stress,
25:58
crowded nightclub. Everyone is
26:00
posturing, the music is loud, space is
26:02
tight, and if you want to talk to
26:03
someone, you have to be loud and
26:04
aggressive to cut through the
26:06
competition. But a rural setting where
26:08
dogs are spread out on large farms is
26:10
more like a quiet, laid-back coffee shop
26:12
date. That analogy is perfectly aligned
26:14
with the biology. In an urban
26:16
environment or a densely populated
26:18
kennel, the background noise of
26:20
pherommones is deafening. The male dog's
26:22
vomasal organ is constantly being
26:25
bombarded.
26:25
>> So, he's just overwhelmed with signals.
26:27
>> Yes, he knows chemically that there are
26:30
dozens of other intact males within
26:32
striking distance.
26:33
>> So, his ambient stress levels and
26:34
cortisol are already through the roof.
26:37
>> Yes, the proximity breeds extreme
26:40
urgency. He knows that if he does not
26:42
act quickly, assertively, and often
26:44
aggressively, a rival will intercept the
26:46
female. There is no time for long,
26:49
nuanced, polite courtship.
26:50
>> He just skips the small talk.
26:52
>> Exactly. The displays become truncated,
26:54
dominant, and fiercely competitive. But
26:57
in a rural setting, that competitive
26:59
pressure is removed. The lack of
27:00
immediate rivals lowers the cortisol
27:02
levels. The male feels secure in his
27:04
isolation with the female, allowing him
27:06
to take his time, engage in the gentle
27:08
plays, the courtship feeding, and the
27:10
extended rituals without the constant
27:12
looming threat of a challenge.
27:13
>> And this environmental pressure ties
27:15
directly into the social architecture of
27:17
the dogs themselves, the pack hierarchy.
27:20
If you have multiple dogs in a space,
27:22
there is a strict social order. And when
27:24
a female goes into heat, the top male or
27:27
the dominant dog asserts absolute
27:29
priority. The alpha male's entire
27:31
strategy revolves around spatial
27:33
control. His courtship display is
27:35
directed just as much at the other males
27:37
as it is at the female.
27:39
>> What does he do?
27:40
>> He will use his physical bulk to body
27:42
block rivals. He will position himself
27:44
constantly between the female and the
27:46
rest of the pack. His posturing,
27:48
standing tall, ears forward, tail high,
27:50
and stiff, is a continuous visual threat
27:53
to the subordinates.
27:54
>> He is physically walling her off. But
27:56
what do the submissive males do? They
27:58
don't just lose their biological drive.
28:00
They don't just walk away and give up.
28:01
>> No, their drive is just as strong, but
28:03
their strategy has to adapt if they want
28:05
to survive. In biology, we often call
28:07
these sneaker tactics.
28:08
>> Sneaker tactics. I love that.
28:10
>> It fits perfectly. A submissive male
28:13
knows that if he engages in a grandiose,
28:15
assertive display, the dominant male
28:17
will attack him. So, the submissive male
28:21
has to walk an incredibly delicate,
28:23
highstakes diplomatic tightroppe.
28:25
>> How does he do that? What does a sneaker
28:26
courtship look like?
28:27
>> He shrinks himself. He will approach the
28:30
female with his body lowered to the
28:31
ground, his tail tucked tight against
28:33
his belly, and his ears pinned back,
28:36
>> trying to be invisible,
28:37
>> right? He will aggressively avoid direct
28:39
eye contact with both the alpha and the
28:41
female. He will offer very low, polite
28:44
playbows. He is attempting to interact
28:46
with the female's pherommones and court
28:48
her while simultaneously screaming in
28:50
dog body language to the alpha, "I am a
28:52
puppy. I am not a threat. I am not
28:54
challenging your authority. Please do
28:55
not attack me.
28:56
>> It is a masterclass in behavioral
28:58
deception. And this hierarchy dynamic is
29:01
exactly where mounting behaviors become
29:03
incredibly confusing for people to
29:04
interpret. We know mounting is driven by
29:07
testosterone, but it is very frequently
29:09
not about the physical act of mating at
29:11
all, is it?
29:12
>> This is one of the most misunderstood
29:14
behaviors in the canine world. Mounting
29:16
is a multi-tool. Yes, it is the
29:18
mechanical act of culation. But in a
29:21
pack setting, when a female is in heat,
29:24
the ambient testosterone levels of all
29:26
the males in the vicinity skyrocket
29:27
>> just from being near the pherommones.
29:29
>> Exactly. This hormonal surge fuels a
29:32
deep need to establish and reaffirm
29:34
rank.
