Science Fair Projects - Why Does Fido Bark?

Science fair projects on animal behavior can be fun and fascinating! Watching how animals behave and recording those behaviors is known as Ethology. Animal behavior is a branch of the science of zoology. Studying what animals do in their natural environments help to better understand them. This knowledge can be helpful in learning how to share our world with them and help protect their environment so they can thrive. For animals that are in danger of dying out, known as endangered, animal behavior studies help to increase the number of endangered animals.

One animal that has been the focus of many animal behavior studies is the gray wolf. These wolves were once abundant over much of North America but because of widespread destruction of its habitat; in some regions it is endangered or threatened.

One of the most fascinating areas of animal behavior is to watch the body language of animals. It's interesting to note that many of these behaviors are similar to dogs and can be exhibited in our own pet dogs. Look over this list of gray wolf body behavior-have you seen dogs do any of the same things?

Body Language

Wolves communicate visually through a wide variety of expressions such as a slight shift in weight or rolling on their backs to indicate complete submission. Other visual ways they communicate are:

• Dominance - A dominant wolf stands with stiff legs and tall. The ears are erect and forward, and the hackles bristle slightly. Often the tail is held vertically and curled toward the back. This display asserts the wolf's rank to others in the pack. A dominant wolf may stare at a submissive one, pin it to the ground, "ride up" on its shoulders, or even stand on its hind legs.
• Submission- During active submission, the entire body is lowered, and the lips and ears are drawn back. Sometimes active submission is accompanied by muzzle licking, or the rapid thrusting out of the tongue and lowering of the hindquarters. The tail is placed down, or halfway or fully between the legs and the muzzle often points up to the more dominant animal. The back may be partly arched as the submissive wolf humbles itself to its superior; a more arched back and more tucked tail indicate a greater level of submission.
• Submission- Passive submission is more intense than active submission. The wolf rolls on its back and exposes its vulnerable throat and underside. The paws are drawn into the body. This posture is often accompanied by whimpering.
• Anger - An angry wolf's ears are erect, and its fur bristles. The lips may curl up or pull back, and the incisors are displayed. The wolf may also arch its back, lash out, or snarl.
• Fear - A frightened wolf attempts to make itself look small and less conspicuous; the ears flatten against the head, and the tail may be tucked between the legs, as with a submissive wolf. There may also be whimpering or barks of fear, and the wolf may arch its back.
• Defensive - A defensive wolf flattens its ears against its head.
• Aggression - An aggressive wolf snarls and its fur bristles. The wolf may crouch, ready to attack if necessary.
• Suspicion - Pulling back of the ears shows a wolf is suspicious. The wolf also narrows its eyes. The tail of a wolf that senses danger points straight out, parallel to the ground.
• Relaxation - A relaxed wolf's tail points straight down, and the wolf may rest sphinx-like or on its side. The wolf may also wag its tail. The further down the tail droops, the more relaxed the wolf is.
• Tension - An aroused wolf's tail points straight out and the wolf may crouch as if ready to spring.
• Happiness - As dogs do, a wolf may wag its tail if in a joyful mood. The tongue may loll out of the mouth.
• Hunting - A wolf that is hunting is tensed, and therefore the tail is horizontal and straight.
• Playfulness - A playful wolf holds its tail high and wags it. The wolf may frolic and dance around, or bow by placing the front of its body down to the ground, while holding the rear high, sometimes wagged. This resembles the playful behavior of domestic dogs.

For those who love animals, Ethology, or the study of animal behavior, is an exciting zoology science. If you love animals a study of your favorite pet or animals around you would make a great science fair project.

How about studying the behavior of the common household cat-what behaviors does your cat exhibit and why. How about a science fair project on birds-can you determine the type of food a bird eats by looking at its beak? How about a science project on Fido-what type of foods do dogs like best? These and other animal behavior observations could make great winning and fun science fair projects!

Mort Barish is co-founder of Terimore Institute, Inc. providing science fair projects for children in grades K-12 to help them successfully compete in science fairs. He has been creating educational materials for children and related graphic communications for almost fifty years. He is the author of seven books and has won numerous awards for his graphic presentations.

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