Veterinary science, on the other hand, is the study of the health and diseases of animals, with a focus on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Veterinary scientists use their knowledge of animal behavior to:
In a landmark study, animal behaviorists left dogs alone with a forbidden treat (a tasty sausage). When the owners returned and scolded the dogs regardless of whether they had actually eaten the sausage, the dogs displayed the “guilty look” anyway. The conclusion: The submissive posture is not an admission of wrongdoing; it is a learned response to human anger. The dog isn’t saying, “I ate the sausage.” The dog is saying, “Please stop being angry at me, whatever the reason.” Veterinary science, on the other hand, is the
Yet for all our scientific progress, one behavior remains wonderfully elusive: play. Why does a dolphin somersault through a wave? Why does a crow toboggan down a snowy roof on a bottle cap? Why does your horse nibble your hair and then gallop away, looking over its shoulder to see if you’re chasing it? The conclusion: The submissive posture is not an