29:35
>> So you will actually see males mounting
29:36
other males
29:37
>> constantly. A dominant male will mount a
29:40
submissive male to remind him who is in
29:43
charge. Subordinate males will mount
29:45
each other as they scramble to redefine
29:47
their hierarchy just beneath the alpha.
29:49
Wow.
29:50
>> A male might even mount the female from
29:51
the front or the side completely
29:53
non-reproductively just to assert
29:56
physical control over her movements. It
29:58
is a physical manifestation of
30:00
dominance, a way of saying, "I control
30:01
the terms of this interaction and I
30:03
control this space."
30:05
>> And if you are a professional breeder
30:06
managing a highdensity kennel, you
30:08
absolutely must understand this dynamic
30:10
because a multi-dog kennel inherently
30:12
mimics that high stress crowded urban
30:15
environment. You've concentrated the
30:16
pherommones and forced proximity. you
30:18
have.
30:19
>> Yeah.
30:19
>> And if you put multiple intact males and
30:22
a female in heat in the same visual or
30:24
olfactory space and you do not
30:26
intimately understand your pack's
30:27
hierarchy, the situation will detonate.
30:30
>> It sounds like a powder keg.
30:32
>> It is. If a submissive male's sneaker
30:35
tactic is slightly too bold, or if two
30:37
evenly matched males decide to challenge
30:39
the alpha simultaneously, that posturing
30:42
and mounting will instantly escalate
30:44
into a full-blown fight. And dog fights
30:46
driven by reproductive competition are
30:48
not like normal scuffles over a toy.
30:50
>> They are brutal. The pain tolerance of a
30:52
dog flooded with adrenaline and
30:54
testosterone is massive. They will not
30:56
back down. Severe career-ending or
30:58
life-threatening injuries can happen in
31:00
a matter of seconds.
31:01
>> That's terrifying.
31:02
>> This is why managing the physical space,
31:04
using solid visual barriers so competing
31:07
males cannot make eye contact, and
31:09
understanding exactly who sits where in
31:11
your pack social order is the foundation
31:13
of safe kennel management. Which brings
31:15
us to the most practical everyday
31:17
application of all this science. With
31:19
all this talk of dominance, mounting,
31:21
playos, and posturing, we run into the
31:23
biggest point of confusion for pet
31:25
owners and newer breeders alike. How do
31:27
you know if dogs are actually engaged in
31:29
a mating ritual or if they are just
31:31
being friends? Distinguishing mating
31:33
from playful social bonding is vital to
31:36
avoid unnecessary panic.
31:38
>> We really have to establish a
31:39
fundamental baseline here. Domestic dogs
31:42
are highly social animals. They process
31:44
the world and build their relationships
31:46
through physical interaction
31:47
>> like chasing and wrestling.
31:48
>> Exactly. Playful interactions, chasing
31:51
each other around the yard, wrestling,
31:53
tumbling, and social bonding are common
31:55
everyday occurrences that are completely
31:57
divorced from reproduction.
31:58
>> And the biological rule is very
32:00
explicit. True mating behavior, instinct
32:03
driven reproductive pursuit, only occurs
32:05
when a female is actively in a heat
32:07
cycle. If the female is spayed or if an
32:10
intact female is not in heat, they are
32:12
not mating. Period.
32:13
>> Correct. But the confusion arises
32:15
because the physical vocabulary of play
32:18
deeply overlaps with the vocabulary of
32:20
courtship. Dogs use the playbo to
32:23
initiate a game of tag. They use chasing
32:25
as a game. They use mounting during play
32:28
as an overstimulated social behavior.
32:30
>> Because the actions look the same.
32:32
Humans conflate the two. You see an
32:34
owner at a dog park absolutely
32:36
panicking, screaming, and ripping their
32:38
dog away because one dog is mounting
32:40
another, assuming it's a dangerous
32:41
mating situation. But usually, it's just
32:43
an overaroused game of wrestling or a
32:45
brief harmless dominance check among
32:47
friends.
32:48
>> And that misinterpretation has
32:49
consequences. It leads to owners
32:51
unnecessarily punishing their dogs for
32:53
normal social communication. It leads to
32:55
restricting their social lives, causing
32:56
anxiety. or owners of intact dogs panic
33:00
about accidental litters when it is
33:02
biologically impossible for a pregnancy
33:04
to occur.
33:04
>> It just causes so much stress for
33:05
everyone.
33:06
>> It does. This is why we have to train
33:08
our eyes to see the nuances of body
33:10
language, metaccommunication, and above
33:12
all context.
