Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A posture used by dogs to invite play behavior.
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vendingmachine commented on the word play bow
"When a dog crouches forward with its elbows on the ground and its rear end in the air, wagging tail and all, that's a play bow. The position is the ultimate sign of playfulness, which is important for a species that often uses playtime as practice for attacking prey.
The play bow first evolved in canids as a form of communication. When a dog sees another dog it wants to play with, it extends its front paws forward and lifts up its behind as a visual invitation to engage in a friendly play session. Dogs will "bow" in the middle of playtime to show that they're having fun and wish to continue, or when a session has paused to signal they want to pick it back up. Play bows can also be a sort of apology: When the roughhousing gets too rough, a bow says, “I’m sorry I hurt you. Can we keep playing?' "
Mental Floss, http://mentalfloss.com/article/544112/why-do-dogs-crouch-forward-play-bow
September 1, 2018