33:13
>> Let's use the playbo as a prime example.
33:15
It's the exact same physical movement,
33:17
front, elbows down, rear up. How do we
33:20
tell the difference?
33:20
>> You look at the tension and the follow
33:22
through. A playbo during a casual
33:25
Tuesday afternoon in the backyard is
33:27
characterized by loose, floppy body
33:29
language.
33:30
The dog's mouth is relaxed, often open
33:33
in a play face,
33:34
>> like they're smiling almost.
33:36
>> Yes. And crucially, it involves meta
33:38
communication. The dog might give a soft
33:40
play growl signaling what I'm about to
33:43
do next is just a game. It is an
33:45
invitation to mutually exchange roles. I
33:47
chase you, then you chase me. But a
33:49
playbo in a mating context is completely
33:52
different.
33:52
>> Completely a playbo from a male courting
33:55
a female in heat is rigid. The muscles
33:57
are coiled. His mouth is likely closed
34:00
or he is intensely lip-licking. There is
34:02
no role reversal. He has no intention of
34:04
letting her chase him.
34:05
>> He's totally locked in.
34:06
>> Yes, it is a calculated tense move
34:08
designed to keep her engaged while he
34:10
maneuvers for a better position. The
34:12
physical geometry of the bow was the
34:14
same, but the biological intent
34:16
completely transforms the energy of the
34:17
action. So, for a newer breeder watching
34:20
their pack or an owner at a park, what
34:22
is the absolute clearest telltale sign
34:25
that an interaction has crossed the line
34:27
from a friendly game of chase into an
34:29
actual instinct driven mating ritual?
34:32
>> The defining characteristic is a shift
34:34
in intensity and the presence of
34:35
singular obsessive focus. Play is
34:38
democratic and fluid. Dogs get
34:40
distracted during play. A leaf blows by,
34:43
a door opens, you shake a bag of treats,
34:44
and the play stops as they investigate.
34:46
But mating drive cannot be distracted.
34:48
>> Exactly. In a mating pursuit, the male's
34:50
focus becomes myopic. You will
34:52
constantly relentlessly try to redirect
34:54
his physical position to investigate her
34:56
hind quarters. He will completely ignore
34:58
outside stimuli.
34:59
>> Nothing can pull him away.
35:00
>> Nothing. You could call his name. You
35:02
could throw a high-value treat like a
35:04
hot dog right next to him and he will
35:06
not even look at it because his
35:08
vulmerasal organ has locked his brain
35:10
onto her chemical signals. If the
35:12
interaction is entirely one-sided,
35:15
intensely focused on sniffing and
35:16
licking her private areas accompanied by
35:19
dilated pupils and heavy panting, and he
35:21
is deaf to the world around him, you are
35:23
no longer watching play. You're
35:24
witnessing an instinct-driven sequence.
35:27
>> That inability to break focus is the
35:29
ultimate tell. And recognizing that
35:31
shift is the foundation of keeping your
35:33
dog safe. Now, we need to synthesize all
35:36
of this behavioral science, biology, and
35:38
environmental psychology into actionable
35:40
protocols for the responsible breeder.
35:42
How do we translate this into everyday
35:44
management?
35:45
>> It requires building a comprehensive,
35:46
proactive safety protocol. The very
35:49
first step is continuous, educated
35:51
observation. You have to monitor your
35:53
pack constantly for the warning signs of
35:55
dangerous mating competition before it
35:57
escalates into a physical confrontation.
35:59
>> You are looking for the behavioral
36:01
shifts we discussed earlier. sudden
36:03
uncharacteristic aggression toward other
36:05
males, extreme restlessness, the
36:09
hyperfixation.
36:10
>> If you have a male who normally lounges
36:12
in the yard, but suddenly he is
36:14
aggressively pacing the fence line,
36:16
panting heavily, refusing to break his
36:19
visual lock on the female's quarantine
36:21
area, and he is growling at a dog he has
36:24
lived with peacefully for years. His
36:27
stress levels are in the red zone.
36:28
>> He's a ticking time bomb. He is a hazard
36:30
to himself, to the other dogs, and
36:33
potentially to you if you step into the
36:35
middle of it.
36:35
>> Which brings up the absolute necessity
36:37
of active supervision. You cannot just
36:39
put an intact male and a receptive
36:41
female together in a yard, go inside to
36:43
make a cup of coffee, and hope they
36:44
figure it out safely.
36:45
>> Never. Because while we have outlined a
36:47
very structured sequence of flirtation
36:49
and posturing, dogs are individuals.
36:52
Some dogs are incredibly forward.
36:54
>> They don't read the manual,
36:55
>> right? A male might completely bypass
36:58
the gentlemanly approach, skip the play
37:01
bows, and attempt to mount a female
37:03
before she is fully receptive. If she
37:06
feels threatened, she will defend
37:07
herself violently. The window between an
37:10
approach and a physical altercation or
37:12
an unintended lock tie can literally be
37:14
measured in seconds.
37:16
>> Breeders cannot rely entirely on
37:18
behavioral tells to intervene in time.
37:21
You have to be physically present. You
37:23
must be in the room within arms reach,
37:25
actively managing the space. If the
37:27
female shows signs of distress or the
37:29
male becomes too aggressive, you must be
37:32
there to separate them instantly.
37:33
>> And we also need to talk about the
37:35
physical toll this process takes because
37:36
I think it is severely underestimated.
37:39
The heat cycle isn't just a few days. It
37:41
can last weeks. The physical demands on
37:43
the dogs are immense.
37:44
>> The metabolic cost is staggering. For
37:46
the male, sustaining those high levels
37:48
of adrenaline and cortisol for days on
37:50
end leads to rapid weight loss. If his
37:52
drive overrides his thirst, he can
37:54
easily become dehydrated
37:55
>> just from pure exhaustion.
37:56
>> Yes. The sheer physical exhaustion of
37:58
pacing and posturing compromises his
38:00
immune system.
38:01
>> And the female is dealing with her own
38:03
hormonal storm at the same time.
38:06
>> The female is enduring the physical
38:07
discomfort of tissue swelling, the
38:10
anxiety of the hormonal fluctuations and
38:12
the psychological stress of constant
38:14
intense attention from the males. Her
38:16
immune system is also depressed, making
38:18
her highly vulnerable to the UTI and
38:20
vaginitis we discussed earlier.
38:22
>> This is why synthesizing these lessons
38:24
into a safety manifesto is so critical
38:27
for breeders. It's about total
38:29
environmental control. You must monitor
38:32
social interactions constantly. You must
38:34
use physical barriers like double-gated
38:36
systems and visual barriers like solid
38:39
walls to prevent competing males from
38:41
locking eyes.
38:42
>> Yes, visual barriers are a lifesaver.
38:44
You must manage the air flow and use
38:46
negative pressure ventilation to control
38:48
the spread of pherommones. You have to
38:50
inspect the female's health daily,
38:52
watching like a hawk for that frantic
38:53
licking that indicates an infection.
38:56
Essentially, as a breeder, you aren't
38:57
just putting two dogs in a room. You are
38:59
acting as a referee, a health inspector,
39:01
and a behavioral psychologist all at
39:03
once to ensure nobody gets hurt.
39:04
>> That is the exact reality of the job.
39:07
You are engineering the environment to
39:09
reduce ambient stress. You are
39:11
refereeing the pack hierarchy to prevent
39:14
aggression. You are inspecting their
39:15
physical anatomy daily. It requires a
39:18
profound, respectful understanding of
39:20
the species, recognizing that you are
39:22
managing incredibly powerful
39:24
evolutionary forces.
39:26
>> It really does change the way you look
39:27
at dogs entirely. It makes you realize
39:29
how complex their internal lives are.
39:32
Which leads me to a final provocative
39:34
thought for you, the listener, to mull
39:36
over as we wrap up.
39:37
>> I love these final thoughts. We have
39:39
spent an hour talking about this hidden
39:41
layer of communication. The vominasal
39:43
organ, the hormones, the VOCC's. If a
39:46
male dog senses smell can detect a
39:48
pheromone from miles away, entirely
39:50
hijacking his brain, making him forget
39:52
to eat or sleep and driving him to sing
39:54
love songs to the wind. How much of a
39:56
dog's daily reality is shaped by
39:58
invisible chemical messages that we as
40:01
humors are completely oblivious to?
40:03
>> It's humbling really. When we look at a
40:05
quiet yard, our dogs might be
40:06
experiencing a loud, chaotic, invisible
40:08
symphony of sense. It makes you realize
40:11
that while they live in our houses, we
40:13
are just visitors in their sensory
40:14
world. Thank you for listening, dear
40:16
brigaders. And if you have any
40:18
questions, visit the source article on
40:20
Dogazilla magazine at dogazila.com.
40:23
That was all for this episode. And until
40:25
the next time, bye to all listeners of
40:27
the Bark Brigade
#Pets & Animals